Argus News - Odisha Gets its First Visa Application Centre in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, Apr 1: The capital city of Odisha witnessed a significant step toward strengthening international connectivity and citizen services on Wednesday, as Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the new Visa Application Centre operated by VFS Global.

The centre, located inside the Baba Saheb Ambedkar Bus Terminal at Baramunda, spans 3,000 square feet and is expected to transform access to visa services for residents of Odisha.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Chief Minister emphasized that the centre reflects Odisha’s growing global connectivity and commitment to citizen-centric services. “The facility would ease international travel, promote industries and tourism, and enhance global engagement,” noted CM Majhi.
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“We are happy that the central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has extended full support and cooperation in the opening of this centre here,” he said.

ମାନ୍ୟବର ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @MohanMOdisha ବାବାସାହେବ ଭୀମ୍ ରାଓ ଆମ୍ବେଦକର ବସ୍ ଟର୍ମିନାଲ୍, ଭୁବନେଶ୍ୱରଠାରେ VFS ଗ୍ଲୋବାଲ୍ ଭିସା ସେବା କେନ୍ଦ୍ରର ଶୁଭାରମ୍ଭ କରିଛନ୍ତି। ଏହା ରାଜ୍ୟବାସୀଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଆନ୍ତର୍ଜାତିକ ଭିସା ଆବେଦନ ସେବାକୁ ସହଜ କରିବା ସହ ବିଶ୍ୱସ୍ତରୀୟ ସଂଯୋଗକୁ ଆହୁରି ସୁଦୃଢ଼ କରିବ।

Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri… pic.twitter.com/rGSJEOXz4X

— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) April 1, 2026

Until now, applicants from Odisha had to travel to Kolkata to submit visa applications. The new centre eliminates this inconvenience, offering a seamless and efficient application process closer to home.

In its first phase, the centre will provide visa services for 10 countries: the United Kingdom, Ireland, Austria, Estonia, Italy, Malta, Switzerland, Japan, Morocco, and Egypt. More missions are expected to be added soon, further expanding the range of services available.
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The Chief Minister described the Visa Application Centre as a testimony to the growing demand for accessible visa services in the region. He highlighted that such initiatives not only benefit citizens but also support Odisha’s broader vision of global integration and economic growth.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressed his joy over the development saying the initiative is “a matter of great joy”.

“On the auspicious occasion of Odisha Divas, the inauguration of the VFS Global Visa Application Centre at the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bus Terminal in Bhubaneswar is a matter of great joy. This initiative will not only add a new chapter to Odisha’s international connectivity but also create golden opportunities for the youth, entrepreneurs, and tourists of the state,” wrote Union Minister Pradhan in his post on ‘X’.

‘ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଦିବସ’ର ଶୁଭ ଅବସରରେ ଭୁବନେଶ୍ୱର ସ୍ଥିତ ବାବାସାହେବ ଭୀମ୍ ରାଓ ଆମ୍ବେଦକର ବସ୍ ଟର୍ମିନାଲ୍ ପରିସରରେ ‘VFS Global Visa Application Center’ ର ଶୁଭାରମ୍ଭ ହେବା ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଆନନ୍ଦର ବିଷୟ । ଏହି ପଦକ୍ଷେପ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଆନ୍ତର୍ଜାତୀୟ ଯୋଗାଯୋଗ କ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ କେବଳ ଏକ ନୂତନ ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ ଯୋଡ଼ିବ ନାହିଁ ବରଂ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଯୁବବର୍ଗ,…

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) April 1, 2026

“For this important step, heartfelt thanks to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi, External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar, Odisha Chief Minister Shri @MohanMOdisha, and VFS Global CEO Zubin Karkaria,” he wrote further.

VFS Global, the world’s largest visa and consular services provider, operates more than 4,000 application centres across 167 countries and has processed over 537 million transactions since 2001. In India, it provides visa services on behalf of 53 countries through a network of over 560 centres in 20 cities.

Under the leadership of Zubin Karkaria, Founder and CEO of VFS Global, the company serves 70 governments worldwide, promoting innovation, responsible technology, and secure mobility solutions. COO of VFS Global South Asia, Yummi Talwar, was also present at the inauguration, alongside embassy officials from Austria, Italy, and Switzerland, and senior state government representatives.

The Bhubaneswar centre marks another milestone in Odisha’s journey toward global connectivity.