Bhubaneswar/New Delhi, Feb 21: Odisha will soon have its own independent visa application centre as VFS Global is set to operationalise a facility in Bhubaneswar from April 1, 2026, coinciding with Odisha Day. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday announced the development, expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and VFS Global CEO Zubin Karkaria for supporting the proposal.

Pradhan had earlier written to Jaishankar requesting the establishment of the centre and also held discussions with Karkaria. He described the decision as a milestone for Odisha’s international connectivity, noting that it will save students and businesspersons from traveling to Kolkata or other cities for visa-related work. The centre is also expected to generate new employment opportunities for local youth.

Delighted to announce that @VFSGlobal is opening a visa application centre in Bhubaneswar from 1st April’ 26.

The centre was much-needed in Bhubaneswar for providing world-class, convenient, time-effective and efficient visa facilitation services to people of Odisha who… pic.twitter.com/JTnCPkhjv3

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) February 21, 2026

In a post on X, Pradhan said: “Delighted to announce that VFS Global is opening a visa application centre in Bhubaneswar from 1st April 2026. The centre was much-needed in Bhubaneswar for providing world-class, convenient, time-effective and efficient visa facilitation services to people of Odisha who otherwise had to travel to Kolkata to meet their visa requirements.”

The Minister added that the commencement of visa facilitation services from Bhubaneswar will boost international mobility and connectivity while creating local employment opportunities. “More ease-of-living is the motto of PM Modi’s Government,” Pradhan remarked, underlining the government’s commitment to improving access and convenience for citizens.

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The decision is expected to benefit thousands of students aspiring to study abroad, businesspersons engaged in international trade, and tourists seeking smoother visa processes. Pradhan said he believes this step will serve as a landmark in Odisha’s global integration, enhancing opportunities for its people and strengthening the state’s role in India’s international outreach.