Guwahati, Oct 14 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday announced that the Northeast’s first visa application centre will be inaugurated in Guwahati on Thursday, a move aimed at making international travel more accessible and convenient for people across the region.
In a post on social media platform X, CM Sarma said the new centre would bring visa services for several countries closer to residents of the Northeast, potentially reducing the need to travel outside the region to access such services.
“Assam, are you ready to take off?” the Chief Minister said, announcing the inauguration scheduled for October 15.
The centre is being established by VFS Global, a company that provides visa application and related services on behalf of governments and diplomatic missions worldwide.
According to the Chief Minister, the Guwahati centre will facilitate visa applications for 14 countries, including several European destinations covered by the Schengen visa system.
The countries listed include Austria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Italy, Latvia, Switzerland, Cyprus, Egypt, Ireland, Japan, Malta and Morocco, among others.
The Schengen visa allows eligible travellers to visit multiple countries within Europe’s Schengen Area under a single visa, subject to applicable entry conditions.
The new facility is expected to improve access to international travel-related services for residents of Assam and neighbouring Northeastern states, particularly those planning overseas trips for tourism, education, business or other purposes.
Guwahati, the largest city in the Northeast and a major commercial and administrative hub, serves as a gateway for people travelling from across the region.
The establishment of the centre could help streamline the visa application process by bringing services closer to applicants, although individual visa decisions will continue to rest with the relevant countries and their authorised authorities.
The announcement comes amid efforts to strengthen Guwahati’s role as a regional hub for connectivity, commerce and services.
Further operational details, including appointment procedures, application requirements and service charges, would be available through the authorised service provider.
The initiative is expected to benefit applicants from Assam and other Northeastern states by improving regional access to visa application facilities and reducing logistical challenges associated with overseas travel.
–IANS
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