Overview
- Guwahati's new Visa Application Centre was inaugurated by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on October 15, 2026 and is hosted in the ISBT Khanapara complex.
- The centre, operated by VFS Global, will initially accept applications for 14 countries and will handle Schengen submissions that cover 29 European states.
- The facility performs administrative tasks such as document intake, fingerprinting and passport return but does not issue visas because embassies retain sole authority to grant or refuse them.
- Officials and VFS Global say the centre will cut travel time and costs for residents of Assam and the seven neighbouring northeastern states by removing the need to travel to Kolkata, Delhi or Mumbai for application formalities.
- The opening is tied to a broader push to position Guwahati as a regional gateway, with the state announcing plans for Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport to operate as a hub‑and‑spoke international transit point from October 27, 2026, while wider benefits will depend on adding more countries, appointment capacity and flight links.