Guwahati to emerge as Visa processing hub for over 60 countries

In a major boost to international travel accessibility for the North East, Assam is set to host its first dedicated visa facilitation centre in Guwahati bringing relief to thousands who earlier had to travel long distances to Delhi or Mumbai for visa formalities. This development is being hailed as a significant step towards improving global connectivity and easing travel procedures for students, professionals, and tourists across the region.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that VFS Global, a leading visa processing agency, has agreed in principle to establish the centre in the state capital. The facility is expected to handle visa applications for over 60 countries, making it the first of its kind in the North East.

Sharing the news on X (formerly Twitter), the Chief Minister wrote,

“Travelling abroad? Need to submit biometrics for your visa application? That meant a long journey to either Delhi or Mumbai. Soon, this will be history for our people from Assam and the North East. Happy to share that @VFSGlobal has agreed in principle to set up a dedicated visa facilitation centre for over 60+ countries in Guwahati.”

Sarma further assured that details regarding the timeline and list of countries will be released soon. The move is expected to save time and travel costs for thousands of residents from Assam and neighbouring states such as Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Sikkim making Guwahati a new regional travel facilitation hub.

While announcing this upcoming facility, the Chief Minister also took part in several welfare initiatives during a programme at Srimanta Sankaradev Kalakshetra in Guwahati on Thursday. He distributed appointment letters to 377 candidates belonging to the Tea Tribe and Adivasi communities who were qualified through TET and TET-cum-Recruitment exams.

With these new appointments, Assam’s total government recruitment since 2021 has reached 1,35,376, achieved through what the CM described as a “fully transparent, merit-based process.” This surpasses the government’s original commitment to provide one lakh jobs during the 2021 Assembly election campaign.

In addition, the Chief Minister handed over financial support to educational institutions to waive fees for students from BPL families who have enrolled in Higher Secondary First and Second Year, as well as in four-year undergraduate programmes for the academic year 2025–26.

Sarma clarified that the recruitment figures only include regular posts under the Assam government and do not cover contract-based jobs under schemes like Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan or National Health Mission.

Speaking at the event, he said appointment letters are handed out publicly to motivate young aspirants and demonstrate transparency in government hiring.

The visa centre announcement and recruitment drive reflect Assam’s broader push for administrative reform, youth empowerment, and easier global access for its citizens.

A visa facilitation centre acts as a local support hub for people applying to travel abroad. Instead of visiting embassies or consulates, applicants can complete most visa formalities at one place.

These centres handle document checks, biometric scans, and application submissions, and they forward the information to the relevant embassy. Some centres also assist in tracking the application status.

By offering these services locally, they save time and prevent long-distance travel to major cities like Delhi or Mumbai. In essence, they make the visa process simpler, quicker and more accessible for the public.