VFS Global, the visa outsourcing company on Thursday has issued an update on restarting visa application services in India since June 2020 – after an almost complete shutdown during the nationwide coronavirus lockdown.
The VFS Global in an official statement said that currently, the visa application process (in various categories) for over 40 governments has resumed at select visa application centres across India.
“Our Visa Application Centres across India remain open as of April 7, 2021, though timings and days of working may vary, according to pandemic-related regulations. Please check vfsglobal.com for details. Real-time updates are also posted on our social media channels and the Covid-19 Customer Advisories page,” VFS Global said in an official release.
Following is the information on visa operations as of March 31, 2021:
Country | Visa Categories | Cities | Restart Date |
Austria | Category D and pre-approved C visa applications | Mumbai, Kochi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, New Delhi and Kolkata | July – September 2020 |
Belarus | All Visa Categories | Mumbai and New Delhi | July – September 2020 |
Belgium | Category D and pre-approved C type | Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Hyderabad, New Delhi and Kolkata | July – August 2020 |
Canada | Family, Permits, Students | Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Jalandhar, Chandigarh and Kolkata | November – December 2020 |
China | Business Category | New Delhi | July-20 |
Croatia | Category D | Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, New Delhi and Kolkata | July – September 2020 |
Cyprus | C visa categories (Pre-approved from High Commission) | Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Hyderabad and New Delhi | October – November 2020 |
Czech Republic | Czech and EU family members, Entry in the interest of the Czech Republic, International Transport workers, Diplomats and Officials of International organizations, Seasonal workers, For employment in health and social services only, in urgent emergencies, for employment – food production workers only, for employment – qualified workers only (if the conditions of these Programs “The High qualified worker” and “The Key and scientific workers” are met) | Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kochi and Hyderabad | September-20 – February-21 |
Denmark | Residence permit, Employment, Dependent, Approval cases, Category D, specific purpose (business, etc.) | Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, New Delhi and Kolkata | June – September 2020 |
Dominican Republic | Business, Work and Resident visa | New Delhi, Mumbai | June 2020 |
Estonia | Category C and D | Mumbai, Kochi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, New Delhi and Kolkata | July – August 2020 |
Finland | Resident Permits, Visas (Pre-approved from Embassy) | New Delhi | November 2020 |
France | Category C and D | Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, New Delhi and Kolkata | August-20 |
Georgia | Long Term Visa for Business and Family visit (post approval from Ministry) and student visabe accepted | Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, New Delhi and Kolkata | October-20 |
Germany | Category C (with prior approval) and D visa (seafarers, transit, employment and student, Blue Card, PhD) after approval of submission and D-visa stamping | Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Bengaluru, New Delhi and Kolkata | July – August 2020 |
Hungary | Pre-approved cases from embassy | New Delhi | November 2020 |
Italy | Re-Entry Visa, Category D, Short term Students, Seafarer, Transit, Visit to family (immediate family member), Business (With prior approval) | Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Bengaluru, New Delhi and Kolkata | July-20 |
Ireland | Student, Long – stay categories | Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Jalandhar, Chandigarh, Kolkata | July-20 |
Japan | Long term and Business visa | Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, and New Delhi | September – October 2020 |
Latvia | Category D | Mumbai, Kochi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and New Delhi | August 2020 |
Lebanon | All Visa Categories (BAU) | Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, New Delhi and Kolkata | December-20 |
Lithuania | Category D | Mumbai, Kochi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, New Delhi and Kolkata | August 2020 |
Luxembourg | Category D | Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, New Delhi and Kolkata | July – September 2020 |
Malta | Pre-approved case for Medical Staff, Humanitarian case and High skilled professionals | Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Hyderabad | February 2021 – March 2021 |
Malaysia | Single Entry Visas | Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and New Delhi | July – September 2020 |
MEA | Attestation and Apostille of personal and educational documents | Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad | September-October 2020 |
Morocco | All Visa Categories except tourist visas | Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, New Delhi and Kolkata | January 2021 |
New Zealand | Long-stay and other categories (postal applications only) | New Delhi | August 2020 |
Nigeria | All visa categories | Mumbai | September-20 |
Norway | Residence permit and pre-approved Category C | Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, New Delhi and Kolkata | June – September 2020 |
Poland | Category D | Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, New Delhi and Kolkata | July 2020 |
Portugal | E6 for holders of expired Portuguese residence card, D6 for holders of expired Family Reunification D6 visas, Category D and pre-approved Category C | Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, New Delhi and Kolkata | June – September 2020 |
South Africa | All visa categories | Mumbai, Bengaluru, New Delhi and Kolkata | September – October 2020 |
South Korea | Seamen Short term, Work Permit (C4) and Long-term applications | New Delhi, Kolkata | June 2020 – March 2021 |
Sweden | As per Embassy’s Approval | Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, New Delhi and Kolkata | October-November 2020 |
Switzerland | Category D and pre-approved Category C | Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, New Delhi and Kolkata | July – August 2020 |
Thailand | All visa categories | Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kochi and Hyderabad | December 2020 – January 2021 |
The Netherlands | Seaman, LDR, Re-entry visa, Orange carpet/ Business (With prior approval) | Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, New Delhi and Kolkata | July – September 2020 |
Turkey | All visa categories | Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Chennai, Bengaluru and New Delhi | June – September 2020 |
UAE – DVPC | All visa categories (online); 30 day and 90 day tourist visas (in- VAC) | Online application in Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kochi | June – August 2020 |
United Kingdom | All Visa categories / passport collection | Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Jalandhar, Chandigarh, Kolkata, and Goa (once a month only) | July-20 |
Ukraine | All visas except tourist | Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, New Delhi and Kolkata, | August 2020 / September 2020 |
USA | All visa categories | All India | August 2020 – February 2021 |
Note: Air travel on all routes is subject to government advisories and permissions for air travel may be independent of the visa process.
VFS Global has established standardized protective measures to be followed across centres, including physical distancing and sanitisation, body temperature checks, use of masks and sanitisers, disinfecting high-contact surfaces. Customers with Covid-19 symptoms, including high fever, cough, and difficulty in breathing will not be permitted to enter the centre.
Visit the country-specific website on vfsglobal.com for the most updated information.
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