EU Visa Application Centers now open in India

Citizens of India are now eligible for visiting many countries in Europe, even for the purposes of visit overseas.

Many European countries’ Visa Application Centers [VACs] in India have resumed their operations, offering different visa-related services at specific VACs across India.

The VACs had temporarily remained closed in view of the COVID-19 situation.

Recently, VFS Global has issued an update on their visa application centres in India.

As per VFS Global, in view of the curfew/lockdown restrictions in some states in India, “select visa application centres are temporarily closed in certain cities”.

VFS Global is the largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions globally. Managing the administrative aspect of visas, VFS Global focusses entirely on the task of assessment. VFS Global serves the interests of 63 governments across the world. Currently, there are 3,498 VACs in 144 countries spanning 5 continents.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation worldwide, many VACs had been either temporarily closed or operating in a limited capacity in different countries.

The re-opening of the centres is dependent upon the approval of the respective Embassy/Consulate, along with that of the local authorities.

Applications for Short Stay visas for the EU from India

Citizens of India can now head to the following European VACs in India to request services for a short-stay visa –

France	·       Short-stay visa applications with prior approvals from the Embassy ·       Students, with pre-conditions, at the VACs located in – Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Chennai.
Sweden	Still an entry ban in place for Indians. Customers to sign an Information Letter stating that there is an entry ban and most of the applications are being refused. The applications can be submitted at – Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kochi.

Applications for Long-Term visas for the EU from India

Indian citizens are now eligible for applying for long-term visas at the VACs of the following European countries –

Austria	Pre-approved cases by the Embassy at the visa centres in – Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kochi.
Belgium	Pre-approved cases from the Embassy, as well as long-term work permit, residence permit, and student visa at – Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Kochi.
Belarus	Offering visa services for all types of visa at the visa centres in Mumbai and New Delhi.
Croatia	Offering visa services for all types of visas at the visa centres in – Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Kochi.
Cyprus	VACs located in Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Kochi now accept applications for – ·       Resident Permit ·       Family members of EU and Lithuanian citizens [C visa] ·       Foreigners travelling for other essential purposes [the Embassy will be confirming eligibility for the same]
Denmark	Offering visa services for all types of visas. Only applicants who fall under compelling purposes to visit Belgium can apply for a visa at the VACs in – Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Kochi.
Estonia	Pre-approved cases from the Embassy at the VACs located in – Hyderabad, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kochi, and Chennai.
Hungary	Embassy-approved cases only in New Delhi.
Germany	Pre-approved cases from Embassy, for D visa stamping for Family reunion cases, attestation at the visa centres in – Hyderabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Kochi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru. The Mumbai visa centre also accepts applications for EU Blue Card and Germany Student visa.
Iceland	Embassy-approved cases only at the visa centres in – Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Kochi.
Italy	Italian VACs in India are accepting visa applications as per: ·       North India. Students, Seafarers. Business visas. Attestation. ·       West & South India. Student, Seaman. Business Visa. With Embassy pre-approval in Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai,  Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Kochi ·       East India. Students, Seafarers, Transit, Business, Family Reunion.
Ireland	Embassy-approved cases only at the VACS in – Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Jalandhar, and Chandigarh.
Latvia	Pre-approved cases from the Embassy and D visa at the VACs in – Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Kochi.
Lithuania	Applications being accepted – at the VACS in Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru – for the following: ·       D visa ·       Residence Permits ·       Family members of EU and Lithuania citizens [C visa] ·       Foreigners travelling for other essential purposes [the Embassy to confirm eligibility for the same]
Luxembourg	Embassy pre-approved and long-term cases at the VACS in – Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Kolkata, Kochi.
Norway	Only visa-stamping, at the VACs in – Hyderabad, Delhi. Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Kochi.
Poland	Long-term only, at the VACS in – Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, New Delhi, and Kolkata.
Portugal	Pre-approved cases from Embassy, Family reunion and attestation at the VACs in Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi, and Kolkata.
Switzerland	Embassy-approved cases at the VACs in – Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Kochi.
The Netherlands	Only Seafarer, Diplomats, Humanitarian visa applications as well as business cases [pre-approved by the Embassy] at the VACs in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru.
Ukraine	At the VACs in – Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata.

Europeans VACs that remain closed in India, as of now

Currently, visa application centers of the following European countries remain closed in India.

Bulgaria

The Czech Republic

Finland

Malta

Slovakia

Slovenia

 According to VFS Global, “As this information is fluid and being updated regularly, please visit the country-specific websites on vfsglobal.com for the most updated information”.

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