VFS Visa Application Centres in India (2026): Cities, Fees & Booking
Last reviewed: 10 September 2026 · Verified against current VFS Global India fees
Every VFS, BLS & GVCW visa centre city in India — France, Italy, Germany, Canada, UK & Schengen — plus who decides your visa, fees & official booking links.
Quick answer: Most countries route their India visa applications through VFS Global, which runs visa application centres (VACs) in about 15 Indian cities. But not everyone uses VFS: Spain uses BLS International, Greece uses GVCW, and the USA and Canada work differently. Just as important — for several countries the city you apply in is fixed by which consulate covers your state. This guide lists the centre cities, the official booking link, and who actually decides your visa, for France, Italy, Germany, Canada, the UK and every Schengen country.
Who runs the visa centre for each country?
A visa application centre (VAC) is not the embassy. It is an outsourced office that collects your documents, takes your biometrics (photo + fingerprints) and couriers your passport back. The decision is always made by the embassy or consulate — never by the centre staff. Here is the operator, the Indian cities with a centre, and the official place to book, for the destinations Indians ask about most.
| Country | Operator | Indian centre cities | Book (official) |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | VFS Global | Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Jaipur, Kochi, Goa, Puducherry | vfsglobal.com – France |
| Italy | VFS Global | New Delhi, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Cochin, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad | vfsglobal.com – Italy |
| Germany | VFS Global | New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Goa, Cochin, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Puducherry, Kolkata | vfsglobal.com – Germany |
| Netherlands | VFS Global | New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Lucknow | vfsglobal.com – Netherlands |
| Spain | BLS International | New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Puducherry | blsspainglobal.com |
| Austria | VFS Global | New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chandigarh, Jalandhar | vfsglobal.com – Austria |
| Switzerland | VFS Global | Major metros — select your city at the booking link | vfsglobal.com – Switzerland |
| Greece | GVCW (Global Visa Center World) | New Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Cochin, Goa, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Puducherry | gvcworld.eu – Greece |
| Portugal | VFS Global | New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Goa (Panjim), Bengaluru, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Kolkata | vfsglobal.com – Portugal |
| Czech Republic | VFS Global | New Delhi, Gurugram, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Goa, Jaipur, Kochi, Trivandrum, Pondicherry, Chandigarh, Jalandhar | vfsglobal.com – Czechia |
| Denmark | VFS Global | New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kochi, Chandigarh | vfsglobal.com – Denmark |
| Finland | VFS Global | New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata | vfsglobal.com – Finland |
| Poland | VFS Global | Major metros — select your city at the booking link | vfsglobal.com – Poland |
| Hungary | VFS Global | New Delhi, Mumbai (plus satellite acceptance points — check the selector) | vfsglobal.com – Hungary |
| United Kingdom | VFS Global | New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Cochin | vfsglobal.com – UK |
| Canada | VFS Global (VAC) | Major metros incl. New Delhi, Chandigarh & Mumbai — full list at the official selector | vfsglobal.com – Canada |
| Australia | VFS Global (AVAC) | New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Chandigarh, Jalandhar | vfsglobal.com – Australia |
| United States | US Embassy / Consulates | New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata | usvisascheduling.com |
City lists reflect each operator/embassy's official 2026 pages (see sources). Centre lists change — always confirm the current city and address on the official booking link before you go.
France VFS in India — 14 cities, and the "any centre" rule
France is the single most-searched Schengen centre in India, and it has the widest network — 14 VFS Global centres: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Jaipur, Kochi, Goa and Puducherry.
Italy VFS — your consulate depends on where you live
Italy is different: you must apply where you have continuously resided for the last 6 months, and four Italian missions split the country. Applying under the wrong jurisdiction is a common cause of rejected appointments.
| Italian mission | Covers (states/UTs) | In-person VAC cities |
|---|---|---|
| Embassy, New Delhi | Delhi, Haryana, Himachal, J&K, Punjab, Rajasthan, UP, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh | New Delhi, Chandigarh, Jalandhar |
| Consulate, Mumbai | Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, MP, Goa, Kerala | Mumbai, Cochin, Pune, Ahmedabad |
| Consulate, Kolkata | West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Assam & the North-East, Sikkim, A&N Islands | Kolkata |
| Consulate, Bengaluru | South India | Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad |
So there is an Italy VFS centre in Jalandhar and Chandigarh — but only for applicants living in North India, whose file goes to the Delhi Embassy.
Canada, UK & USA — the non-Schengen route
Canada
VFS Global is the exclusive Canada VAC operator in India, with centres in the major metros (including New Delhi, Chandigarh and Mumbai). You first apply and pay online to IRCC, then attend a VAC only for biometrics. Government fees are set by IRCC: visitor visa (TRV) CAD $100 per person and biometrics CAD $85 per person (a separate VAC service fee applies).
United Kingdom
Also VFS Global, in 11 cities including the Connaught Place (Delhi) and Bandra-Kurla (Mumbai) centres. You apply and pay on GOV.UK first, then book a biometric slot at any UK VAC in India — there is no state-based jurisdiction. The Standard Visitor visa (up to 6 months) fee for applicants in India is ₹17,551.
United States
The USA does not use VFS. B1/B2 visitor applicants pay the US$185 MRV fee, book through usvisascheduling.com, give biometrics at a Visa Application Center, and attend a separate interview at the Embassy (New Delhi) or a Consulate (Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata) — assigned by the state you live in.
Does the city I apply in matter? (Consulate jurisdiction)
This is the detail that trips people up. For some countries you can lodge a short-stay visa at any centre; for others your state decides your consulate.
France (sole/main destination), Germany, Austria, Czechia, Netherlands, Denmark, Finland — short-stay files are centralised to one deciding mission.
Italy, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Hungary — and the USA. You must apply under the consulate that covers your place of residence.
Where jurisdiction applies, you generally must have lived in that consulate's region for the last 6 months. Recent movers: apply where you're now resident, with proof.
Fees: the visa fee vs the service fee
You pay two separate things — the government visa fee, and the operator's service charge. Don't be surprised by the second one.
| Visa | Government fee | Operator service fee (separate) |
|---|---|---|
| Schengen short-stay (adult) | €90 (≈ ₹9,500–₹10,100, monthly rate) | VFS ≈ ₹600–₹2,700 · BLS ≈ ₹1,802 · GVCW €30 |
| Schengen child 6–12 | €45 · under 6 free | Same as above |
| UK Standard Visitor (6 months) | ₹17,551 | Optional VFS add-ons (priority, lounge) |
| Canada visitor (TRV) | CAD $100 + biometrics CAD $85 | Separate VAC service fee |
| USA B1/B2 | US$185 (MRV) | — |
The uniform Schengen short-stay fee is €90 for adults (since 11 June 2024). Exact rupee amounts and service fees are set on each official booking page and change with the exchange rate — treat these as a guide, not a quote.
How to book a VFS appointment in India (step by step)
- Confirm your operator & consulate. Use the table above — VFS, BLS or GVCW — and check whether your state fixes your consulate.
- Start on the official page first. For the UK, Canada, USA and Australia you apply/pay online before you book a slot. For Schengen you usually book the centre appointment directly.
- Pick your city & a slot. Create an account on the official booking link and choose the nearest centre. Slots for peak season (Apr–Aug) fill fast — book early.
- Attend for biometrics. Go in person with your documents and passport; fingerprints and a photo are taken (biometrics are valid 59 months for Schengen).
- Track & collect. Your passport is couriered back or collected. Keep the reference number safe.
Frequently asked questions
VFS Global runs visa application centres in roughly 15 cities — commonly New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Cochin, Goa, Jaipur, Puducherry and Lucknow — though which cities are active depends on the destination country.
France has 14 VFS Global centres: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Jaipur, Kochi, Goa and Puducherry. If France is your main destination you may apply at any of them.
Spain uses BLS International in India, not VFS Global — with centres in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Chandigarh, Jalandhar and Puducherry.
For France, Germany, Austria, Czechia, Netherlands, Denmark and Finland you can usually apply at any centre. For Italy, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Hungary and the USA, your consulate is fixed by the state you have lived in for the last 6 months.
It is separate from the visa fee. VFS charges roughly ₹600–₹2,700 per application depending on the country, BLS about ₹1,802 for Spain, and GVCW €30 for Greece — on top of the €90 Schengen government fee.
No. US B1/B2 visitor applicants book through usvisascheduling.com, pay the US$185 MRV fee, give biometrics at a Visa Application Center, and attend a separate interview at the US Embassy or a Consulate.
Yes, but only for applicants living in North India (Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, UP, etc.) whose files are handled by the Italian Embassy in New Delhi. Applicants elsewhere use their own regional consulate's centres.
For Schengen visas, fingerprints are valid for 59 months, so you may be exempt if you gave them recently. Most centres still require you to submit documents in person.
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Written by
Rohit GirDocumentation & Financial Profile Support · M.Com (2022)
Rohit Gir supports the team with document review, financial-profile organisation and applicant communication. He helps ensure that income proof, bank statements, business documents, salary records and supporting evidence are presented clearly and consistently.
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