Posted on August 12 2020

Which countries are accepting visa applications?

By
Anshul Singhal
, Editor

Updated April 02 2024

As the world gradually returns to the normal amidst the COVID-19 situation, there has been a resumption of services in various government departments of several countries.

Countries all over the globe are opening up, in keeping with the pandemic situation in their specific country. While certain countries have resumed accepting all kinds of visa applications, there are also countries accepting only specific visa applications at the moment.

Many VFS Global centres have resumed operations. VFS Global – visa outsourcing and technology services specialist for various governments worldwide – serves the interests of 64 client governments in 144 countries located across 5 continents.

Embassies/Consulates of various countries have also resumed services.

Countries that are open and accepting visa applications –

Country	Status	VFS / Embassy/ Consulate	Visa category	City	Submission process
Austria	Open	VFS	Long stay visa	Chennai Hyderabad	Applicant should book an appointment.
Belgium	Open	VFS	Belgium for studies [D visa] & Family reunification	Only at New Delhi	The applicant should book an appointment at the Delhi VFS for submission in person as Biometrics is required. Applicants of only the Delhi region can submit the application in Delhi and not for other state applicants.
Denmark	Open	VFS	Only longer term visa applications	New Delhi & Chennai [effective July 20, 2020)	The applicant should book an appointment at the Delhi VFS for submission in person as Biometrics is required. Applicants of only Delhi region can submit the application in Delhi and not for other state applicants.
Estonia	Open	VFS	Only long term visa applications. -Work, Study, close relatives [parent, child], who is Estonian citizen or holder of the resident permit.	Only at New Delhi	Applicant should book an appointment at the Delhi VFS for submission in person as Biometrics is required. Applicants of only Delhi region can submit the application in Delhi and not for other state applicants
Germany	Open	VFS	Only Open for D Visa Stampings	New Delhi Mumbai Chennai Hyderabad Kolkata Bangalore	Appointment booking is mandatory for visa stamping.
Hungary	Open	Embassy & Consulate	Student visa	New Delhi & Mumbai	Appointment booking is mandatory and applicant should visit.
Ireland	Open	VFS	Work, Study, Dependent, Research	New Delhi, Mumbai [closed until further notice] Bangalore Hyderabad Chennai Pune [after July 23] Jalandhar Kolkata Cochin Ahmedabad Chandigarh	To submit application one must mandatorily book an appointment
Italy	Open	VFS	Students	Mumbai Bangalore Cochin Chennai Hyderabad Kolkata	Appointment booking is mandatory and applicant should visit.
Luxembourg	Open	Embassy / VFS	Type D applications	New Delhi Hyderabad Chennai Kochi Bangalore	Appointment is mandatory to submit the visa application
Norway	Open	VFS	For residence permit application only	New Delhi Hyderabad Chennai Bangalore	To submit application one must mandatorily book an appointment
Poland	Open	VFS	Long Term Applications [Employment, Study & National Others].	New Delhi	To submit application one must mandatorily book an appointment
Portugal	Open	VFS	Long term applications in New Delhi & Visa renewals in Chennai [E6 - lost or expired Portuguese residence card, D6 visas already issued but expired during the lockdowns]	New Delhi & Chennai	To submit application one must mandatorily book an appointment.
Spain	Open	Embassy	Students only	New Delhi	Appointment is mandatory to submit the visa application.
Sweden	Open	Embassy	Student	New Delhi	Students who have received their decisions from the Swedish Migration Agency can book an appointment for biometrics at the Embassy of Sweden in New Delhi.
Switzerland	Open	VFS	Visa Type D application only	New Delhi Hyderabad Chennai Bangalore Kochi	To submit application one must mandatorily book an appointment.
UK	Open	VFS	All Visa Categories	All cities	Applicant should book an appointment.