Bhubaneswar: Odisha is set to have its own Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Bhubaneswar following Union home minister Amit Shah’s proposal last month to establish such a facility at every state headquarters by 2027.Officials said the move will not only decentralise immigration services across India, but will also ensure faster and more accessible services for foreign nationals in Odisha.At present, India has 12 FRROs located in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Amritsar, Goa, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram and Lucknow. Odisha, until now, was under the jurisdiction of Hyderabad, often causing delays and logistical hurdles for applicants. The upcoming facility in Bhubaneswar is expected to ease that burden considerably.According to sources in Odisha police, the Bureau of Immigration (BoI) conducted a selection process and interviews in Bhubaneswar on Aug 17, shortlisting 19 police officers for deployment at the upcoming FRRO. The office will be housed at Toshali Bhawan, which accommodates several govt establishments, and is expected to be operational within three months.“The BoI will soon conduct a training programme for the shortlisted officers,” a govt order stated. Sources indicated that an SP‑ranked officer is likely to head the Bhubaneswar FRRO.Officials said the new FRRO will reduce the workload of the Hyderabad unit and ensure quicker delivery of immigration services such as registration of foreigners, visa extension, visa conversion and issuance of exit permits. Existing Foreigners Registration Offices (FROs) functioning under district SPs will continue to initiate applications, which will then be forwarded to the FRRO for scrutiny and approval.The decision comes at a time when foreign tourist inflow to Odisha has been steadily rising since 2022. Official data shows 22,121 foreign tourists visited Odisha in 2022, 45,173 in 2023 and 53,392 in 2024.Authorities believe the new FRRO will help facilitate smoother travel and longer stays for international visitors, students and professionals.For outbound travellers, Odisha also opened a visa application centre in Bhubaneswar on April 1 at the Baba Saheb Ambedkar Bus Terminal, eliminating the need to travel to Kolkata, Hyderabad or Delhi for submissions.
