Heading to Europe? This is how long you have to wait for your Schengen visa appointment

Summer is just around the corner, and so is the mad dash for Schengen visas — a seasonal rush that could put a pause on your dream European getaway. With embassies swamped and appointment slots filling up fast, getting that stamp on your passport might feel tougher than finding a sunbed on the Amalfi Coast.

But don’t pack away your travel dreams just yet. With a little early planning and the right information, there’s still time to turn those vacation goals into reality. Whether it’s strolling through Paris with a croissant in hand or chasing sunsets along the Greek islands, a European summer is still within reach — if you know how to beat the visa blues.

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Schengen visa appointment
Typically, Schengen visas take 15 to 45 days to process after your appointment. However, the real challenge lies in getting an appointment to submit your documents and biometric data. During peak vacation season, booking Schengen visa appointments can be difficult.

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As of now, countries like France have their processing time as 2-3 weeks from Chandigarh, Cochin and Puducherry, according to a Condé Nast Traveller.

Switzerland’s earliest slot is available on 29 April (Mumbai) and Germany's on 21 May (Gurgaon and Chennai), the CNT report says. Italy has no open slots in Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. The earliest slot available in Ahmedabad is on 16 May but there is a workaround as previous Schengen visa holders can get an appointment in less than two weeks as long as they've visited a Schengen country at least once before, the report adds.

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On the other hand, France, Hungary, Norway and Finland have slots available sooner, France and Finland being the quickest with the earliest spot available on 25th April (Chennai and Hyderabad), as per VFS.

Spain has available appointments in May across major Indian cities, with an average processing time of seven working days for visa applications, according to BLS. Sweden, on the other hand, is the only country providing next-day appointments at all Indian centers.