Schengen Visa Processing Time: If you are contemplating travel to Europe for business or pleasure, you may need a Schengen visa to enter any of the 27 Schengen Area countries. Nonetheless, it is essential to comprehend the processing time and actions required to obtain this visa.
How long is the typical Schengen visa processing time?
The average processing time for a Schengen visa is fifteen consecutive days. Your application will be reviewed and processed within 15 days of the submission date.
It is essential to note that the processing time may be extended to a maximum of thirty days in certain circumstances. Typically, this is due to the need for additional observation or examination of particular applications. In addition, if your application is insufficient or requires additional documentation, it could take up to sixty days to process.
Factors influencing the duration of Schengen visa processing:
- Several variables may affect the processing time of your Schengen visa application. For example:
- Nationality of the applicant: According to the Schengen Agreement, a Member State may request that the central authorities of other Member States consult with its own central authorities when evaluating visa applications from certain nationals of third countries or specific groups of such individuals. Consequently, the requesting Member State may seek additional input or information from the consulted Member State’s authorities while evaluating the visa application.
- Type of visa: The processing time fluctuates based on the type of visa you have applied for. For example, a long-term visa can take longer to process than a short-term visa.
- The duration of the delay depends on the time of year you submit your visa application. This is possible because the embassy or consulate may receive more visa applications during peak travel seasons, such as the summer. This may result in a delay.
- Consulate workload: If the embassy or consulate where you submitted your visa application is frequently active, the processing time will be longer than normal. In various embassies and consulates, the number of personnel fluctuates from week to week; therefore, this is another factor.
- Completeness and accuracy of the application: If you want a fast decision on your visa application, ensure that your application form is accurate and complete. This is because the processing of your visa application will be delayed if additional information is required or if it is insufficient.
Although some of these factors are beyond the applicant’s control, you can reduce the processing time for your visa application by submitting a complete, accurate application well in advance of your anticipated travel dates.
Countries requiring lengthier Schengen visa processing times
As previously stated, some Member States require consultation prior to granting visas to nationals of certain countries who appeal to other Schengen States. These countries are:
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Congo, Democratic Republic of
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia Iran
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kyrgyzstan
- The country of North Korea
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Saudi Arabia
- Somalia
- The South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan Syria
- Tajikistan
- Tunisia
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
- Yemen
Schengen member states may require notification before issuing visas to certain nationals of third countries. This obligation applies to all of the following third-country nationals:
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Angola
- Armenia
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Cameroon
- China
- Congo, Democratic Republic of
- Africa’s Ivory Coast
- Cuba
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- The country of North Korea
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Liberia
- Libya
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Myanmar
- Nepal* Niger
- Nigeria
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Saudi Arabia
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
- Uzbekistan
- Yemen
- Zimbabwe
How can my Schengen visa application be expedited?
There are available options. According to EU regulations, you may be eligible for a free expedited visa process if you meet the following requirements:
- You are a relative of a citizen of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA).
- The EU/EEA citizen is travelling to or residing in another member state.
- You are accompanying or intending to join the EU/EEA citizen in the Schengen State of destination.
To be eligible for the expedited visa process, you must provide evidence that you meet these requirements. You must submit the required supporting documents along with your visa application.
How do I verify the status of my application for a Schengen visa?
Online tracking is available for Schengen visa applications. It depends on where your application was submitted.
If you submitted an application at an embassy or consulate-general, you should have received a code that you can use to monitor your application online.
- Go to the website of the embassy.
- Select the country and language where you submitted your application.
- Enter the tracking number associated with your package.
- To observe the status of your application, click ‘Submit’.
If you have applied to a third-party service provider (VFS Global, TLS Contact, etc.), navigate to the website where you submitted your application and click “Track your application online.”
Fill in the reference number or note down your email address and password, as per the website’s instructions.
Click ‘Submit’ to check the status of your application online.
Some third-party service providers provide SMS notifications. You can register for SMS alerts when applying. You will be notified of the status of your application. If your visa application is taking significantly longer than anticipated, you may wish to contact the embassy or consulate to inquire about its status. You can inquire if there are any additional documents or information you can provide to expedite the process.
