Spike in Demand for Schengen Visas in India, Difficulty Getting Interview Slots
Schengen Visa Fees Surge Globally as New Rates Take Effect
Due to the rush, many Indians faced challenges because of the shortage of visa interview slots, disrupting their travel arrangements.
17 May 2024
By Khushi Maheshwari`
Last year, Schengen nations received the third-highest number of visa applications from India, with 9.7 lakh, a 44% rise from 6.7 lakh in 2022. According to the European Commission, India saw the second-highest increase in visa applications among the top five nations after China, with Morocco and Turkey trailing behind.
However, due to the spike, many Indians encountered difficulties due to a lack of visa interview slots, causing interruptions in their travel plans.
Anil Kalsi, Vice-President of the Travel Agents Federation of India, told a national daily that appointments are just not accessible in the majority of Schengen nations. If one wishes to travel to Europe this summer, the earliest available appointment date for Germany and Italy is July. This is making it extremely tough for tourists.
According to the rules, applicants must apply to the consulate of the country that would be their principal destination in Europe. However, travellers are obliged to choose any nation that has an appointment accessible for a visa on time.
According to travel specialists in India, the true demand for Schengen visas is likely much larger than the official figures indicate. However, due to a shortage of accessible visa interview times, many Indians who wanted to go were unable to apply for Schengen visas.
Russia and China have undergone distinct dynamics. China, which only opened its borders for international travel last year, experienced a considerable increase in demand, rising from 22nd place in 2022 to first place in 2023. It had the biggest growth, a staggering 1,104 percent, showing a tenfold increase in applications over the previous year.
Russia, on the other hand, fell from second place in 2022 to fifth place in 2023, owing primarily to the war in Ukraine and subsequent sanctions. Russian Schengen visa applications declined by 25% during the course of two years. Several travel agents have complained to Visa Facilitation Services (VFS) on multiple occasions but have not received any reply.
Regarding the allegations, a global firm informed that visa determination timelines are solely at the discretion of the different embassies/consulates. To minimise last-minute shocks, experts recommend that travellers plan their trips in advance. Most nations accept visa applications up to 90 days (3 months) before departure. The amended Schengen Visa Code, beginning 2nd February, 2020, allows travellers to apply for a Schengen visa up to 6 months before your travel date.
In fact, until recently, European Union legislation permitted the issuance of short-term visas to regular travellers, which required many applications.
The Schengen visa zone encompasses Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
