VFS Booking Tips
Most Schengen countries take applications in India through VFS Global. Slots go quickly, so here is how to get one, what to bring and how not to lose money.
What the visa centre does
The visa application centre collects your documents and fingerprints and sends them to the embassy, which decides. It does not decide anything itself and cannot promise an outcome. Most countries use VFS Global in India; a few use another provider, for example BLS International for Spain. The embassy website of the country you apply to always says which centre to use and where to book.
Getting an appointment
- Start early. Check availability 3 to 4 months before you travel and book as soon as your dates are firm. Slots in peak months (April to August, December and January) can be taken weeks ahead.
- Check several cities. Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Pune have different availability, and a flight to a nearby city can save a month.
- Look at the right times. New slots and cancellations often appear in the early morning. Weekdays are usually easier than Mondays and Saturdays.
- Book directly. Use only the official website of the visa centre or embassy. Anyone selling slots, "guaranteed" appointments or a faster visa is a middleman, and some are scams.
- Consider another country only if it is genuinely your main destination. Applying to a country you will not spend most nights in can get the application refused.
What it costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Schengen visa fee (adult) | €90, paid at the centre |
| Service fee | About INR 1,900 to 3,100 per applicant, set by each country |
| Optional extras | Courier return of the passport, SMS updates, premium or home service |
Check the exact figures on the centre's page for your country: fees and optional services differ.
On the day
- Bring your passport, the appointment confirmation, the signed form, the photos and one set of originals with a photocopy of everything, in the order of the checklist.
- Arrive about 15 minutes before your slot. Bags and phones may have to be left at the entrance, so carry little.
- Staff check that the file is complete, take fingerprints and a photo, and collect the fees. They do not give advice on the likely result.
- Take the tracking number. You will use it to follow the application and to book the passport return.
- Your fingerprints stay valid for repeat applications for about 59 months, so a later application can be quicker.
Avoid these mistakes
- Paying a third party for an appointment you could book free of charge.
- Booking a slot in the wrong category (tourist, business, family visit) or for the wrong country.
- Turning up with missing signatures, a photo that does not meet the specification, or stale bank statements.
- Booking non-refundable flights and hotels before the visa is issued. Use refundable options until you have the passport back.
What applicants say
Real experiences from Indian applicants on Reddit. They show how it went for them; your own case can differ.
“Applied for a Schengen visa with my wife from VFS Bengaluru on 13th July, and got our passports delivered with visas on 18th July itself by courier!”
“Processing after appointment: 6 calendar days to dispatch, 7 calendar days to receipt”
Official links
- VFS GlobalChoose your destination country to find its India centres, fees and booking page.
- BLS Spain Visa IndiaUsed for Spain applications.
- German Missions in IndiaExample of an embassy page with appointment information and document lists.
Rules and fees change and each embassy sets its own document list. This page is a guide, not legal advice: always confirm on the website of the embassy or visa centre you apply through.