Your Europe Trip Could Be Delayed Because Of THIS Reason

You’re not the only one dreaming of a trip to Rome, Paris, or Amsterdam. As per reports, a surge in visa applications has led to a significant shortage of interview slots for Schengen visas, the visa required to enter most European countries. This means your dream trip will have to wait a little.

Travel demand has rebounded strongly post-pandemic, with many people eager to explore Europe. This surge in applications has overwhelmed Schengen visa consulates across the world. According to reports, the next available slot for an appointment for Germany and Italy is in July 2024. There has been a 44% rise in visa applications for Schengen countries, including from India, from where visa applications rose to 9.7 lakh, compared to 6.7 lakh in 2022.

Anil Kalsi, Vice President of the Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) told Times of India, “[Schengen Visa interview] Appointments are simply not available with a majority of Schengen countries. If you want to travel to Europe this summer, the earliest appointment date for Germany and Italy is in July. This is making life very difficult for travellers.” As per reports, several travel agents have complained to the Visa Facilitation Services (VFS) but there has been no response.

According to the European Commission, among the top five countries, India experienced the second-highest rise in visa applications after China, followed by Morocco and Turkey. Hence, the biggest hurdle you’ll face is securing an interview slot. Appointment slots are often released online in limited batches and get booked up quickly. This could lead to significant delays in obtaining your visa, potentially forcing you to reschedule your trip.

In other news, the new visa ‘cascade’ regime for Indian passport holders applying for Schengen (short-stay) visas was recently announced, which now provides easier access to visas with multi-year validity for travellers who have an established travel history.