Planning to travel to Europe? Schengen visa delays could be a hindrance

As the charm of the European summer attracts vacationers from Gujarat during the holiday season, they are met with a rather frustrating challenge: the Schengen visa application procedure.

The enthusiasm of eager travellers meticulously planning their journeys to the scenic beauty of Europe has been tempered by the frustrating delays in securing visa appointments for European countries.

“Travellers initiating their visa application process as early as April struggle to find visa appointment slots, with wait times stretching for two to three months. The situation is particularly true for those eyeing Scandinavian destinations, where stringent documentation requirements add to the travellers’ woes,” Lalit Advani, an Ahmedabad-based visa consultant told TOI.

“Despite diligently providing all the requisite documents, including proof of return air tickets, confirmed hotel bookings, and comprehensive travel insurance, securing a visa appointment remains a tough task for travellers. This is only delaying their travel plans,” he added.

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According to travel operators, only those who planned their Europe escapades as early as January this year are able to travel to Europe by the end of April or in May.

“I had a pre-planned conference to attend in Germany in May this year. When I inquired in Nov last year about the visa, I was informed that one gets the visa easily. However, when I actually moved my application in Jan, it was put on the waiting list, and finally, I’ve secured a visa appointment for the end of April. The delay is worrisome as it hampers my work travel plans,” said Kirit Solanki, a professional.Summer holiday bookings command about 60 per cent of a travel company’s annual revenues, and Europe comprises a significant portion here.‘Change in travel plans due to long wait period for visas’

The postponement of visa appointments is undermining travel arrangements, leading to financial repercussions for travel companies. Rising airfares and hotel rates have compounded the issue, and last-minute cancellations due to unapproved visas will burden customers with significant cancellation fees.

One of our clients has now shifted his holiday plan with his family to Southeast Asia because of the visa woes,” said Virendra Shah, chairman of the Travel Agents’ Association of India (TAAI) , Gujarat chapter.

Echoing a similar view, Prathesh Thakkar, a visa consultant based in Ahmedabad, said, “The two-month waiting period is often a dampener for travellers. Even if one makes the bookings today, the earliest appointment will be available in June, translating into travel in July. Such a huge timeline often disrupts travel plans and also poses logistical challenges for planning group tours.”

The repercussions, therefore, are severe for those time-pressed for their travel. Moreover, travellers are compelled to incur a financial burden of non-refundable flight tickets or hefty cancellation charges for flights and accommodations.

“The critical task of issuance or refusal of a visa is entirely at the discretion of the respective governments. We continue to encourage applicants to apply well in advance of their travel keeping processing timelines of different governments in mind. Applicants are advised to beware of fraudulent entities who charge fees from customers for scheduling appointments,” said a VFS Global spokesperson, speaking on the matter.