New Delhi (Agency): Germany has recently cut down the processing time for the Schengen visa to eight weeks. Georg Enzweiler, Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in New Delhi, made this announcement on Wednesday. He highlighted that they are keen on improving application times, saying, “Visa is an important issue. We are striving to get better with application times.”
Enzweiler stated that they would like to make this change quickly, but “bureaucracy takes its toll.” To address the waiting time, the embassy has bolstered its staff, especially in Mumbai. He shared, “We are at roughly eight weeks now,” expressing the hope that this duration will reduce even further. He emphasized their commitment, saying, “We don’t want to invite you here to promote tourism of Indians to Germany and then ask them to apply for a visa three years in advance.”
For those unaware, a Schengen visa grants a short stay (up to 90 days) in any member country of the 27-nation Schengen Area in Europe, meant primarily for tourism or business. Yet, the prolonged visa processing time had been a setback for many aiming to travel to Europe.
Earlier in April, the German Embassy issued advice due to a sharp rise in Schengen visa demands. This advisory mentioned longer waiting times and urged, “If you are planning to travel to Germany in the near future, please make an appointment with our external service provider VFS in time.” They clarified that the visa processing countdown begins only when the application reaches the Consulate, which might take “up to six working days” based on delivery and holidays. They also advised potential travelers with imminent plans to consider rescheduling. “Requests for preferential treatment cannot be honoured,” the advisory further noted.
The changes come amid growing interest from Indian tourists. Recent statistics from the German National Tourist Board reveal that Indian tourists registered more than 6.23 lakh nights in Germany in 2022. This figure marked a notable 209% increase from the year before. However, it’s worth noting that this number still stands at 65% of what it was before the global pandemic.
