How long is the wait for German visa appointment?

Wait times for German visa appointments vary significantly by location and visa type, ranging from a few days to over 6–12 months in high-demand regions. While Schengen (short-stay) visas generally have faster appointment availability, national visas (long-term, such as student or work) often face longer delays, particularly due to high demand and necessary background checks.

How long does it take to get a German visa from the UK?

Taking into consideration that it takes 15 days to process your application, or even longer, and the time it takes for the embassy to send your passport back, it's in your best interest to apply for the visa as earlier as possible — you're recommended to submit your application a minimum of three months before your ...

How to get a German visa appointment easily?

Visa appointments can only be booked through the online appointment system and not by phone or by email. We would like to point out that requests for special appointments have no chance of success. Please understand that we cannot answer special appointment requests. Each applicant needs an appointment of his/her own.

What is the shortest wait time for Schengen visa?

The normal processing time for a visa application is 15 days. This period may be extended to up to 45 days if a more detailed examination of the application and/or additional documents are required.

What is the fastest way to get a German visa?

Four steps for a successful national visa application

1. Step 1 – Prepare your application. Only the visa fee is due for the procedure. ...
2. Step 2 – Schedule an appointment. ...
3. Step 3 - Processing by the German Mission. ...
4. Step 4 – Returning the passports.

How Long Is The Wait For A German Visa Appointment? - Germany Made Simple

Do UK BRP holders need a Schengen visa?

Yes, in most cases, if you're a non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen with a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) from the UK, you still need a Schengen visa for short tourist visits to the Schengen Area, as your BRP only grants you rights in the UK, not visa-free entry to Europe. However, your BRP allows you to apply for the Schengen visa from within the UK, and some specific UK residence permits (like those for EU family members) might affect rules, but generally, you must check if your nationality requires a Schengen visa. 

What are common Germany visa delays?

What causes delays in German immigration application processing? Common delay factors include high application volumes creating backlogs, thorough document verification processes, and incomplete documentation requiring additional submissions.

Can I get a Schengen visa in 7 days?

You will have to wait at least 15 days for your Schengen Visa to be processed, though the processing time will depend on your case. In specific cases, embassies can take 30 days to process a visa, and the Schengen Visa processing time could even be as long as 60 days in extraordinary circumstances.

Do UK BRP holders need transit visa for Germany?

UK residents still holding a VALID physical Biometric Residence Permit CARD do not require a transit visa in order to transit through a German airport. Please note, this only applies to physical and still valid BRP CARDS.

What can delay visa processing?

Visa Delays

• Concern that type of research/work/area of study involves a sensitive technology.
• Name of applicant is similar to a name on a government watch list.
• Applicant is a citizen of a country that has been designated as a country of concern, including North Korea, Cuba, Syria, Sudan, Iran and Libya.

Why are visa appointments delayed?

New State Department Policy

This additional step in the adjudication process requires more time per applicant, thereby reducing the overall daily processing capacity of consular officers. To align their schedules with this change, consular posts have begun canceling and postponing visa application dates.

What is the salary needed for a German visa?

The Federal Ministry of the Interior has confirmed that the annual minimum-salary requirement for Germany's EU Blue Card has risen to €50,700 gross as of 1 January 2026, with a reduced threshold of €45,934.20 applicable to shortage-occupation roles, recent graduates and qualifying IT professionals.

What are the VFS Germany visa processing times?

In the United States it usually takes 2 to 4 weeks to process your visa application but sometimes processing times can be extended for longer depending on the number of applicants.

What is the rejection rate for German visa?

Out of these, approximately 206,733 applications were rejected, resulting in a rejection rate of around 13.7%, which is slightly lower than the Schengen area's average rejection rate of 14.8%. Germany approved roughly 85.85% of the applications, showing a modest improvement from the previous year.

What does VFS stand for?

VFS most commonly means Visa Facilitation Services, referring to companies like VFS Global, which manage administrative tasks for visa applications (collecting forms, biometrics, documents) for governments, while the embassies still make the final decision. However, VFS can also stand for Vancouver Film School, Virtual File System in computing, Vertical Flight Society, or other terms depending on the context.
 

Which visa is best for Germany?

The D-Visa is also referred to as a national visa and allows for a stay of more than 90 days in Germany. Thus, the national visa Germany is suitable for study stays, taking up work, completing training, family reunification, and even marriage to a partner from a non-Schengen area.

Is Germany visa free for British passport?

Visa requirements

You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes Germany, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

How much money do I need to live in Germany?

What is the cost of living in Germany? It would be hard to get by for less than €1,000 a month in Germany, and this rises to around €1,500€ - €2,000€ in the cities where rents are higher. Students can usually cover living costs for around €850 a month.