VFS Global Schengen Visa Appointment: How to Book (2026)
How to book a Schengen visa appointment with VFS Global: finding the right country page, registering, fees, what to bring, and how to avoid slot scams.
By the SchengenDoc editorial team · Checked against the EU Visa Code (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009), European Commission visa statistics and official consulate checklists. How we verify
VFS Global is a private company that many Schengen consulates hire to collect visa applications, take fingerprints and return passports. It does not decide your visa — the consulate does. This guide explains how booking works and what trips people up.
01Key takeaways
- Book only on the official VFS Global site for your country of residence and your destination country, reached from the consulate's own website.
- Each destination has its own VFS page. A slot for Italy cannot be used for France.
- You pay the consulate's visa fee plus a VFS service fee. Optional extras (SMS, courier, premium lounge) are not required.
- Booking an appointment is free on the official site. Anyone selling "guaranteed slots" is not VFS.
- Which provider a consulate uses differs by country — always check the consulate's website first.
02Step 1: Confirm the consulate actually uses VFS Global
The same embassy can use different providers in different countries. For example, our checked country pages show France using VFS Global in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, the USA and Rwanda, but TLScontact in the UK, the Philippines and Thailand. Open the visa section of your destination's embassy website in your country and follow its link. Our country guides list the verified provider and source date where we have checked it.
03Step 2: Pick the right consulate
Apply to the country where you spend the most nights. If nights are equal, apply to the country you enter first. Booking with the wrong country's VFS page is one of the most common reasons people lose an appointment.
04Step 3: Register and book
On the VFS page for your destination, create an account with the email you will check, then choose the visa centre city, the visa category (usually short-stay tourism, business or family visit) and the number of applicants. Pick a date and confirm. Save the appointment confirmation — many centres will not let you in without it.
If no dates show, check again at different times of day; centres release new slots regularly. Do not pay third parties to "find" slots.
05Step 4: Fees
- Visa fee: set by EU rules (€90 for adults, reduced for children aged 6–11) and paid as the consulate instructs.
- Service fee: charged by VFS for handling the application. The amount depends on the country and is listed on the VFS page.
- Optional services: courier return, SMS updates, photocopies, form filling. These do not affect the decision.
06Step 5: The appointment day
Arrive on time with your printed confirmation, passport, application form and every document on your checklist, in the order the centre asks for. Your fingerprints and photo are taken unless you gave them in the last 59 months. Staff check the file is complete; they cannot tell you whether it will be approved.
07Tracking and collection
VFS gives you a reference number to track the passport. Processing is done by the consulate, within 15 calendar days of lodging, extendable to 45 in individual cases (Art. 23). Collect your passport in person or by courier if you paid for it.
08Before the appointment: have your file ready
An appointment slot is only useful if the file is complete on the day. Missing or inconsistent documents mean a wasted trip or a refusal. Build your complete visa file — $19 (cover letter, itinerary and checklist matched to your trip). Not sure which papers you need? Use the free document checklist.
Appointment reality check: the slot wait comes first
The legal decision clock only starts once your application is lodged. Before that, you need an appointment — and how long that takes depends on your consulate or visa centre, not on the law.
Stage 1 — Appointment
"The applicant may be required to obtain an appointment for the lodging of an application. The appointment shall, as a rule, take place within two weeks from the date when it was requested." (Art. 9(2))
Stage 2 — Decision
"Applications shall be decided on within 15 calendar days of the date of the lodging of an application which is admissible." (Art. 23(1))
Stage 3 — Possible extension
"That period may be extended up to a maximum of 45 calendar days in individual cases, notably when further scrutiny of the application is needed." (Art. 23(2))
When you can apply (Art. 9(1))
- Earliest: 6 months before the start of your trip (9 months for seafarers).
- Latest: 15 calendar days before the start of your trip.
Have your documents ready before booking, so you can take a cancelled slot if one opens up.
Check your actual wait
Start from your destination consulate's website — it names the centre it uses. Our provider guides:
Source: consolidated EU Visa Code. Full processing-times guide
Going to your appointment? Print the folder-order checklist or read the field-by-field form guide.
Frequently asked questions
- Is VFS Global the embassy?
- No. VFS Global is a private company that collects applications and biometrics for the consulate. The consulate alone decides whether to issue the visa.
- Is booking a VFS Global appointment free?
- Booking on the official site is free. You pay the visa fee and the service fee at or before submission. Avoid anyone selling slots.
- Can VFS Global tell me if my visa will be approved?
- No. Staff only check that your file is complete and take biometrics. The decision is made by the consulate.
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