When applying for a Schengen visa, the normal processing time is 15 calendar days from the date an admissible application is lodged. This period may be extended up to 45 calendar days if a more detailed examination or additional documents are required. If you require urgent travel for business, medical, family or humanitarian reasons, you should contact the relevant consulate, embassy or visa application centre to check whether any urgent appointment or expedited handling option is available for your circumstances. Availability of urgent appointments or optional services varies by Schengen country, consulate, embassy, visa application centre and location. Visa application centres may offer optional paid services, but they do not decide visa applications.
What Are Schengen Urgent Appointment and Optional Services?
Schengen visa applications are normally decided within 15 calendar days from the date an admissible application is lodged. Some consulates or visa application centres may offer urgent appointment options or optional paid services, but a faster visa decision is not guaranteed. Only the competent consulate or embassy can decide the visa application, and optional services provided by visa application centres do not affect the visa decision. There is no general Schengen-wide express decision service guaranteeing a decision within 24–48 hours. Urgent cases are handled according to the rules and availability of the competent consulate, embassy or visa application centre.
Who Can Request an Urgent Appointment or Optional Service?
Availability of urgent appointments, expedited handling or optional paid services varies by Schengen country, consulate, embassy, visa application centre and location. Applicants with urgent travel needs should check the instructions of the competent consulate, embassy or visa application centre. Previous Schengen visa history, complete documents and biometric submission may support the application, but they do not create an automatic entitlement to an urgent appointment, expedited handling or a faster visa decision.
Urgent appointment or processing requests are not guaranteed, and the decision on the visa application remains with the competent consulate or embassy.
How Much Do Urgent Appointment or Optional Services Cost?
There is no standard Schengen-wide priority, express or fast-track visa decision fee. Optional service fees, where available, vary by visa application centre, location and service type. Applicants should check the current fee list published by the relevant consulate, embassy or visa application centre and should not assume that any optional service will speed up the visa decision.
How to Request an Urgent Appointment or Optional Service
During your application or appointment booking process, check whether the relevant consulate, embassy or visa application centre offers any urgent appointment, expedited handling option or optional paid service for your circumstances. If no urgent or optional service is shown, contact the relevant consulate, embassy or visa application centre before booking your appointment to confirm the available options. You must pay any applicable visa fee and optional service fee in the way instructed by the relevant consulate, embassy or visa application centre. Optional paid services do not guarantee visa approval or a faster visa decision.
- Complete the relevant Schengen visa application form.
- Select any available urgent appointment, appointment slot or optional service offered for your application, where applicable.
- Book an appointment with the relevant embassy, consulate or visa application centre for the Schengen country responsible for your application.
- Submit your documents and biometric data, where required.
- Pay the visa fee and any optional service fees as instructed by the relevant consulate, embassy or visa application centre.
Important Information
Using an urgent appointment, expedited handling option or optional paid service does not guarantee visa approval or a faster final decision. All applications are still examined and decided by the competent consulate or embassy. Incomplete or inaccurate applications may be refused or delayed, even if an urgent appointment, expedited handling option or optional paid service has been used.
Related Guidance
- Schengen Urgent Appointment and Optional Services (2026)
- Schengen Digital Document Upload Guide (2026)
- Schengen visa Processing Times (2026)
About This Page
Author: Visa Applications Editorial Team
Reviewed by: Michael Gibbons, Regulated Immigration Adviser.
Last Updated: 11 June 2026.