I'm planning a month-long trip to Italy and I'll be applying through a visa center. They used to say 5-7 days, but a friend of mine waited two weeks recently. Could the processing times have changed this year?
I can't say for sure about any official increase in processing times for 2026, but yeah, I hear about it more and more from people I know. It used to be faster before, but visa application centers are clearly overwhelmed right now - queues have gotten longer. On top of the standard 5-7 days, you might have extra time added for additional document verification. If you're planning to go to Italy, I'd recommend submitting your application a month before your flight and not counting on the expedited option, even if your center offers it - it costs more and can still take longer anyway.
In 2026, the official processing times for Schengen visas haven't changed - it's still the standard 5-7 business days, but in practice delays happen regularly. Your acquaintance ran into a real situation: queues at visa application centers are growing, especially in summer and fall when everyone wants to take a vacation in Europe. Plus, additional document checks might be required if something looks incomplete or raises questions.
What to do: submit your application at least a month before your flight to have time to cover yourself. When you apply, clarify the specific timeframes at your particular center - they can vary depending on how busy it is and which consulate's office it is. Some centers post information about current delays on their website. If your trip is time-critical, there's an expedited processing service (usually paid), but whether it's available depends on the visa application center.
The official timelines haven't changed, but queues and delays are a real thing these past few months, especially in big cities before the summer season. I'd recommend submitting your application well in advance, at least three weeks ahead, to avoid getting caught off guard.
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