Has anyone from South Africa or similar visa-heavy regions applied for a short-stay Schengen visa recently, specifically through the French or Italian consulates?
I am trying to plan a recovery trip/training tour for my team next year, but the varying reports on processing times are concerning. I would love to verify the current situation before we commit to bookings.
Timeline Reliability: Do they actually process within the 15-day window they claim on the VFS website, or are people seeing month-long delays?
Friction Points: Has anyone faced rejection based on “justification of stay” even with fully paid hotels and flights?
Documentation: Are they asking for extra documents not listed on the checklist?
Would love to hear real experiences from the last year so we can strategize our application timing better.
The 15-day processing time is more of a minimum target than a guarantee. Lately, many people are seeing 3–6 weeks, especially with France and Italy during busy periods. So I wouldn’t plan around exactly 15 days.
Rejections for “justification of stay” still happen — even with paid hotels and flights — usually when:
The purpose isn’t explained clearly enough
Financials look weak or inconsistent
Ties to home aren’t strong on paper
They don’t usually ask for random extra documents, but if something looks unclear, they may request more proof (bank history, employer letters, detailed itinerary, etc.).
If you’re planning for a team trip, I’d apply at least 2–3 months in advance to be safe.
Observe the detail in the application requirements carefully. I applied through the French consulate here in Morocco last spring to visit some restoration sites in Lyon. While the official timeline stated 15 days, history speaks differently; it took nearly 45 days. The documentation process was rigorous, requiring not just the standard list but also a detailed itinerary down to the hour. Geometric harmony is easier to find in tiles than in their administrative process. Proceed with caution and patience.