How to get an Italy Schengen visa appointment in the UK

If you are a UK resident who wants to experience rich cultural heritage, Italian cuisine and breathtaking scenery, you have the option to submit a visa application to visit Italy. However, one of the most common problems faced by travellers is booking an appointment for a Schengen visa.

The Italian consulate handles a lot of visa applications, but there is now more demand for visas for all Schengen countries, resulting in more difficulty in getting Italy Schengen visa appointments.

The process can be tedious, with messages on the VFS global site saying "No appointments available" or "Please select another date and time as all appointments are scheduled in this time slot".

Don't be put off. You can get an Italian visa in your passport with the proper planning. This article is a complete guideline on how to book your Italy Schengen Visa appointment in the UK.

Persistence Pays Off: Tips for Booking Visa Appointments

One of the most common tips shared by travelers is to be patient and stay alert. The key to booking an appointment is straightforward but important: keep refreshing the visa application center's website.

A Reddit user advised,

"Check the VFS website often. Try to refresh the appointments page every 15-20 minutes."

This approach has worked for many people, but it does require a lot of effort.

Premium Services by Visa Application Centre: A Potential Lifesaver?

As your travel date approaches and you have an additional budget, consider the premium services offered by VFS. These services can speed up the visa appointment procedure, albeit at an additional cost.

On the advice of one Reddit user:

‘Have you tried their premium services? They charge a fee, but if you're in a hurry, it might help.’

Please note, the service cost is per person, per family member, per passport.

Timing Is Everything: Capitalising on Evening Slots

In the quest for an Italy Schengen Visa appointment, timing can be everything. New appointment are usually released in the evening.

A note from one of the travellers:

“After three weeks, I got it on Thursday for Italy. You've observed appointments opening up in the 17:30 - 18:00 BST range, and typically a slot for following day at least one or more times (I've seen this myself four times). You usually check in the evening.”

Broaden Your Horizons: Exploring Other Schengen Countries

If securing an appointment through VFS proves to be particularly challenging, it might be worth considering appointment centres in other countries in the Schengen area that may be part of your trip. Consulate requirements for documents are usually very similar.

"In case one wants to ensure they get appointments, I recommend searching for countries that use the TLScontact (rather than the VFS). From my research, Belgium and France have TLS. France is in demand, but Belgium is easy to find."

- a reddit user shared his experience.

Be Strategic: Timing Your Booking Around Mid-Month

It's often suggested that VFS Italy releases appointments in batches around the 15th of each month. If this is the case, then timing your book appointment around this period might improve your chances. One Reddit user is proof of the point: "VFS Italy releases appointments in batch around 15th each month. This is your best chance."

Be Prepared: Keep Your Documents Ready

When an appointment slot opens up, speed is of the essence. Have your documents ready, including your passport, valid residence permit and anything else that will help you fill out the application form quickly.

"Always have your documents and credit card ready. As soon as you see an appointment, fill the application form. Be quick! Other people will want to get the same appointment," shared one Reddit user. Pre-typing your information in a text editor could save time when filling in an application form.

Alternative Route: Getting a Schengen Visa from Another Country

This strategy involves submitting an application for a Schengen visa in another country, making travel plans there, validating the visa and then trip to Italy from that country. This approach would be fully compliant with Schengen area rules.

One user suggested this in his post:

"Find any Schengen country which can give you an appointment. Eg the Netherlands, Slovenia, France, etc. Make some travel plans with them for say 1-2 weeks, including accommodation etc. Get the visa. Then enter that country and then go to Italy from there (and of course cancel the other-country hotel reservation)."

Other Visa Centres: Broadening Your Options

Perhaps it is a better idea to look at visa centres and consulate except VFS and Italian Consulate, personally (the centre in Greece has the own book appointment system).

A Redditor wrote: "Another potentially favourable option is Greece. They run their own appointment system. Last year, I had more words of appointment than in any other country.”

In conclusion, the process of securing an Italy Schengen Visa appointment in the UK can be challenging. The key is perseverance, watchfulness, and strategic planning.

Take into account your travel date, start booking your submission well in advance of departure, the visa requirements of the embassy, collect all documents personally, and check everything again before entering the visa centre before you submit your application.

The process may seem daunting, but the reward at the end - a valid visa in your passport, visit and experience the beauty and culture of Italy.

This article is for information purposes, it is not legal advice. Please check official authorities for up-to-date information.