Published on 29 June 2026

Where to apply for a Schengen visa?

What are the Schengen visa requirements?

• Visa applicants living in Angola

  Exceptions which have to be submitted to the Regional Consular Center Southern Africa in Pretoria:

  • visa applications for short stays linked to a gainful activity (including chauffeurs and journalists)
  • visa applications for short stays for medical purposes
  • visa applications for short stays lodged by citizens of certain countries
  • visa applications lodged by holders of diplomatic, service or special passports, who are not citizens of Angola
  • visa applications of holders of an ordinary passport who have the intention to travel to Switzerland for an official reason including the participation at international conferences and who are not citizens of Angola

• Visa applicants living in Botswana

  Exceptions which have to be submitted to the Regional Consular Center Southern Africa in Pretoria:

  • visa applications for short stays linked to a gainful activity (including chauffeurs and journalists)
  • visa applications for short stays for medical purposes
  • visa applications for short stays lodged by citizens of certain countries
  • visa applications lodged by holders of diplomatic, service or special passports, who are not citizens of Botswana

• Visa applicants living in Mozambique

  Exceptions which have to be submitted to the Regional Consular Center Southern Africa in Pretoria:

  • visa applications for short stays linked to a gainful activity (including chauffeurs and journalists)
  • visa applications for short stays for medical purposes
  • visa applications for short stays lodged by citizens of certain countries
  • visa applications lodged by holders of diplomatic, service or special passports, who are not citizens of Mozambique

• Visa applicants living in Namibia

  Exceptions which have to be submitted to the Regional Consular Center Southern Africa in Pretoria:

  • visa applications for short stays linked to a gainful activity (including chauffeurs and journalists)
  • visa applications for short stays for medical purposes
  • visa applications for short stays lodged by citizens of certain countries
  • visa applications lodged by holders of diplomatic, service or special passports, who are not citizens of Namibia

• Visa applicants living in Zambia

  Exceptions which have to be submitted to Regional Consular Center Southern Africa in Pretoria:

  • visa applications for short stays linked to a gainful activity (including chauffeurs and journalists)
  • visa applications for short stays linked to studies or a study program
  • visa applications for short stays for medical purposes
  • visa applications for short stays lodged by citizens of certain countries (Citizen of D.R Congo, Eritrea, Irak and Somalia should first contact the Visa Section of the Regional Consular Center Southern Africa in Pretoria)

• Visa applicants living in Zimbabwe

  Exceptions which have to be submitted to Regional Consular Center Southern Africa in Pretoria:

  • visa applications for short stays linked to a gainful activity (including chauffeurs and journalists)
  • visa applications for short stays linked to studies or a study program
  • visa applications for short stays for medical purposes
  • visa applications for short stays lodged by citizens of certain countries
  • visa applications lodged by holders of diplomatic, service or special passports, who are not citizens of Zimbabwe

Issuing time

As a general rule, a decision is taken by the visa section within 15 calendar days (a shortened or acceleration of the process is not possible). In individual cases this period may be extended.

Please note that no visa information (progress, addition documents, collection date, expediting, etc.) is given by phone or email to the applicant or 3^rd parties, after the visa application has been submitted to VFS Global.

Representation agreement

If a State does not have its proper visa section in a country or region, the delivery of a Schengen visa can be delegated to another Schengen State member with an agreement between both countries concerned.

The agreement allows the appointed representation to represent and handle Schengen visa applications within its own competence without consulting the other represented State.