With the goal of traveling to another nation, the practice of “visa shopping,” in which applicants apply for Schengen visas from consular authorities of one country, has grown more popular. Long wait times for visa appointments and the convenience it provides to tourists are the main factors driving this trend.

Schengen visa applicants frequently miss opportunities or need to reschedule their travel because of lengthy wait times for appointments. As a result, a lot of people look for alternatives at other embassies where they think it will be quicker and easier to get a Schengen visa.

Typically, when applying for a visa, applicants withhold or give false information about their intended travel destination or purpose. Travelers run the danger of having their entry into the Schengen Area revoked because this conduct is prohibited by the Schengen member states.

Despite the potential legal repercussions, tourists continue to favor visa shopping since it is more convenient than waiting in line for an appointment at several embassies of Schengen nations.

Several Schengen visa applicants who wished to remain anonymous have admitted to previously shopping for visas and haven’t ruled out doing so again if it’s more practical.

One candidate (B.R.) and their family, for instance, registered for a Poland Schengen Visa but afterwards visited other Schengen nations because getting appointments at the Polish Embassy was simpler and quicker.  They were aware of the hazards but chose not to abide by the Schengen visa regulations because doing so would have necessitated changing their entire itinerary to spend the majority of their allowed days in Poland. They subsequently acquired visas with a seven-day validity period when they reapplied at the same consulate.

Even though he acknowledged the hazards, another applicant (M.A.) who admitted to visa shopping stated he was confident the nation he applied to would issue him a visa. Despite the possibility of being refused entry, he stated his determination to keep looking for visas if they continue to be more convenient.

On the other hand, other applicants, like R.E., said that they had to apply for a German visa without having a specific destination in mind because they were unable to arrange their whole travel itinerary due to the limited availability of Schengen visa appointments during busy seasons. R.E. understood the drawbacks and dangers of visa shopping but resolved to make preparations ahead of time and apply for a visa in the nation they intended to travel to and spend the most time in within the allowed 180-day period in the future.

Similar stories from others highlighted the difficulty in getting appointments during busy travel times.

But not every applicant is fully aware of the dangers present. The Estonian Embassy stressed that anyone who fraudulently obtain visas risk having their applications rejected and being expelled from the EU borders.

The Swiss Embassy in India and Bhutan cautioned against the practice of “visa shopping” and highlighted that the correct course of action is to apply for a visa in the nation where visitors intend to visit or stay the longest. Those who violate the law might not be allowed admission into Switzerland.

The Swiss Embassy disclosed that it has doubled its overall capacity in India to meet the issue of a shortage of appointments, accepting applications up to six months in advance and completing visa decisions within 13 working days.

France, Spain, and Germany received the most Schengen visa applications in 2022, suggesting the practice’s continued popularity despite the logistical and legal difficulties involved with it.