Every competitor's visa page lists what documents you need. None tell you when you can actually go. This page is the current Dhaka appointment picture, updated monthly.
Last updated
15 April 2026. Next update: 15 May 2026.
Current wait times from Dhaka
These are booking windows our team observed in the past 7 days across VFS Dhaka and direct embassy portals. Real availability shifts daily; treat these as what to expect, not a guarantee.
| Route | Appointment wait | Biometric slot | Decision time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schengen — Germany | 3–5 weeks | Same day as appt | 10–15 working days | VFS Gulshan; premium lounge available |
| Schengen — France | 2–4 weeks | Same day | 8–15 days | Prime-time slots release Mondays |
| Schengen — Italy | 4–7 weeks | Same day | 12–20 days | Summer peak Jun–Aug runs longer |
| Schengen — Netherlands | 2–3 weeks | Same day | 10–15 days | Among the faster Schengen routes |
| UK — standard visitor | 2–3 weeks | Same day | 15 working days | Priority service cuts to 5 days, £500 surcharge |
| US — B1/B2 (first time) | 18–28 weeks | N/A | Interview-day decision | Interview waiver eligible may be much faster |
| US — B1/B2 (renewal) | 1–3 weeks (drop-box) | N/A | 2–3 weeks | If last visa issued within 48 months |
| Canada — visitor | 3–5 weeks | Same day at VFS | 30–45 days | Biometrics valid 10 years |
| Canada — study permit | 5–8 weeks | Same day | 8–12 weeks | SDS stream faster where eligible |
| Australia — visitor 600 | 1–3 weeks | Same day | 30–50 days | Fastest of the five for first-time filers |
| Japan — tourist | 1–2 weeks | N/A | 5–8 working days | Document-complete files decide quickly |
| Korea — short-term | 1–2 weeks | N/A | 7–10 days | KVAC in Dhaka |
| China — tourist | 1–2 weeks | Same day | 5–7 days | Walk-in sometimes available |
Booking windows that matter
Schengen: most consulates release 90 days' worth of slots at any given time. If you see nothing for the next month, check again Monday morning — that's when VFS typically refreshes.
UK: standard slots open 12 weeks ahead. Priority and super-priority slots open alongside but fill in hours.
US Dhaka: B1/B2 first-time applicants are the long queue. If you have a valid or recently expired US visa, the Interview Waiver (drop-box) lane is dramatically faster and most people don't realize they're eligible.
Canada: biometrics are separate from the application submission. You can file, then book biometrics within the 30-day window IRCC gives you. Don't file without a biometric slot lined up.
Australia: the quiet fast lane. Online submission, biometrics at VFS within days, decision in weeks. The catch is the file has to be clean — Australia asks for the most supporting evidence of the five.
When to book relative to travel
Our rule of thumb for each route:
- Schengen: 60–75 days ahead for summer travel, 45 days off-peak.
- UK: 45–60 days ahead for non-priority service.
- US (first-time): book the interview the day you decide you want to travel — the slot will be 4–6 months out.
- Canada: 90 days ahead, minimum.
- Australia: 60 days ahead is comfortable.
- Japan, Korea, China: 30 days is enough.
Common booking mistakes
- Booking a VFS slot before the embassy application is complete. Some embassies lock the slot to a specific application reference; changing the file means rebooking.
- Choosing the earliest slot without checking biometric availability. The biometric step can be the bottleneck.
- Not noting the passport-return timeline. You will be without your passport for the decision period — if you have other travel planned, account for this.
- Booking across two applicants separately when they're traveling together. Family slots are easier to process and often come with a shorter interview time.
When we say "reserve a slot through us"
We hold limited priority access at several VFS Dhaka centers through our partner accreditation. That does not mean we can cut queues for everyone; it means that when you file a case through us, your biometrics and document submission are handled on a managed schedule — typically 1–2 weeks faster than walking in cold.
Sources
- VFS Global Bangladesh — appointment availability for Schengen, UK, Canada, Australia, and others.
- US Embassy Dhaka, Visa Appointment Wait Times — official appointment queue data.
- IRCC, Current processing times.
- UK Home Office, Visa decision waiting times.
- Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh.