UK · ResourcesThis page is about an application you have already submitted. If you are still trying to get an appointment, that is a different question, and the Schengen visa appointment tracker for the UK covers it.
The messages, in the order you will see them
Wording differs between visa centres and destinations. The Danish Embassy in London publishes its sequence for applications made through VFS Global, and it shows the usual order clearly:
- "Your application has been submitted at VFS." The centre has your application, passport and biometrics.
- "Your application has been dispatched to the Embassy." The file is on its way, typically one to four days after you applied.
- "Your application is under process at the Embassy." The embassy is examining the application. This is the longest stage.
- "Your application has been dispatched back to VFS from Embassy." The embassy has finished and returned the passport and documents.
- "Your passport is ready for collection at VFS" or "Your application has been dispatched via courier." The passport is on its way back to you.
None of these messages says whether the visa was issued. Other centres word the same stages differently, and "at the mission" is one of those wordings. The stage is what matters, not the exact phrase.
"At the mission" is not "a decision is ready"
"At the mission" means your file is with the embassy or consulate and is being processed. It gives no result and no collection date. "A decision is ready", or a message that the passport has been sent back, comes later and is a different update.
Visa status 'At the mission': what does it mean?
"At the mission" and "a decision is ready" are different updates. The message is from the processing stage: it gives no result and no passport collection date. Keep your reference number handy when you check official updates.
If your status has said "at the mission" or "under process" for a while, that alone is not a bad sign. It is the stage where the examination happens.
How long each stage can take
Under the EU Visa Code, a decision is due within 15 calendar days of the date an admissible application is lodged. In individual cases, notably when further scrutiny is needed, the period can be extended to a maximum of 45 calendar days (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009, Article 23).
Transport adds to that. On the Danish sequence the file takes one to four days to reach the embassy and then has to come back. For the full timeline by destination, see how long a Schengen visa takes.
How you find out the result
You find out when the passport comes back. If the visa was issued, the sticker is in your passport. If it was refused, the refusal and its reasons are given to you on the standard form set out in Annex VI of the Visa Code, and you have the right to appeal (Article 32). If that happens, read what to do after a refusal.
How to check your status
Use the tracking page of the centre where you applied, with the reference number from your receipt. Keep that number somewhere you can find it, because every status check and every question to the centre starts with it.
Check the official tracking page directly rather than relying on a screenshot or a forum post.
When to contact the centre or embassy
- The status has not moved for longer than the 15-day period and you have a fixed travel date.
- The passport is marked as returned but you have not received a collection notice or courier update.
- The status says something you do not understand, or it contradicts an email you received.
Contact the visa centre first, quoting your reference number. Questions about the decision itself belong to the embassy or consulate.
Planning the next trip
Most of the waiting in a Schengen application happens before you ever see a status message: getting an appointment. On busy routes a Schengen visa bot that watches the appointment calendar saves that part of the wait. For your next application, check the appointment side early.
Frequently asked questions
What does "under process at the Embassy" mean?
The embassy or consulate has your application and is examining it. It does not tell you the outcome.
Does "at the mission" mean my visa is approved?
No. It means your file is with the embassy or consulate. The outcome comes back with your passport.
How long does a Schengen visa decision take?
Within 15 calendar days of an admissible application, extendable to 45 days in individual cases, plus the time the file spends in transit.
Does the status tell me if my visa was refused?
No. You learn the outcome when your passport comes back. A refusal comes with a standard form that gives the reasons.