Given the choke block on Visa appointments, is there a way to get a schengen visa for less than 90 days? One of my relatives doing PhD at IIT Indore is going to Leibniz Universität Hannover for one month. But the visa appointments are booked till December. Any options to get the visa before 1 October?

I would also like to know some options reg this.

have you tried different country / visa appointment location combination? Additionally there are walk in slots in few visa offices, try those

@lemon-knife-94497 where are you check for available slots? I'm planing for schengen visa for 2023 and would love knowing this. I know you can view the slots after filling the visa application, but any way of knowing that before?

I am not sure what you mean by less than 90 days. It feels like you are implying that everyone gets a Schengen visa for 90 days or more. Generally people get short term (say 30 days) tourist visa. You can go to VFS and check for each Indian city and Schengen country combination. But I highly doubt you can get a slot this early. I suggest emailing the German embassy that is closest to your relative, with a letter of invitation from the Uni. If there is a way to expedite, they will know.

@brash-monitor-80970 I tried contacting to their centers. They are saying they can't do anything at the moment. Simply too many applications.

@lemon-knife-94497 The visas that are > 90 days are generally residence permit for education or job. I think that is not what you are looking for.

@wide-carpet-65149 Any visa i.e. business/training would work for them as long as it allows to stay 30 days there. So far not applied because no appointment slot is available. Seems best chance right now is to checking it daily if there's any cancelation by someone. Otherwise they have to delay their visit by 5-6 months.