Short answer
A Schengen decision takes 15 to 30 working days from a complete application, and up to 45 days where further scrutiny applies. The binding delay is the appointment, because Nepal hosts only a handful of Schengen missions and slots go quickly from March to August. Start 90 days before you travel.
Missions are legally required to decide within 15 calendar days of lodging, but Kathmandu files commonly take 20 to 30 working days and longer in peak season. Germany, France and Italy decide locally; the Netherlands, Spain, Austria, Greece and the Nordics handle Nepal through New Delhi, which adds courier time to the total.
The appointment is the real constraint. The VFS Global centre in Kathmandu and the embassies that book directly release slots in batches, and they are taken within hours during the summer rush. Applications may be lodged up to six months before travel and no later than 15 calendar days before.
The workable schedule for a June departure: secure the appointment in March, assemble documents through April, lodge by the first week of May, and hold rather than buy your flight tickets until the passport comes back. Anyone starting inside four weeks of departure is relying on luck.
| Stage | Time needed | When to start |
|---|---|---|
| Confirm which mission is competent, and where it sits | 1 week | Day 90 before travel |
| Finalise itinerary and hotel holds | 1–2 weeks | Day 90 before travel |
| Secure an appointment in Kathmandu or New Delhi | 3–8 weeks wait in peak | Day 85 before travel |
| Assemble financial and employment documents | 2–3 weeks | Day 70 before travel |
| Decision | 15–30 working days, up to 45 | Day 45 before travel |
| Buy flights and pay balances | After approval | Day 15 before travel |