Passport country of issue: Philippines
Country of residence: Australia
Application Centre: VFS Melbourne, Australia
Sharing my timeline below.
- 14Apr2026: VFS Melbourne appointment for a business trip to the Netherlands on 05May2026. Whilst the website indicates 15 calendar days for usual processing and may take up to 21 calendar days due to the situation in the Middle East, VFS personnel mentioned it can take 35 days. Still went ahead as it’s a work related trip. Made sure all documents in the checklist for short stay business visa are included. Also added a copy of previously issued Schengen visa.
- 16Apr2026: SMS received stating passport is on its way to Dutch Embassy in Sydney.
No other email or SMS notification received therafter. Online tracking is also stuck with the same info that passport is on its way to Dutch Embassy.
It helped that I arranged for self stamped envelope so I got tracking updates via Australia Post.
- 29Apr2026: (15th calendar days from the appointment date) received my passport in the mail. 😮💨