Kinshasa European Visa Center implements automatic queue

The European Visa Center (CEV) in Kinshasa has introduced an automatic queuing system for Schengen visa appointments, effective Monday, October 26. This reform, initiated by the Belgian Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, aims to prevent intermediaries and agencies from monopolizing appointment slots using automated software.

Previously, applicants had to constantly monitor the CEV website to secure slots, which were often claimed within seconds by third parties. Belgian consular authorities noted that while approximately 1,000 appointments were released weekly, they could vanish in under 30 seconds—a speed impossible for human users. Some intermediaries were reportedly charging applicants up to $5,000 for these free appointments, sometimes falsely promising guaranteed visas.

Under the new four-step procedure, applicants fill out their forms via Visa on Web and join an automated queue. They will receive an email invitation when a slot becomes available, after which they have six days to select a date. The reform affects short-stay visa applications for the twenty European embassies and consulates served by the CEV. The change only affects the appointment booking process and does not alter visa eligibility requirements or examination rules.