The Schengen visa is required for Indian passport holders visiting most of Europe. The Schengen Area covers 29 countries including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Greece, and 23 others. It does not include the UK (which requires a separate UK Standard Visitor Visa) or Switzerland and Norway (which are Schengen but technically not EU).
Getting a Schengen visa is a bureaucratic process, not a particularly difficult one. The application fee is €90 per adult in 2026. The documents required are specific. The timeline is typically 3–4 weeks for processing. This guide covers all of it.
Quick Takeaways
Start here: The Schengen visa is required for Indian passport holders visiting most of Europe.
Planning note: Getting a Schengen visa is a bureaucratic process, not a particularly difficult one.
What Is the Schengen Area?
The Schengen Area is a group of European countries that have eliminated border controls between each other. Once you have a Schengen visa and enter any Schengen country, you can travel freely to all other Schengen countries without showing your passport at internal borders.
Schengen countries (29 total as of 2026): Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
Not Schengen: UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria (accession pending for some countries; check current status before applying).
Which Consulate to Apply To
Apply to the consulate of the country where you will spend the most days, or — if equal — the country of your first entry. If you’re visiting France for 5 days and Germany for 3 days, apply to the French consulate. If you’re visiting France and Germany equally, apply to the French consulate if you’re entering through France first.
For Indian applicants: Most Schengen consulates in India accept applications through VFS Global (a third-party visa processing service) rather than directly. The VFS service fee is approximately ₹2,000–3,000 on top of the consulate fee.
Key Schengen consulates for Indian applicants:
- France (French Embassy in India): Apply via VFS Global. vfsglobal.com/france/india
- Germany (German Embassy in India): Apply via VFS Global. vfsglobal.com/germany/india
- Netherlands (Dutch Embassy in India): Apply via VFS Global.
- Spain (Spanish Embassy in India): Apply via VFS Global.
- Italy (Italian Embassy in India): Apply via VFS Global.
Schengen Visa Fees 2026
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Adult (12+) | €90 |
| Child (6–11) | €45 |
| Child under 6 | Free |
| VFS service fee (approximate) | ₹2,000–3,000 |
Documents Required
The standard document checklist (verify specific requirements with the relevant consulate — requirements vary slightly):
Identity and travel documents: ☐ Original passport valid for at least 3 months beyond the intended stay, with at least 2 blank visa pages ☐ All previous passports (if any) with Schengen and other foreign visas ☐ 2 passport-size photographs (white background, recent, 35mm × 45mm)
Application form: ☐ Completed Schengen visa application form (downloadable from the consulate website or available at VFS centre) ☐ Signed declaration that information provided is accurate
Travel itinerary: ☐ Round-trip flight booking confirmation (most consulates accept a provisional booking — you do not need to have paid for the ticket) ☐ Hotel bookings or accommodation confirmation for all nights of the stay ☐ Travel itinerary (which cities, which dates — a simple typed document is sufficient)
Financial proof: ☐ Last 3–6 months of bank statements showing sufficient funds (the guideline is approximately €50–100 per day of travel, though requirements vary by consulate) ☐ Last 3 months of salary slips or proof of income ☐ Income tax returns (ITR) for the last 2 years ☐ If self-employed: business registration documents, CA-certified balance sheet
Employment/ties to India: ☐ Employment certificate (letter from your employer stating your position, salary, approved leave dates, and that you will return to work) ☐ If self-employed: business registration and proprietorship documents ☐ If student: letter from institution and proof of enrolment
Travel insurance: ☐ Travel insurance covering the entire Schengen period with minimum €30,000 medical cover (this is mandatory)
Additional documents (some consulates request): ☐ No Objection Certificate (NOC) if government employee ☐ Property ownership documents or other proof of financial ties to India ☐ Marriage certificate and spouse documents if travelling with family
How to Apply: Step by Step
Step 1: Determine which consulate to apply to Based on the country where you’ll spend the most days, or your first entry point.
Step 2: Book your VFS appointment Book at the VFS Global website for your chosen country. Appointment slots fill up weeks ahead in peak season (April–June) — book as soon as your travel dates are confirmed. Allow at least 6–8 weeks between your application appointment and your travel date.
Step 3: Gather documents Collect all documents on the checklist. Originals are usually required at the appointment; the VFS centre will scan them and return the originals.
Step 4: Attend the VFS appointment Bring all documents plus the application form (completed). At the appointment: biometrics (fingerprints and photo) are collected; this is mandatory for first-time Schengen applicants or applicants who haven’t enrolled biometrics in the last 5 years.
Step 5: Pay the fee Pay the consulate fee (€90/approximately ₹8,000) plus VFS service charge at the appointment.
Step 6: Wait for processing Standard processing time is 15 calendar days. In busy periods (May–August) it can take up to 30 days. Do not book non-refundable travel until the visa is approved.
Step 7: Collect your passport Collect in person at the VFS centre or opt for courier delivery (additional fee: ₹350–500).
Types of Schengen Visa
Single-entry: Valid for one entry into the Schengen Area within the validity period. Double-entry: Valid for two entries. Multiple-entry: Valid for multiple entries throughout the validity period. This is typically issued to applicants with a strong travel history to Europe and Schengen countries. On a first application, a single or double-entry visa for your specific travel dates is the standard outcome.
The visa will be stamped with an entry validity period (the dates between which you can enter) and a permitted stay duration (typically the exact number of days of your trip, or up to 90 days for multiple-entry visas).
Common Reasons for Refusal
Insufficient funds: Bank statements don’t demonstrate enough balance for the trip duration. Fix: ensure your account shows a steady balance of at least ₹3–5 lakh over the 3-month statement period (not a large single recent deposit, which looks like it was moved specifically for the application).
Incomplete itinerary: No hotel bookings, vague travel plans. Fix: book refundable hotels for all nights before applying, confirm specific cities and dates.
No strong ties to India: The consulate needs to believe you will return to India after the trip. Ties that help: permanent employment, property ownership, family members in India. Fix: include your employment letter emphasising your return-to-work date.
Invalid or insufficient travel insurance: Fix: buy travel insurance before applying; ensure it covers €30,000+ medical and the exact dates of your Schengen stay.
Prior visa violations: Overstaying a previous visa, working on a tourist visa, or previous refusals without explanation in the new application. These are harder to overcome and may require professional immigration advice.
UK Visa (Separate from Schengen)
If your Europe trip includes the UK (London), you need a separate UK Standard Visitor Visa in addition to the Schengen visa. The UK left the EU in 2020 and is not part of the Schengen Area.
UK Standard Visitor Visa:
- Fee: £115 (approximately ₹12,500 at current rates)
- Application: Online at gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa, then biometrics appointment at a VFS Global centre
- Processing time: 3 weeks standard, 5 business days priority (£500+ additional fee)
- Documents required: Broadly similar to Schengen — passport, bank statements, employment letter, hotel bookings, flight itinerary
If visiting both the UK and a Schengen country (e.g., London and Paris), apply for both visas simultaneously, starting the process 8–10 weeks before travel.
FAQ
Do Indian passport holders need a Schengen visa? Yes. Indian passport holders require a Schengen visa to enter any of the 29 Schengen Area countries. The fee is €90 per adult in 2026. A Schengen visa does not cover the UK, which requires a separate UK Standard Visitor Visa (£115).
How long does it take to get a Schengen visa from India? Standard processing is 15 calendar days from the date of application submission. During peak season (May–August), processing can take up to 30 days. Apply at least 6–8 weeks before your travel date, and do not book non-refundable travel until the visa is approved.
What is the Schengen visa fee for Indians in 2026? €90 per adult (approximately ₹8,000–8,500 at April 2026 exchange rates), plus VFS Global service fee of approximately ₹2,000–3,000. Total out-of-pocket: approximately ₹10,000–11,500 per adult.
What bank balance is required for a Schengen visa? There’s no fixed minimum, but the general guideline is sufficient funds to cover approximately €50–100 per day of your Schengen stay. A bank statement showing a consistent balance (not a single large recent deposit) over 3–6 months is more convincing than a high balance with no history. For a 10-day trip, demonstrating ₹3–5 lakh in savings is generally sufficient.
Can I apply for a Schengen visa without confirmed flight tickets? Most Schengen consulates accept provisional (unconfirmed) flight bookings or itinerary printouts rather than paid tickets, since requiring paid tickets before visa approval would be a catch-22. Hotels are typically required to be booked (refundable bookings are acceptable). Check the specific requirements of the consulate you’re applying to, as they vary.
Last verified: 2026-04-27
Mara Vale
Mara Vale writes Eurly travel guides for first-time Europe visitors who want practical routes, realistic pacing, and fewer avoidable planning mistakes.
Eurly guides are written to help readers make confident travel decisions, but opening hours, ticket rules, transit disruptions, and local conditions can change. Always verify key reservations and official schedules before you travel.
