Getting a Schengen Visa From India – Visa Requirements for Indian Citizens

Introduction

Are you planning to travel to your dream Schengen country? If yes, you have come to the right place. Entering the Schengen Area legally requires obtaining permission from the relevant authorities and applying for a Schengen visa from India.

This visa can be used for all Schengen countries and grants you access to the destination state for approximately 90 days within six months. However, it would be more appropriate if you select a particular country before proceeding with the application process.

Thus, this article guides the applicants on the requirements, documents, procedure, application fees, and processing time for a Schengen visa. So, stay tuned with us till the end.

Do you know? Every year, nearly 1 million Indians apply for a Schengen Visa, and the numbers are expected to surpass 1.5 million or more in the upcoming years. Out of 1 million Indian Schengen Visa applications, only 78,681 were turned down by the visa officers in recent years.

What is the Schengen Area?

The Area is named Schengen after a village in Luxembourg. It consists of 29 European countries that share a single external border and no internal border. Thus, the Schengen Area allows unrestricted movement of people, as if they were a single country.

The agreement was signed in 1985, making the countries function as a single jurisdiction for international travel purposes. Moreover, the visa policies are common among all countries. For instance, a visa issued by one Schengen country is valid for the entire area, and you can visit other states without undergoing identity and systematic passport checks at the internal borders.

Moreover, the 29 member states of the Schengen Area are as follows:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

What is a Schengen Visa for Indians?

A Schengen visa is a short-stay or Type C permit that allows the Indian passport holder to enter and travel freely within the 29 Schengen states for almost 90 days or three months. Besides, this visa type has a validity period of approximately 180 days or 6 months.

Moreover, a Type C visa is typically used for short-term purposes, including business, tourism, or family visits. Surprisingly, having a valid Schengen visa eliminates the need for separate visas for each member country of the region.

Key features of a Schengen visa for Indians

Do Indians need to apply for a Schengen Visa?

Yes, Indian nationals are required to obtain a short-stay or Schengen visa to enter the European territory/territories located in the Schengen Zone. Besides, Indian nationals are not eligible to get a visa on arrival in any of the Schengen states. Moreover, no Schengen country provides the opportunity for an eVisa to enter the country.

Therefore, the best and acceptable practice to obtain a Schengen visa from India is through the embassy or conventional method. To cut to the chase, having a pre-approved visa with the mandatory documents will make it easy for you to enter the target Schengen country.

How Can I Select a Visa Type to Travel to the Schengen Area?

The general requirements for acquiring a Schengen Visa from India are pretty similar to other countries that require a visa to enter the territory of the Schengen Zone.

At the outset, the applicant must figure out the category of the Schengen Visa that they need to choose based on their purpose of the trip. It is because there are various types of the Schengen Visa depending upon the nature of the itinerant’s visit. These include:

1. Tourist visa

2. Business visa

3. Visit visa

4. Medical treatment visa

5. Cultural, sports, and religious events visa, etc.

Other than a Schengen visa, there are additional visa types that you can choose to travel to the target Schengen country. For example,

Airport transit visa

It is another category of a short-stay visa; however, it has a shorter validity duration. You are required to have it to transit through any of the Schengen countries while traveling to a non-Schengen destination.

Depending on the specific rules, you can either leave or be supposed to stay at the transit area of the international airport. Furthermore, the ideal stay validity is 24 to 72 hours.

National visa

Contrary to a short-stay visa, Indian citizens can visit and stay in the host Schengen country for a longer duration of time. Alternatively, it is known as a Type D or long-stay visa, allowing you to stay for almost six months or one year in the Zone. 

Surprisingly, this visa type allows extensions considering the purpose and expected duration of your stay.

Besides, a Type D visa has the following subclasses that you can opt for.

1. Employment/work visa

2. Family reunion visa

3. Student visa

4. Investment visa

5. Residency visa

Schengen Visa Requirements for Indian Citizens

Several Schengen visa requirements need to be fulfilled when submitting your Schengen visa application to the authorities. For this purpose, you can consult the following document checklist for a Schengen visa from India.

Visa application form

At the outset, you need to complete the Schengen visa application form. You can fill it out both online and after downloading it from the official website of the embassy or consulate of the destination country. Carefully fill all the categories with utmost honesty. Print a hard copy and sign it at the end.

Also, do not forget to leave any blanks empty to avoid rejection.

Pictures

Attach two latest passport-size photographs to the visa application form. You must ensure that your whole face is captured in a light background with a picture size of 35*45mm. Moreover, make sure that your photos fulfill the Schengen picture guidelines.

According to them, the picture should be of high quality, avoid wearing any accessories other than for religious purposes, etc.

Passport or travel document

You must ensure that your Indian passport is not older than 10 years and must possess validity beyond the date of return from the Schengen territory. Furthermore, it should have two blank pages to affix a visa stamp.

Proof of legal residence

Applicants from India need to provide proof of legal residence status in India. For this purpose, you can submit a residence permit or national ID.

Round-trip flight reservation

Attach a verifiable round-trip reservation/itinerary with your Schengen visa application. This document is required to analyze your travel intentions and the date of your return to the home country. As a result, you can avoid overstaying your Schengen visa to keep yourself away from future complications.

The round-trip flight reservation must entail the proposed flight route, IATA codes, reservation codes, and the full name of the itinerant. For acquiring a verifiable flight itinerary at the most affordable rates, click on the banner below.

Travel Health Insurance for Schengen Visa

For acquiring a travel health insurance for a Schengen Visa in India, you must keep the following points in mind:

• The travel health insurance must provide minimum coverage of 30,000 euros or USD 50,000.

• Travel health insurance should be valid in the whole Schengen Area.

• It must cover expenditures of medical and travel emergencies, including accident, hospitalization, surgery, death, repatriation, evacuation, luggage loss, flight cancellation, etc.

Hotel Bookings for Schengen Visa

Attaching a hotel booking for a Schengen Visa helps the visa officer understand that the itinerant has arranged their accommodation in the host destination. Other than the hotel booking, you can also submit a rental contract for an apartment/house or an invitation letter from the host.

Ensure that the document contains information related to the chosen place, the name, its address, and contact number.

To acquire a verifiable hotel booking for your Schengen Visa application in India, click on the banner below.

Cover letter

Another document that you can submit to the authorities is a cover letter explaining the purpose of your application for a Schengen visa from India. Besides, you can add other details, including the planned activities, intended duration of stay, and the date of your return.

This document can be a game-changer and allows you to convince the visa officer to grant you the visa.

Invitation letter

An invitation letter is of the utmost importance when you apply for a Schengen visa from India. This is a mandatory requirement to be fulfilled for a business or visit visa when invited by the host of the destination country.

Therefore, an invitation letter should be submitted to the visa officer to prove that you have been invited by the host and that all your expenses will be managed by them.

Evidence of civil status

Indian applicants applying for a Schengen visa may also need to provide evidence of their civil status. For this purpose, they can submit documents, such as a marriage certificate, a ration card, a birth certificate of the child (s), or a death certificate of the spouse.

Proof of financial means

Moreover, you need to attach a piece of evidence explaining to the visa officer that you have sufficient financial resources to manage your expenses during the trip to the Schengen Area. It can be proved by a bank statement listing transactions of the previous three months.

Besides, you can also submit your salary slips from the last three to six months or your income tax return from the previous 2-3 years in this regard.

Means of subsistence

Each particular Schengen state requires the traveler to have a specific amount with them based on the number of days they want to spend in the host country. This is necessary to bear your daily costs related to food, accommodation, and transportation.

If you want to find out the minimum means of subsistence for each Schengen state, go through this comprehensive guide.

Additional Schengen Visa requirements as per the status of Indian citizens

Based on the applicant’s employment status, make sure that you have the following documents with you as well.

If employed:

• Employment contract

• Current bank statement, for the last 6 months (Online Bank statements are not acceptable).

• A letter stating that the itinerant’s employer has granted them leave for the trip

• Income Tax Returns (ITR)

If self-employed:

• A photocopy of the business license in India

• 6-month bank statement

• Income Tax Returns

If retired:

• 6-month pension statement

If a student:

• Proof of enrollment from the target educational institute in the host country

• NOC from the current educational institute

• Academic transcripts

Tip: Also, do not forget to submit the regular rental income of the property for the previous six months if applicable.

Where to apply for a Schengen Visa from India?

Just like you need to figure out the type of Schengen visa, you must also carefully determine the application facility (consulate or embassy) through which you are going to file the Schengen visa application.

If you want to travel to more than one Schengen state, then you should apply to the embassy or consulate of the country where you will stay the longest. For instance, you are planning to spend seven days in France, five days in Germany, and nine days in Slovenia, then you will apply to the diplomatic mission of Slovenia, as you want to spend most of your time there.

Moreover, if you are intent on spending an equal amount of time in multiple Schengen countries, then submit your application to the country that is your first point of entry.

Application Process for a Schengen Visa from India: Step-by-Step Guide

The application process for a Schengen visa from India requires you to complete certain steps to fulfill the requirements. Thus, the following section will make the procedure a cool breeze for you.

Step 1: Identify the facility and the visa type

As discussed earlier, you need to identify the application facility through which you can apply for a visa. This can be an embassy or consulate, based on the destination country you are traveling to and the availability of the particular diplomatic mission in your home country. Besides, you can also use the services of visa application centers, such as VFS Global, BLS International, and TLS Contact.

After that, you need to determine the visa type, keeping in mind the purpose of your trip to the host country.

Step 2: Collect the documents

Once the above-mentioned steps are completed, start gathering the mandatory documents to accompany the Schengen visa application form. Also, make sure that all the documents are in English or the official language of the traveling country.

Step 3: Book an appointment

This step requires you to schedule an appointment with the embassy or consulate in India. You can do it online or offline, as per the method availability. Also, ensure that you do it fast, as the slots fill too quickly.

This step is mandatory for application submission because walk-in submissions are not accepted. 

Step 4: Visit the center

On the day of your appointment, you have to visit the center or the diplomatic mission to submit your application form and the rest of the documents. Moreover, the authorities may also require you to provide your biometric data (fingerprints and photos) and deposit the visa fees in the requested payment method. 

Step 5: Attend the visa interview

Furthermore, applicants can be requested to appear for the visa interview on the same day if their application requires further scrutiny. This is important for first-time applicants or travelers with complex/suspicious applications.

Step 6: Track your application

After that, you can return to your home and wait for the processing time. In the meantime, you can track the status of your application to check its progress regularly. You can do it online by entering your application reference number and date of birth in the given fields.

Step 7: Collect your passport

The last step is to collect your passport (with a visa stamp) once it is approved. For this purpose, you need to visit the same center or get it delivered to your house through a courier delivery.

When can I apply for a Schengen Visa from India?

The earliest an applicant can apply for a Schengen visa is three months before the intended date of departure, while the latest is a minimum of 15 days before departure.

Application Fees for a Schengen Visa for Indian Passport Holders

The application fee for a visa usually depends on several factors. For instance, this includes the visa type, the nationality of the applicant, and the age group to which the applicant belongs.

So, the following table shows the Schengen visa fees for Indian citizens.

This visa fee is uniform for all the Schengen countries. However, long-stay visa fees vary by the destination country, the visit purpose, and the duration of stay. For example, a German national visa fee is approximately 75€.

Important: Please note that the visa fee is non-refundable even if your application is rejected.

Processing Time for a Schengen Visa from India

Usually, the visa officer takes up to 15 days to process your Schengen visa application. Besides, the processing time for a Type D visa application is around 45-60 days in normal situations. 

The duration might be extended if the visa officer is not satisfied with the papers that the itinerant has submitted.

Moreover, the average processing time is affected by several external factors, such as:

1. The visa type you apply for

2. The complexity of the application

3. The workload at the embassy

So, in case of missing or incomplete documents, the authorities may ask you to meet the requirements, which may cause a delay, thus leading to an increased processing time.

Common Rejection Reasons for a Schengen Visa from India

After your application has been submitted and processed, you may have two answers: either your application will be approved or rejected. In case of rejection, you need to learn about the reasons that led to this outcome.

So, if your application is denied, you can appeal the decision or reapply for a new visa.

Look at the following typical visa rejection reasons.

1. Incomplete or inaccurate details on the visa application form

2. Missing or fake documents submission

3. Insufficient financial resources

4. Invalid travel health insurance

5. Poor travel history/violation of visa rules/overstaying past Schengen visa

6. Criminal record/poor character certificate

7. Inconsistent travel information across all the submitted documents

FAQS- Schengen Visa from India

Go through this section to learn answers to some frequently asked questions.

Can I apply for a Schengen visa online from India?

Though the visa application forms are available online that you can fill out and then download, you need to submit your essentials at the center in person.

If my visa is issued by Germany, can I enter the Schengen Area through France?

Yes. A Uniform Schengen visa allows the holder to travel to any of the Schengen states. This includes entering the Area through any country other than the state that issued you the visa.

Can I exit and re-enter the Schengen Area with my visa?

It usually depends on the number of entries specified on the visa in your passport. So, a single-entry visa allows one trip, whereas a multiple-entry visa permits you to exit and re-enter the Schengen Area multiple times within the validity of the visa.

Who can apply for a Schengen visa from India?

Any Indian citizen or residents of other countries legally residing in India can apply for a Schengen visa from India after submitting the required documents.

What can I do if my visa application is refused?

If your application is refused, you need to identify the rejection reason through the refusal letter. After that, you can start the appeal process or reapply for a visa after modifying the reasons.

Is it necessary to carry the documents while traveling if I have a valid visa?

Yes. It is MANDATORY to carry the documents while traveling, even if you have a valid visa, because a permit does not guarantee entry. Therefore, border controls may request supporting documents, e.g., accommodation, insurance, proof of funds, etc.

Conclusion

Getting the desired Schengen visa from India and visiting your dream country can be the most fulfilling wish of your life. This guide has made the essentials of the visa application process simpler for you so that you can ace the procedure even if you are applying for a visa and traveling to an international country for the first time.

Besides, FIFV Travels is here to assist you with the travel documents, such as the flight itinerary, hotel booking, and travel insurance. Thus, you can get this paperwork easily from the comfort of your home. 

Have a safe trip!