Schengen Visa Guide

Step by step

1. Choose the country to apply to. Apply to the country where you will spend the most nights. If you split the nights equally, apply to the country you enter first. Each country has its own embassy, application form and document list.
2. Pick the visa type. A tourist trip needs a Type C short-stay visa. Choose single entry for a one-trip holiday and multiple entry if you will leave and re-enter the Schengen area (a day in the UK counts).
3. Collect your documents. Use the document checklist. Bank statements, tax returns and the employer letter take the longest.
4. Fill in the form. Most countries use their own online form that generates a barcode. Print it and sign it. Every date, hotel and city must match your flights and cover letter.
5. Buy travel insurance with at least EUR 30,000 medical cover. See travel insurance.
6. Book the appointment at the visa application centre (see VFS booking tips). You can apply up to six months before you travel and no later than 15 days before.
7. Attend the appointment. You hand over your passport and documents and give fingerprints and a photo. Fees are paid here.
8. Track and collect. Use the tracking number. The passport comes back by courier or can be collected at the centre. Check the visa for your name, dates and number of entries before you pay for non-refundable bookings.

What it costs

Add roughly INR 12,000 to 16,000 per adult for the fee, service charge, insurance and photos. The fee is not refunded if the visa is refused.

How long it takes

• A typical decision takes 10 to 15 working days. Extra document requests can push it to 30 days, and complex cases up to 45 days or more.
• Book the appointment 8 to 10 weeks before you fly in busy months, and earlier if you need a specific date.
• You cannot apply earlier than 6 months before travel or later than 15 days before.

How long the visa lasts

The visa shows the dates you may travel and the number of entries. A short-stay visa allows up to 90 days in any 180-day period across all Schengen countries together.

• Two-year visa. Indian residents who have lawfully used two Schengen visas in the previous three years can be given a multiple-entry visa valid for two years.
• Five-year visa. A two-year visa can be followed by a five-year one if your passport has enough validity left. It is not guaranteed and the consulate decides.
• Keep every old visa and entry record: they are what qualifies you.

At the border: the Entry/Exit System

Since 10 April 2026 Schengen countries record every entry and exit digitally. You scan your passport, have your face photographed and give fingerprints, which are checked against the ones you gave for the visa. Passports are no longer stamped, and the 90/180-day count is automatic. Allow a little extra time at the first airport.

ETIAS, the separate online travel authorisation, applies to nationals who do not need a visa. If you hold a Schengen visa you do not need it.

Why applications are refused

• Funds that do not fit the trip. Consulates read the whole pattern: steady income, regular savings and tax returns. A large deposit a week before applying looks like parked money.
• Itinerary that does not match. Flights, hotels, cover letter and form must tell the same story. A vague plan reads as unreliable.
• Missing or inconsistent papers. Unsigned forms, missing stamps, mismatched dates and photos that do not meet the specification.
• No valid insurance or cover under EUR 30,000.
• Doubts that you will return. Weak ties to India: no employer letter, leave approval or family or property proof.

If you are refused, read the refusal letter: it gives the reason codes. You can reapply with the problem fixed (waiting a few weeks is wise) or file an appeal within the deadline in the letter, usually 15 to 30 days.

Helpful links

• EU visa policyOfficial rules and the list of countries.
• German Missions in IndiaAn example of an embassy page with its own document lists.
• VFS GlobalAppointments and fees for most countries.
• Entry/Exit SystemWhat happens at the border.