Europe draws millions of tourists every year from all around the world and Indian tourists make up a fairly large number in that! With so much rich history, medieval architecture and a variety of food and drinks, Europe has a lot to offer across budgets and interests. But as always, it is very important to check the visa regulations before planning a visit to this amazing region which is home to over 44 countries. Some of the popular countries in this list include: France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Croatia, Sweden, etc. These are also member countries of the Schengen Region.
The Schengen region is a group of European countries who have come together to simplify the visa process and allow travellers to apply for the visa from any one of its 29 member countries and freely travel between all the other member countries without additional paperwork or visa/immigration formalities.
This Schengen Tourist Visa for Indians thread is specifically to share latest and accurate information about the European Schengen tourist visa as applicable to an Indian passport holder.
This is the current visa rule (as of July 2024):
- Indian passport holders can apply for the standard sticker Schengen Tourist visa of any of the Schengen region member countries but only via their authorised agent VFS/BLS
- It is NOT possible to directly apply for the Schengen visa to the member country’s Embassy or Consulate.
- The visa is typically issued for the duration of stay proposed by the applicant or upto 90 days, whichever shorter.
- At immigration, upon being stamped in, it is best to verify the visa date and stay duration allowed as per the visa stamping in the passport to avoid exit-related issues while departing from the country
Official Schengen Tourist Visa application website/portals:
- VFS: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/deu/common-information (for all Schengen member countries other than Spain)
- BLS: https://india.blsspainvisa.com/ (for Spain)
Important: Always apply for the Schengen visa from the member country where you intend to enter first or stay the longest. It is perfectly okay to include multiple Schengen countries on one visit while applying to a specific member’s embassy for the visa.
Documents required to apply for the visa upon arrival:
- Original Passport and copies of its front and back page
- Cover letter of travel plans with Day wise itinerary / travel plan for entire duration of stay
- Proof of entry and exit (flight, land transport or sea transport bookings)
- Proof of stay (hotel reservation or details of host with invitation letter)
- Proof of sufficient funds (bank statements, sponsorship documents)
- Proof of employement (business registration documents or employment letter and leave letter)
- Photo as specified in the visa portal
- Insurance coverage for the duration of stay in the Schengen region with minimum coverage of EUR 30,000
(since documentation requirements change depending on the background of the application, make sure to check the official links above, for the latest requirements)
Processing time for the visa:
Depends on the country accepting the application - usually two weeks. Best to apply atleast one month before the travel date.
Cost of the visa:
EUR 90 (VFS charges are extra as mentioned on their website)
Immigration requirements:
At the airport, seaport or land border, present the passport with visa to the officer along with any additional documents sought (such as accommodation details, exit flight details, etc.) to obtain a visa entry stamp for 30 days
Share your latest experiences of obtaining the Schengen Tourist Visa or passing through immigration, as replies/comments in this thread. This will be very helpful to fellow travellers and members of this travel community who are planning a trip to Europe.
