Indian passport holders need a Schengen visa before travelling to most of Europe for tourism. One Schengen short-stay visa, known as a Type C visa, covers 29 European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands, so you do not need a separate visa for each country on the same trip. The official visa fee set by the European Union is €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 12, while children under 6 pay no visa fee. The fee is non-refundable, even if the visa is refused. You must apply at the consulate of the country where you will spend the most days, or, if the days are equal, the country you enter first. A Schengen visa is never guaranteed, and the final decision rests with the consulate that handles your application.
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What One Schengen Visa Lets You Do: The 90/180-Day Rule
A Schengen short-stay visa allows a stay of up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, not 90 days per country. For example, 30 days in France plus 30 days in Italy plus 20 days in Germany counts as 80 days of the same 90-day allowance. The visa can be single-entry or multiple-entry, and longer multiple-entry visas are granted at the consulate’s discretion, often after a good travel history, but they are never promised. The visa does not allow paid work in Europe, and it does not cover the United Kingdom or Ireland, which have their own separate visa systems. Always count your days carefully, because overstaying can lead to fines and future refusals.
The Real Cost: €90 Visa Fee Plus Service and Insurance Costs
The European Commission lists the Schengen short-stay visa fee as €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 12, with no fee for children under 6. Some categories, such as certain students on study trips, researchers and family members of EU citizens under free-movement rules, may be exempt, but most Indian tourists should expect to pay the full fee. If you apply through a visa application centre such as VFS Global or BLS, a separate service charge is added on top of the €90, and the rupee amount you pay depends on the exchange rate on the day of submission. Travel medical insurance is also mandatory and is a separate cost: it must cover at least €30,000 for emergency medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation across all Schengen countries for the full trip. The visa fee is not refunded if the application is refused, so never pay the fee twice through an unofficial channel, and never pay anyone who claims the fee alone guarantees approval.
Documents That Decide a Schengen Visa
Consulates decide mainly on three questions: is your trip genuine, can you afford it, and will you return to India on time. The core document set is a passport valid for at least three months after your planned departure from the Schengen area, with blank pages and issued within the last ten years; a completed and signed Schengen application form; a recent photograph meeting ICAO standards; travel medical insurance of at least €30,000; a flight reservation and proof of accommodation for the whole trip; proof of financial means, usually bank statements for the last three to six months; and proof of ties to India, such as an employer letter with approved leave and salary slips, business registration papers for business owners, or a student letter for students. A clear cover letter with a day-wise itinerary, matching your flight and hotel bookings, helps the officer follow your plan. Every name and date must match your passport exactly.
Schengen Visa at a Glance
| Item | Rule for Indian Passport Holders |
|---|---|
| Visa required | Yes — Type C short-stay visa before travel; no visa on arrival in any Schengen country |
| Countries covered | 29 Schengen states, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands; the UK and Ireland are NOT covered |
| Stay rule | Up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period across the whole Schengen area |
| Official visa fee | €90 for adults, €45 for children aged 6 to 12, free for children under 6; non-refundable even on refusal |
| Service centre charge | Extra, charged separately by VFS Global, BLS or a similar centre where used |
| Travel insurance | Mandatory, minimum €30,000 cover for emergency care, hospitalisation and repatriation, valid in all Schengen countries |
| Passport rule | Valid at least 3 months after departure from the Schengen area, issued within the last 10 years, with blank pages |
| Where to apply | Consulate of the country of longest stay; if days are equal, the country of first entry |
| When to apply | From 6 months before travel, and no later than 15 days before travel |
| Normal processing | 15 days, extendable up to 45 days if a closer examination or extra documents are needed |
| Biometrics | Fingerprints and a photograph are collected when you apply, with exemptions for specific categories |
| Work rights | No paid work on a Schengen short-stay tourist visa |
Step-by-Step: Apply for a Schengen Visa From India
- Decide where to apply: the country where you will spend the most days, or the first country of entry if the days are equal across countries.
- Book an appointment at that country’s consulate or its visa application centre, such as VFS Global or BLS, well in advance, because slots fill fast in peak season.
- Prepare your file: passport, form, photograph, insurance of at least €30,000, flight reservation, hotel bookings, bank statements, employment or business proof, and a day-wise cover letter.
- Attend the appointment with originals and copies, give your fingerprints and photograph, and pay the €90 visa fee plus the centre’s service charge.
- Track your application with the reference number given at the centre, and respond quickly if the consulate asks for extra documents.
- On approval, check the visa sticker at once: your name, validity dates, number of entries and the 90-day stay rule, before booking non-refundable travel.
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Common Mistakes Indian Travellers Should Avoid
First, do not apply at the wrong consulate: applying to an easier country when you will actually spend most days elsewhere is a common reason for refusal. Second, do not confuse the visa’s validity with the stay allowed: a one-year multiple-entry visa still limits you to 90 days in any 180-day period. Third, do not buy insurance below €30,000 or valid only in one country; it must cover the whole Schengen area for the full trip. Fourth, do not submit a thin file: a sudden large deposit in the bank account just before applying, mismatched hotel dates, or a missing employer letter all raise questions. Fifth, do not trust anyone who promises a guaranteed Schengen visa, a guaranteed five-year visa, or a job in Europe on a tourist visa — no agent can promise approval, and the €90 fee is lost on refusal. For a visa route that also depends on an authorised-agent style process, see https://sunlightholidays.in/usa-visa-indians-b1-b2-185-fee-interview-guide/ and for a country where a valid Schengen visa changes the rules, see https://sunlightholidays.in/turkey-visa-indians-e-visa-30-day-sticker-guide/
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Do Indians need a visa for Europe?
Yes, for the Schengen area. Indian passport holders need a Type C Schengen visa granted before travel. There is no visa on arrival in any Schengen country, and the UK and Ireland need their own separate visas.
Q2: How much is the Schengen visa fee for Indians?
The official fee is €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 12, and free for children under 6. A visa centre service charge is added separately, and the fee is non-refundable even if the visa is refused.
Q3: How long does a Schengen visa take from India?
The normal processing time is 15 days from submission, and it can extend up to 45 days if the consulate needs a closer examination or extra documents. Apply as early as the 6-month window allows.
Q4: How long can I stay in Europe on a Schengen visa?
Up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period across all Schengen countries combined, not 90 days per country. Overstaying can lead to fines and future refusals.
Q5: Can I work in Europe on a Schengen tourist visa?
No. A Schengen short-stay tourist visa does not allow paid work. Working on a tourist visa can lead to cancellation of the visa and future refusals.
Sources: European Commission, home-affairs.ec.europa.eu — Applying for a Schengen visa (fee €90 for adults, €45 for children aged 6 to 12, free for children under 6 in most cases; normal processing 15 days, extendable to 45 days; passport valid at least 3 months after departure; medical insurance covering emergency care, hospitalisation and repatriation; fingerprints collected on application; extra fee possible through visa service centres); EU Visa Code short-stay rules (Type C visa, 90 days within any 180-day period, apply at the consulate of longest stay or first entry where days are equal, applications from 6 months to 15 days before travel).
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