Schengen Visa for Indian Citizens: Documents, Fees & VFS

Yes. Indian passport holders need a Schengen short-stay visa (type C) to visit any of the 29 Schengen countries for tourism, family visits or business. You apply to the consulate of the country that is your main destination, usually through a visa application centre in India run by VFS Global or, for Spain, BLS International.

The visa allows up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen Area. This guide covers where Indian residents apply, what it costs as of October 2026, the documents consulates in India typically expect, and the multiple-entry rules that now reward a clean travel record.

Which country do you apply to?

The main-destination rule decides which consulate handles your file. If one country accounts for the longest part of your stay, apply to that country. If your days are split evenly, apply to the country you will enter first.

Do not pick a country just because its appointments look easier. Consulates check your itinerary, and a mismatch between where you applied and where you actually stay can lead to refusal or problems at the border.

The visa type follows your main purpose: tourism, visiting family or friends, business, a trade fair, medical treatment or a conference. Each purpose has its own checklist, so pick the right category before you book an appointment.

Where Indian residents apply

Each Schengen country decides on its own visas, but almost all of them collect applications in India through outsourced centres. These centres take your documents, biometrics and fees; they do not make decisions. Here is how the most popular destinations handle it, as stated on their official pages in October 2026.

France: VFS Global centres in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Kochi, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Goa and Puducherry, with some centres open only on certain weekdays. Decisions are taken by the Embassy in Delhi and the consulates in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Puducherry.
Germany: VFS Global. Schengen applications can be lodged at any VFS centre in India regardless of where you live, and all are forwarded to the Consulate General in Mumbai for a decision.
Italy: VFS Global runs Italy's visa application service for India and Nepal; check the VFS Italy pages for your nearest centre.
Spain: BLS International is the appointed partner of the Embassy in New Delhi and the Consulate General in Mumbai. You apply at the BLS office covering your state of residence.
Switzerland: VFS Global centres in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Jalandhar and Lucknow, with all files processed by the Embassy in New Delhi. You must have been legally living and working in India for at least six months.
Netherlands: VFS Global centres in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Kochi, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Pune and New Delhi.

For any other member state, start from that country's embassy website in New Delhi, which will name its authorised provider. Centre lists and opening days change, so confirm on the official page before you travel to a centre.

Visa fee and service charges

The standard Schengen visa fee is EUR 90 for adults and EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 12, with children under 6 exempt. These are the rates as of October 2026.

You pay in rupees. Each consulate sets its own rupee equivalent and may revise it without notice; Germany, for example, listed INR 9,900 for adults and INR 5,000 for children aged 6 to 12 in October 2026. France converts the euro fee at its chancery rate. The visa fee is not refunded if your application is refused.

On top of this, the outsourced centre charges a service fee, which is compulsory when you apply through it. The amount differs by country and provider and is shown on the VFS or BLS page for your destination. Optional extras such as lounges, SMS updates or courier return are never required for a decision.

Documents Indian applicants are usually asked for

Every consulate publishes its own checklist for each purpose of travel, and you should follow the one for your destination exactly. The German missions' tourism checklist for India is a good illustration of what Indian applicants are commonly expected to provide.

Passport issued within the last ten years, valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen Area, with at least two blank pages, plus copies of the data and address pages and any previous visas.
Completed application form and recent photographs to Schengen specifications.
Travel medical insurance valid in all Schengen countries for the full trip, with at least EUR 30,000 of cover. Some missions accept Indian policies only from approved insurers.
Flight reservation, day-by-day itinerary and proof of accommodation.
If employed: salary slips for the last three months, employment contract and a leave sanction letter from your employer.
If self-employed or a business owner: company registration, including the GST number for an Indian company.
Income tax return acknowledgments (ITR-V) for the last two assessment years, or Form 16.
Bank statements for the last three months, stamped by the bank. Passbook copies are not accepted.
If retired: pension statements for three months or proof of other regular income.
If a student: proof of enrolment and a no-objection certificate from your school or university.
If someone is sponsoring you: a sponsorship letter, the sponsor's passport copy and bank statements, and proof of relationship such as a birth or marriage certificate.

Bring copies of everything. Some visa sections keep originals that are submitted without a copy. Never submit altered bank statements or fake bookings: the Netherlands, for example, states that forged documents are reported to the Indian authorities and not returned.

When to apply and how long it takes

You can lodge an application up to six months before your trip. EU rules ask for at least 15 calendar days before travel, and the standard decision period is 15 days, extendable to 45 days if the consulate needs more checks or documents.

National practice varies. France says Indian passport holders born in India must apply at least five days before a short-stay trip. Germany notes that processing only starts once the file reaches the consulate, which can take up to six working days after submission at VFS, and it may return unprocessed files if travel is less than 15 days away. Switzerland gives 10 to 15 days from when the file reaches the embassy.

Appointments are the real bottleneck in busy months, so book as early as the six-month window allows and avoid non-refundable flights or hotels until your visa is issued.

The cascade rules for Indian nationals

In April 2024 the European Commission adopted a visa cascade specific to India. It applies to Indian nationals living in India who apply for Schengen short-stay visas in India.

If you have obtained and lawfully used two Schengen visas within the previous three years, you can be issued a multiple-entry visa valid for two years.
After that, a two-year visa should normally be followed by a five-year multiple-entry visa.
Both steps depend on your passport having enough remaining validity.
While valid, these visas give travel rights equivalent to those of visa-free visitors, but they never allow you to work.

Consulates keep discretion, and a weak application can still be refused or issued with shorter validity. Lawful use means respecting the 90/180 rule and travelling for the stated purpose. If you are close to passport expiry, renew first so a longer visa can actually be issued.

ETIAS does not apply to you

ETIAS, the EU's upcoming travel authorisation, does not apply to Indian passport holders, because it is designed for nationals of visa-exempt countries. You still need a Schengen visa. ETIAS is not yet in operation in any case.

Refusal risks and how to reduce them

The most common grounds for refusal are doubts about your intention to leave before the visa expires, unexplained or insufficient funds, an itinerary that does not match the consulate you applied to, and insurance that does not meet the rules.

Show steady income that matches your ITRs and salary slips, rather than a large deposit just before applying.
Make sure your leave letter covers the full trip dates.
Keep the purpose consistent across your cover letter, bookings and form.
Mention previous travel to the US, UK, Canada, Japan or the Schengen Area, which helps establish a record.

If refused, you will receive a standard form giving the reasons and explaining how to appeal in that country. You can also reapply with stronger evidence.

Beware of fake agents

Appointments are scarce, and touts exploit that. Book directly on the official VFS or BLS site for your destination. The Dutch Embassy warns explicitly against booking through intermediaries and says it never asks anyone to pay fees into a bank account. Be wary of anyone selling guaranteed slots, guaranteed approval or ready-made bank statements.

Frequently asked questions

Do Indians need a visa for Schengen countries?

Yes. Ordinary Indian passport holders need a short-stay Schengen visa for tourism, family visits or business. It covers stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

What is the Schengen visa fee for Indian citizens in 2026?

The fee is EUR 90 for adults and EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 12, paid in rupees at each consulate's own rate, plus the VFS or BLS service fee. Children under 6 pay no visa fee.

Which country should I apply to if I visit several Schengen countries?

Apply to the country where you will spend the most days. If the time is split evenly, apply to the country you enter first.

Can Indians get a five-year Schengen visa?

Yes, under the 2024 cascade rules. After two visas lawfully used within three years you can receive a two-year visa, normally followed by a five-year visa if your passport is valid for long enough.

Do Indian citizens need ETIAS for Europe?

No. ETIAS is only for visa-exempt nationalities. Indian passport holders continue to need a Schengen visa.

How many months of bank statements are needed for a Schengen visa from India?

Germany's checklist for India asks for the last three months, stamped by the bank. Other consulates set their own period, so check your destination's checklist.

Rules, fees, centre locations and checklists change often. Before you book an appointment or pay anything, confirm the details on the official website of the embassy or consulate of your main destination and on its authorised VFS Global or BLS International page.