Schengen Visa for Indians | Schengen Visa from India

1. Schengen Visa for Indians - Schengen Visa from India

2. With over 10 million Indians travelling to Europe every year, the European continent is one of the top preferred destinations for Indians. In fact, the number of Schengen visa applications from India is among the highest in the world. Be it tourism, business, work, or even studies, people from all over the country can get a ​Schengen visa for Indians​ to easily visit Europe. As India is not among the visa-exempt nations for the Schengen, all Indians nationals will require the Schengen visa from India. However, for certain Schengen nations, Indian diplomatic and official passport holders may not require a visa to enter. Before you apply for Schengen Visa from India Before you start an application for a Schengen visa from India, there are a few things you must determine first. These are to help you apply correctly and efficiently. The following are some of the parameters you will have to keep in mind before starting it. ● Which Country to Apply? Now that you know which type of visa you have to apply for, you must then figure out the country you should be applying to. Though the entire region acts as a single state, the visa is issued by the particular Schengen ​destination country​. ○ Schengen Visa Rules for Indian As per the Schengen visa rules for Indians, the destination country should be as follows- ■ If you are visiting only one country, your application must be made to that particular country. ■ If you are visiting multiple countries, submit your application: ■ To the country where you will spend most days, ( In the case of an unequal amount of days in each), or ■ To the country of your port of entry ■ If there is no diplomatic mission of your destination country, you must apply to the embassy/consulate of the country to whom the destination country has outsourced the application. ○ Schengen Visa Rules for First Point of Entry Your destination country is also your port of entry in cases where you are planning to spend equal amounts of time in all the multiple countries. The port of entry is defined as

3. your first destination in the region. In these cases, you will have to apply to the country that includes your port of entry. For example,​ If you are travelling to Munich from India, spending 15 days in Germany, and then travelling to Austria to spend 15 days there, you must apply to the German embassy in India as Munich in Germany is your port of entry. ○ Duration of Stay In case you are spending an unequal amount of time in multiple countries, you are supposed to apply to the state where you would be spending the majority of your travelling period. For example,​ If you are travelling to Munich from India, staying in Germany for 15 days, and then travelling to Austria for 25 days, you must apply to the Austrian embassy in India. How to Apply for a Schengen Visa from India? In order to apply for a ​Schengen visa from India​, the first step is to determine the type of visa you would need. You must also ensure that you apply well in advance in order to cover for any possible delays in the processing times. After that, the Indian applicant must meet certain eligibility requirements as stated below - ● Eligibility for Schengen Visa for Indian Citizens ○ You must be a citizen of India residing in India, or you must be a foreign citizen who is living on a temporary or permanent resident permit in India.

4. ○ You must possess a passport valid for at least 6 months from your intended date of travel. ○ You must possess sufficient funds to cover your expenses in the country. ○ Your purpose of the visit must be according to the type of visa you are applying for. ● Schengen Visa Process India Once you are eligible to apply for the Schengen permit, you can proceed to start the application. However, the process of application can vary from embassy to embassy. Different countries have their own procedure. However, most countries follow the basic general procedure for the Schengen visa for Indians as follows - ■ Schengen Visa Form India The first and foremost step is to fill in your application form. In most cases, you will be able to download the application form from the website of the respective embassy/consulate or VAC (Visa Application Centre). In certain cases, you may even be able to fill in the form online. The Schengen application form will require you to provide your basic details, the purpose and duration of your stay and other travel details, as well as details on your travel document. Ensure that you fill in the application form clearly and truthfully. ■ Schengen Visa Fees for Indian You must proceed to pay the visa fees. The Schengen visa fees for Indian nationals are usually paid in INR. However, due to the fees originally mentioned in Euros, there may be slight fluctuations as a result of the foreign exchange rates. The fee is also different for adults and children. You must check this before applying. You can pay the fees online in certain cases while making the application. In other cases, you will have to pay for it at the appointment centre during your appointment. Apart from the application fee, you may also be required to pay biometric charges as well as other service charges. ■ Book Schengen Visa Appointment India In order to submit your application, you must book an appointment. The appointment can be at one of the VACs to whom the country have outsourced their applications or it can be done directly at the embassy/consulate of the respective country. To make the appointment, you can use the portal of the VAC or the embassy. In certain cases, you can also contact them via phone or email to book it. You must then attend the appointment at the respective slot.

5. ■ Biometric Submission As a mandatory rule under the regulations, all the applicants for a Schengen visa will have to provide biometrics. Once you attend the visa appointment, your Schengen visa biometric India will be taken at the respective centre. Your fingerprint and photo will be taken digitally and stored in the VIS (Visa Information System). Thanks to the database, once you have given your biometrics, you do not have to provide it again for a Schengen visa in the next 5 years. ■ Attend the Schengen Visa Interview India In certain cases, the embassy will require you to attend an interview. Although most of the interviews are done during your appointment, in certain cases, you may be asked to attend it after you have submitted your application on an alternate day. The Schengen visa interview questions India revolve around your travel. These can include questions about your - ■ Purpose of visit ■ Duration of stay ■ Source of funds ■ Marital status ■ Dependents ■ Accommodation in the destination ■ Educational background ■ Employment details, etc. ○ Document Submission At your visa appointment centre, you will be asked to turn in your documents. You must submit all the documents as required for the particular category. These include the passport, photos, application form, and all the supporting documents. In most cases, you will be required to submit the original copies. However, photocopies of certain documents are also sufficient. Ensure that you submit only legitimate documents. Providing forged documents can lead to a direct visa rejection. ● When to Apply for Schengen Visa from India Normally, any type of Schengen visa from India is processed under 15 working days. However, in certain extreme cases, this can even take longer up to 30 to 60 days as well. As a result, you should apply at least 2 weeks before your travel date. This is to

6. ensure that you do not miss your flight because of a delayed visa. However, note that you cannot apply more than 3 months before the date of intended travel. ● Documents Required for Schengen Visa from India One of the fundamental factors in applying for the visa is submitting the proper documents. Based on different types of permits and the country you are applying to, there are various Schengen visa India documents required. However, the general set of documents required as per the Schengen visa requirements for Indians are as follows - ○ A valid passport as per the specifications ○ 2 passport photos as per the specifications ○ Filled and signed Schengen application form. If filled online, print out of the completed form along with the sign ○ A covering letter mentioning the details of the visit ○ Flight reservation for round trip ○ Detailed travel itinerary ○ Proof of purpose of visit ○ Proof of accommodation ○ Medical travel insurance coverage up to at least 30000 Euros ○ Proof of occupation ○ Financial documents ● Schengen Visa Fees for Indians Another mandatory step while applying for a Schengen visa is to pay the visa fees. However, the fees can vary depending upon a few factors. The Schengen visa cost for Indians can depend on the type of the Schengen visa, the country you are applying to, the age of the applicant, as well as the foreign exchange rates. For instance, the Schengen visa fees for Indian citizens are paid in Indian Rupees. However, the visa fees may be shown as Euros or as per the currency of the respective country. As a result, the fees can fluctuate due to the exchange rates of the INR and Euro. The respective embassy also has the authority to change the fees without any prior notice. As a result, you must check the exact amount before starting your application.