Schengen visa from India: documents, fees and appointment timing

"Schengen visa from India", "Schengen visa requirements" and "Schengen appointment availability" lead every Europe visa search, and they're the right questions. The Schengen visa lets you visit 29 European countries on a single visa, including France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands. With a well-prepared file it's very achievable, but appointments are scarce in spring and summer, and small mistakes cause delays.

Here's what to know, from people who prepare Schengen files every day. It reflects the position at the time of writing (October 2026).

Which country should you apply to?

• Apply to the country where you'll spend the most nights.
• If the nights are equal, apply to the country you'll enter first.
• For business, apply to the country of your main purpose.

Don't choose a country just because its appointments are easier. Applying to the wrong country is a common reason for refusal, and can affect future applications.

When should you apply?

You can apply up to six months before travel and no later than 15 days before. Demand peaks between April and June, when appointments at many visa centres fill weeks in advance. We recommend:

• Spring and summer travel: start eight weeks ahead, and prepare documents before appointments open.
• Autumn and winter travel: four to six weeks is usually enough.

Fees

The visa centre adds a service charge, which varies by country. Fees are paid in rupees at the consulate's exchange rate and are not refunded if the visa is refused.

Documents

• Passport valid for at least three months beyond your departure from Europe, issued within the last ten years, with two blank pages
• Old passports, if you've travelled before
• Completed application form, signed
• Two recent photographs to Schengen specification
• Cover letter explaining the purpose and itinerary
• Day-by-day itinerary
• Return flight reservation
• Hotel bookings for every night
• Travel insurance with at least €30,000 of medical cover, valid for the whole Schengen area
• Bank statements for the last three to six months, stamped
• Income tax returns for the last two or three years
• Salaried: employer's letter with leave approval, and salary slips
• Self-employed: business registration, GST certificate and company bank statements
• Students: a bonafide letter, and parents' financial documents
• Retired: pension documents

Requirements vary slightly between consulates. We send you the list for your country.

Appointments and biometrics

You'll attend the visa centre in person to submit your file and give fingerprints and a photograph. Many consulates have visa centres in Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi and Mumbai; some only accept applications in certain cities. If you've given fingerprints for a Schengen visa within the last 59 months, you may not need to give them again.

Appointment slots open and close unpredictably. The trick is to have a complete file ready, so you can take the first good slot. We book as soon as your file is ready and watch for cancellations.

Processing time

Usually about 15 calendar days after the appointment, and up to 45 days in some cases. Summer applications can take longer. Don't book non-refundable flights or hotels until the visa is issued.

How long will the visa be valid?

First-time travellers usually receive a visa for the dates of the trip. Under the EU's "cascade" rules for India, applicants who have used two Schengen visas correctly within the previous three years can receive a two-year multiple-entry visa, followed by one valid for up to five years. Each stay is limited to 90 days in any 180.

Common reasons for refusal

• Unclear purpose or an itinerary that doesn't make sense
• Insufficient funds, or large unexplained deposits shortly before applying
• Documents that contradict each other: dates, names, hotel bookings
• Applying to the wrong consulate
• Weak ties to India: no job, business, property or family commitments shown
• Insurance that doesn't meet the requirements

If your visa is refused

You'll receive a letter stating the reason. You can appeal, or reapply with a stronger file. Most refusals we see on files prepared elsewhere were avoidable, and a careful reapplication often succeeds.

What about the UK and Switzerland?

Switzerland is part of Schengen, so one visa covers Switzerland and Paris. The UK is not; it needs a separate UK visa.

We prepare and review the file, write the cover letter, book the appointment and track the application. See our Schengen visa service, the Europe trip cost guide and Europe holidays.

Questions, answered

Related

• Schengen visa
• Europe trip cost

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