Schengen Visa from India: A Complete Guide

Scoring a Schengen Visa from India is not as irksome as a US tourist visa, but it is a task for sure. Been there, done that.

This post is my attempt to add to the existing information on Schengen visa requirements and the process through my experience. It embraces all my insider tips on how to apply for a Schengen Visa for Indians.

If DIY is your thing, then this post will surely make sense to you!

If DIY scares you, you can get help from iVisa. It works great for applying for a fast and hassle-free visa. Also, OneWayFly is excellent for showing proof of onward travel (flight itinerary) or hotel reservations.

Heads up: some links here are affiliate links. That means if you click and buy something, I may earn a teeny-weeny commission (think chai money, not a private jet) at no extra cost to you. It’s a small way to keep this blog running, the words flowing, and the pages free for you to enjoy. I only recommend things I truly love, use, or secretly wish I invented, because trust matters, and so do good recs. Thanks for supporting the little cozy corner of the internet I call my virtual home.

Schengen Visa from India

Few things can allay the excitement and anticipation of vacation more than the grueling process of getting a visa. I’m not exaggerating when I say the biggest challenge for Indian passport holders dreaming of traveling to Europe is scoring a Schengen visa.

The Schengen visa application process is notorious for its rejection rate and is arduous.

Believe you me, I have had sleepless nights caught between what-ifs and waiting for one.

I would dream of wandering about the cobblestone streets dotted with colorful flower-clad little homes, hiking one of those famous cliffs in Norway overlooking gorgeous fjords, soaking in the golden glow of Midnight Sun, sitting leisurely in one of those charming sidewalk cafes – and then what ifs would fade away the dreams!

What if my dream vacation never happens? What if the visa gets rejected?

With a third-world passport, the visa process remains onerous for us. There’s no way out.

But, take it from me, despite all the dreadful Schengen visa stories, getting a Schengen visa is very much attainable if you are cautious and take care of specific points while applying for a Schengen visa.

Just In: This is excellent news for travelers like me. As per the latest update, Schengen states are planning to digitalize the procedure for Schengen visas. The Parliament and the Council of the European Union have agreed; however, the decision needs to be approved by the Member States of the EU. Once approved and implemented, it’ll be a lot easier to plan a Euro trip.

Read More: 10 Days in Europe: Amazing Itineraries for Europe

Is it Just Another Blog on Schengen Tourist Visa for Indians?

Blogs on Schengen Visa for Indian passport holders and Indian citizens are a dime a dozen, so what makes this blog any different?

It’s different, just like everyone’s experience is different, and awareness radiates in every experience. I am not an expert on the visa, of course, as I said, this is my effort to contribute to the existing facts.

While I was applying for the Schengen visa on my Indian passport, I needed something that could be understood easily by noobs or first-timers like me.

The meticulous and detailed blogs left me seeking clearer and more precise details.

Doubts sneaked in even after browsing the internet for days and reading innumerable articles on how to score a Schengen Visa for Indian citizens.

I was confused as to what exactly is the right way to book flights and hotels and then apply for the visa or wait for the visa stamp to avoid any losses.

But how?

Because they ask for confirmed flight and hotel bookings for your visa application to be approved.

Perturbation led me to travel agents (who are counted as the best in the market), who, as usual, disappointed me and were glad that I settled to apply for the Schengen Visa on my own.

That’s another story!

In the process of applying for a Schengen visa at the Norwegian embassy, I researched the internet. I spoke to everyone in my circle who knows how to apply for a Schengen visa from India to get things right.

Leaving no stone unturned, I jotted down each and every possible detail about the visa process of the embassy I was applying.

I continued my research even after I filed my visa application. It eased my frustration (visa wait time, you know) and gave me a chance to understand the Schengen visa process in detail. Far-sighted move 🙂

Here’s my two bits!

Learn More: How to Plan a Trip to Europe

What’s a Schengen Visa?

Out of 50 countries (including transcontinental) in Europe, 26 countries are bound by the Schengen Agreement. The Schengen Agreement is a treaty signed by these 26 European countries creating Europe’s Schengen area, where internal border controls are abolished.

In a traveler’s words – A single Schengen visa allows you to travel to 26 countries in Europe.

Isn’t it liberating?

That’s the power of a Schengen visa!

Which  European Countries Does Schengen Cover?

Currently, 26 European countries, including 22 European Union (EU) countries and four non-EU countries, make up the Schengen Region.

They are – Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland aren’t members of the European Union but are a part of the Schengen Agreement.

The Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islands are special members of the EU and part of the Schengen region.

Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City, though not Schengen region members, have opened their borders with the Schengen region.

If you have a valid, double, and/or multiple-entry Schengen visa on your passport, you can enter Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Croatia without any need for an additional visa.

Andorra can be visited on a multiple-entry Schengen visa obtained from the Spanish or French consulate.

Some of the other non-Schengen countries that allow visa-free entry to Indian passport holders with a valid Schengen visa include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Georgia, Colombia, Antigua and Barbuda, Kosovo, Gibraltar, Macedonia, Mexico, Turkey, Serbia, São Tomé and Príncipe.

So, you can visit 26 Schengen countries + 15 non-Schengen countries with a Schengen visa.

The table below includes the list of Schengen Visa Countries with the Schengen visa fees and the links to the embassies of respective countries.

What Type of Schengen Visa Do I Need?

There are three types of Schengen visa depending on the purpose of your travel:

• Uniform Schengen Visa
• Limited Territorial Validity Visa
• National Visa

The Uniform Schengen Visa (USV) gives a permit to stay or transit in the Schengen region for a fixed duration ranging from a maximum of 90 days starting from the date of entry.

• Category A means Airport Transit Visa, which permits traveling through the Schengen Country”s International airports without entering the Schengen region.
• Category C means a Short-term visa that allows staying in the Schengen area for the duration of the visa’s validity.

Category C USV is further divided into 3 types:

• A Single-entry visa allows entering the Schengen region only once, within the specified duration. Once you exit the Schengen region, going back isn’t permitted even if you have not spent the specified number of days.
• A Double-entry visa allows entering the Schengen region twice, within the specified duration. You can go back to the Schengen region a second time, provided you have not exhausted the permitted number of days.
• A Multiple-entry visa allows you to enter and exit the Schengen region as many times as you want, as long as you follow the 90/180 Schengen Visa rule. The rule says you can’t stay in the Schengen area for more than 90 days in any 180 days.

You can apply for any one of the multiple-entry visa types based on your travel requirements

• 1-year multiple-entry visa
• 3-year multiple-entry visa
• 5-year multiple-entry visa

In all the multiple-entry visa cases, you need to show proof of your being a regular and frequent traveler to the Schengen region, justifying why you need a multiple-entry visa.

You’d need a Uniform Schengen Visa ‘Category C’ to travel to one or more Schengen Countries for tourism purposes. It can be single-entry or multiple-entry depending on your travel plans.

Read More: Best National Parks in Europe for Families

Where to Apply for a Schengen Visa?

First and foremost, it’s vital to correctly figure out the embassy of the Schengen country you need to apply to, and secondly, the location of the embassy based on the city you live in.

It should fall under the jurisdiction of the embassy you are applying to.

Which Schengen Country’s Embassy Should You Apply For?

There’s a predetermined order that needs to be followed while choosing the embassy to file your Schengen visa application.

1. If you plan to travel only to one country in the Schengen zone, apply at the embassy of the country you intend to visit. Quite obvious, I know 🙂
2. If you are going to travel to more than one Schengen state, apply at the embassy of the country you intend to spend the most days in, called the primary destination.
3. If you mean to spend an equal number of days in two or more Schengen countries, apply at the embassy of the country you propose to enter the Schengen area through, called the port of entry.

Denmark’s Embassy also handles the visa process for Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands.

The Faroe Islands and Greenland, though part of the Kingdom of Denmark, are not part of the Schengen Region. So, you can’t enter here based on your Schengen visa.

You have to write a different cover letter along with the Schengen visa cover letter and choose a multiple-entry visa if Greenland or the Faroe Islands are part of your travel plan.

You need a Schengen Visa issued by the Danish Consulate with a sticker mentioning that it’s valid for the Faroe Islands and/or Greenland too.

Apply through the Danish VFS and mention on the application form Greenland or the Faroe Islands as the primary destination.

Svalbard is not a part of the Schengen treaty system. To visit Svalbard, one needs a Schengen visa with two or multiple entries.

Svalbard is visa-free, but a Schengen Visa is required because you have to enter and exit the Schengen region while traveling to this Norwegian archipelago.

Another stratagem is to choose the country with a lower Schengen visa rejection rate.

France and Germany are known to be the fastest of the lot; however, Spain is infamous for being the toughest to grant a Schengen Visa. Greece is known for its higher-than-normal share of personal interviews.

Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Iceland, Slovakia, Poland, Finland, Luxembourg, and the Czech Republic have the lowest Schengen visa rejection rate, which ranges from 2.1% to 5.5 %.

Lithuania is the easiest country to apply for a Schengen Visa from India, with the fastest visa processing rate.

It’s a safe bet to check the embassy toughness index before zeroing down on the country to apply.

Read More: Ultimate Guide to Singapore Visa for Indians

Put my Two Cents in…

Please, please, please…make sure that the country you are applying to remains your primary destination even after receiving your visa.

Just don’t try to fool the officials.

Though the visa allows you to enter or stay in any of the Schengen countries, it’s not advisable to change your primary destination after getting the visa.

You might get to enter or stay for the first time, but there are higher chances of getting in trouble the next time you apply for the Schengen Visa.

I read in a forum about a guy who showed Amsterdam as his first port of entry and main destination to get the visa from the Netherlands embassy, but flew to Italy after he got his visa.

While applying for the Schengen visa the second time around, the Embassy of Austria found out that he had violated the rules in his earlier visit and his entry was permanently banned in all the Schengen countries.

BE HONEST!

Read Between the Lines, Please!

Lately, I have heard people complaining about visas being rejected by the Danish embassy, stating they don’t give visas to people (specifically Indians) traveling to the Schengen region for the first time.

Weird! I know.

While skimming and browsing the internet, I came across Nyidanmark.dk, the official portal of the rules for entry and residence in Denmark.

The portal states that they have listed countries in five main groups based on the overall risk of illegal immigration to Denmark or any other Schengen country.

Each group has different visa requirements.

India belongs to group 3, whose citizens pose a significant risk of overstaying in the Schengen region even after the visa expires.

So, as Indians, if we don’t have any family or friends in Denmark, we will not be given a visa by the Danish embassy.

They urge you to have an invitation letter from your host in Denmark for a successful visa application through the Royal Danish Embassy.

Read more: 3-Day Copenhagen Itinerary

How Early Before the Start of the Planned Travel Should I Apply For a Schengen Visa?

Schengen Visa Applications can be filed three months before the start of the planned trip.

They recommend applying at least 15 calendar days before the planned travel.

My experience says that one should apply for the Schengen visa at least a month (30 calendar days) before the intended visit to avoid last-minute hassles.

The earlier you start the process, the more time you get to make the bookings, and you are more likely to get deals on flights and accommodation bookings.

And then it takes a good deal of time (at least 2 weeks) to compile all the required documents.

I’d also like to add that once you figure out the embassy you need to file your application, make sure to check their website and take into account the national holidays of that Schengen state.

Where Should I Submit My Tourist Schengen Visa Application?

Most of the Schengen countries have outsourced their visa application processing services to VFS Global, so there is no need to visit the embassy.

VFS collects the visa applications along with the required documents and passports from the applicants in a sealed envelope and forwards them to the respective embassy for visa processing.

There are a few exceptions here.

BLS, not VFS, processes Schengen visa applications for Spain.

VFS Global no longer accepts visa applications on behalf of the Embassy of Greece in India. GVCW processes it.

The respective embassies, not VFS, handle Schengen visa applications for Lithuania, Poland, and Slovakia.

We don’t have the Embassy of Liechtenstein in India. In countries where Liechtenstein does not have any representation, its citizens are advised to contact the Swiss embassy for all consular questions.

Is there any Age Criterion to apply for the Schengen Visa?

No. Children less than 6 years old don’t need a Schengen visa.

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What are the Steps to be Followed While Applying for a Schengen Visa for Indian Citizens?

• Fill in the application form
• Schedule the appointment at the VFS/consulate
• Gather all the required documents (Now that’s a task!)
• Submit the application form and the required documents at the VFS/Consulate.
• Give Biometrics
• Wait for your visa to come.

How to Fill the Schengen Visa Application Form?

I applied through the Norwegian embassy, which asks you to fill out the form online here and then print out the form.

Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, and Lithuania also have an online application system.

Other Schengen countries allow you to download the form from the VFS website. Please note that it must be filled out with blue ink only.

Here are the guidelines to fill in the form to score a Schengen visa from India.

Can I Apply for a Schengen Visa Online?

There are embassies of some Schengen States that allow you to fill out a Schengen visa online through their electronic application forms, like Norway, France, Germany, Estonia, Belgium, Finland, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, and Portugal.

For the other Schengen States (Austria, Denmark, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland) that don’t have an online system, you can fill the editable PDF form online and then take a print out of the filled Schengen Visa Form and sign it.

It makes things easier and saves you from the hassle of filling out the form by hand.

What is the Schengen Visa Fee for Indian Citizens?

The Schengen visa fee for Indian Passport holders for all the Schengen states is fixed.

In addition to the Schengen visa fee, you need to pay the VFS service charges, which vary by country.

Schengen Visa Type	Visa Fee (Indian Rupees)	Visa Fee (Euros)
Adult	7100 (approx.)	80 (approx.)
Child (6-12 years )	3600 (approx.)	40 (approx.)

* The Schengen visa fee in INR is as per the latest exchange rate. Thus, it’s subject to change with the change in the exchange rate.

*1 Euro = 92.13 INR as per the latest (July 2023) exchange rate.

What Kind of Preparation is Needed Before Making an Appointment for a Schengen Visa?

Know the visa rules of the country you are applying to and work accordingly.

Gather all the required documents and place them in perfect order (the same order as in the checklist) in a file.

Double-check to make sure you have all the required papers.

Write an audacious cover letter. Writing a convincing cover letter is an art. It’s vital to compose a detailed and compelling cover letter.

Pitching is the key here; brevity isn’t. Write your heart and soul out.

Tell them how keen you are to see their beautiful country, but your soul remains here in your homeland.

Address the embassy to which you are applying. The main body of the cover letter mentions the duration with dates of your trip, the number of people accompanying you with their names, the purpose of your travel, information about who will bear the expenses, and how to use a savings account, credit card, or forex cards.

List down the documents you will be submitting along with your visa application.

Note: Since many people asked me to provide them with the cover letter template, I’m giving a link to download the editable format of my Schengen Visa cover letter in this post. Just put your name and email address to subscribe and receive the sample template.

How to Book an Appointment for a Schengen Visa?

Once you have decided on the embassy of the country you are applying to, log on to VFS Global’s website where you’ll see a box on the website, fill in the country you are visiting (the embassy you want to apply to,) and the resident country and press go; it’ll automatically take you to the corresponding VFS website in another window viz.

When I type Norway as a visiting country and India as a resident country, I’m directed to the Norway visa information in a different window.

From here, you can download the Schengen visa for Indians form and make an appointment with VFS.

You need to register here to make an appointment.

Register yourself.

Once you register, click on schedule appointment and fill in the details like the visiting country, residing country, nearest VFS center, and purpose of your travel.

It shows the earliest date available for the appointment. Choose the date and time and print out the appointment letter.

Pro-Tip: It’s best to make an appointment as early in the morning as possible (if available) because the visa agents at VFS are fresh, and then it gets crowded with the passing time.

What are the Schengen Visa Requirements?

You need to submit a set of mandatory and supporting documents listed by the Schengen States to start the Schengen Visa application process.

Always take a printout of the checklist of documents from the VFS portal of the particular country’s embassy and keep a record of which documents have been completed and which are pending.

And most of the time, it’s recommended to put the documents in the same order as mentioned in the checklist and the Schengen Visa cover letter.

It makes things easy.

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Documents Required for Schengen Visa

Visa Application Form

The Schengen form can be downloaded or filled out online, depending on the country you are applying to.

Schengen Visa Cover Letter

A cover letter explaining the purpose of your visit, along with a detailed travel itinerary.

You also need to list the documents you are submitting with the application form. A cover letter should address the embassy to which you are applying.

It should be on plain white paper if you are an employee and on company letterhead if you are a businessman.

Passport Size Pictures

Photograph specifications differ from country to country. Check the specifications for the country you are applying to.

Passports

Current and Previous Passports, if any.

The police report, if the previous passport is lost.

Passport Copies

Photocopy of the first, last, and stamped pages of the passport.

The Danish Embassy asks for a color photocopy of the entire passport. I don’t understand the reason, but it feels like a total waste of money, paper, and time. What about being eco-friendly to save the world? Wait. But I heard Denmark is the most eco-friendly country.

Flight Tickets

This is important.

They ask for CONFIRMED return flights. Most of the embassies also ask for internal transport/transfer within Europe, viz. flights, buses, trains, or rented car booking receipts.

We use and love Skyscanner for all our flight booking needs. They compare the best airlines to find you the best and the cheapest deal you can get, and also give you a money-back guarantee if you miss your flight.

Proof of Accommodation

Hotel booking confirmation containing the complete name and contact information of the hotel, along with the hotel voucher.

In some cases, you are required to show CONFIRMED hotel bookings for every city/country you are visiting in the Schengen region.

The Norwegian embassy asks for confirmed hotel bookings only in Norway.

Having an invitation letter from one of your friends or relatives staying in the country you are applying to strengthens your visa application. You don’t need to show any hotel bookings in that case.

We use Booking.com and Airbnb.com for all our accommodation needs in India or abroad. Booking.com gives you the flexibility to book now and pay later, and doesn’t charge a cancellation fee. Isn’t that awesome? And, Airbnb is the best option if you’re traveling with kids (more space and freedom). Plus, it offers an authentic experience of living like a local!

Travel Health Insurance

You need mandatory travel health Insurance with a minimum cover of 30,000 Euros valid for all the Schengen countries and covers the entire duration of your stay in the Schengen area, plus remains active for another 15 days after you leave the Schengen area.

The insurance must cover all the medical expenses and repatriation of your residence country.

We use and recommend Heymondo when it comes to travel Insurance.

Purchase a Heymondo policy with a 5% discount.

Detailed Plan or Itinerary

This is just a day-by-day plan on plain white paper.

List down all the countries, cities, and attractions you are planning to visit and mention the inter-Schengen and intra-Schengen transport details along with the names and addresses of hotels, hostels, or Airbnb you are planning to stay at.

Proof of Financial Situation

The proof of finances is required to determine if you have enough funds to complete the itinerary and return.

The documents to support the proof of enough funds include a bank statement from your bank with a stamp and a signature for the last 3 months, payslips for the last 3 or 6 months, ETF or EPF contribution slips, and Income tax returns for the previous 3 years.

A sponsorship letter, if someone else is sponsoring your trip, with their bank statement for the last 3 months.

Documents Required for Minors or Children Traveling With You

The application form for a child has to be signed by both parents.

You need to show the letter from the school or university confirming permitted leave and the birth certificate /s of the child or children traveling with you.

Other Documents

Employment and Leave letter if employed, Business registration if self-employed, and Pension statements for the last six months if a retiree.

You need a marriage certificate if the partner’s name isn’t mentioned in the passport.

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I Don’t Have One of the Documents They Demand. I’m Authentic. What Can Be Done?

I’d say being genuine and authentic is the key to getting a Schengen visa even when you don’t have all the documents.

A cover letter is the face of your application and thus, a powerful tool. Just explain in your cover letter which document is missing and why you are unable to provide it.

Here, I want to cite this example of a backpacker who couldn’t provide proof of transportation within the Schengen zone as he was planning to use interstate buses or trains on the go, depending on what he found cheaper.

He stated the exact reason in the cover letter and got his Schengen visa.

But, yes, there’s no guarantee here if the embassy is strict on the rules.

Though it’s always better to arrange for the desired documents and then apply for the visa.

Do I Need to Show Confirmed Hotel Bookings and Flight Reservations for a Visa?

Now, this is a bit tricky.

However, they mention on their websites not to book the confirmed flight tickets but to ask for the confirmation proof.

To get a Schengen visa, it is mandatory to show confirmed flight tickets and accommodation bookings for your entire stay in the Schengen region.

The safest option is to book fully refundable flights on your credit card and cancel to rebook the cheaper flights once you get your visa.

Fully refundable flights, of course, are way more expensive than their non-refundable counterparts, but keep you safe from any losses, and then no one can question their authenticity.

The ticket hold option, available for a free or minimal fee, or using award miles from airline companies, can be used.

But, they can hold tickets for a minimum of a day and a maximum of a week. So, it’s pretty risky if your visa processing takes more than a week.

Which option did we choose?

We paid a small amount of money to a travel agent and received our flight itinerary.

A flight itinerary is like a detailed plan of the flights to the Schengen area.

The document shows the chosen airline with a flight name, your name, a valid flight reservation number or booking ID, arrival and departure dates, and airport codes, as well as the price.

There are a couple of online visa booking sites too that provide flight and hotel itineraries for a small service fee. We use and trust OneWayFly!

You can go ahead with the same flights once you get the visa and your money is adjusted in the total flight amount, or you can plan to book different flights. Here, the loss is minimal.

For accommodations, I used Booking.com to book hotels, canceled them, and booked Airbnb when I got my visa.

Booking.com lets you book hotels and cancel them up to the day of your stay without a fee.

You get a full refund. Airbnb refunds the booking amount minus service charges.

I have heard that some of the embassies have become smart and stopped accepting booking.com reservations for visa applications.

Some embassies don’t even accept Airbnb bookings. I guess Hungry is one of them.

How Much Money Do I Need to Show in My Account?

The more the merrier 😉

The unwritten rule here is to maintain a balance of at least 1.5 to 2 lakhs in your account over the past few months.

Please don’t do last-minute transfers because they do more harm than good, as it looks fishy to them.

Also, avoid withdrawing any money from the account after you have submitted the documents to the embassy.

Wait till you get your visa.

You can show the credit card statements, property papers, FD account statements, and PF slips to strengthen your case.

The means of subsistence differ depending on the European country you are visiting or applying to.

The cost is 15 Euros per day per person for Latvia, and 100 Euros per day per person for Norway or Switzerland.

Multiply the amount by the number of persons and the number of days to calculate the total amount. That amount should be visible in your bank account statement.

In case you don’t have enough funds (according to the European Union Standards) at the time when you plan to apply for the visa, you can borrow or lend money from family or friends and return it once you get your visa.

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What to Expect at VFS?

Arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time. Show your appointment letter to the security guard outside and follow the path to the counter.

Take a token number from the counter and wait for your turn.

The token numbers are displayed on the screen, with the counter number you need to go to apply.

The VFS agent checks your application and documents and puts them in the correct order.

You need to carry all your original documents for the visa officer to check during your Schengen visa application process.

They let you know if any document is missing. If it’s just a printout, you can go to the photocopy station and get it done. However, prices are a bit higher than the market.

The agent doesn’t accept the application if the documents are not complete. You need to make an appointment again and come back to apply.

Once the documents are checked and put in order, the agent gives the slip to complete the payment (visa fee + VFS charges), which is done at a separate counter.

You can pay the amount by cash or card, and when you show the payment receipt to the VFS agent, the application folder is handed over to you to proceed with the biometrics.

You are given a receipt after the biometrics submission, which needs to be saved for future use. The biometrics are valid for 59 months.

They’ll ask for it when you go to collect your passports from VFS, and the courier person also delivers passports after seeing that receipt.

You can choose to collect your passport from VFS or to have it couriered to your address.

Remember, in both cases, you need to show the receipt and the ID card.

I always choose to collect the passports myself to reduce the risk of them getting lost in transit.

Suppose you are still not clear about the documents or have any doubts about the visa application process. In that case, VFS’s Premium Lounge Service is a premium service that can be pre-booked over the phone or can be opted for. At the same time, you submit your application where you get personalized service by a dedicated staff who checks your documents and guides you through the whole process.

Check if it’s available in your city. Not to mention, you pay extra for the premium services.

I haven’t used those services, so I can’t comment on that.

Do I Have To Attend the Visa Interview or Does the Embassy Official Call?

Well, in cases where the cover letter and the documents fail to convince the embassy official, but they still feel that you must get a chance to prove your case, they may call you for a one-on-one.

Try to be as real as possible, but remember that impeccable honesty comes at a price. I hope you can read between the lines.

In some scenarios, they take a telephonic interview.

They call you to clear their doubts related to your travel plans, and it’s imperative to answer them confidently.

You should remember the dates, itinerary, and other details provided in the documents by heart to avoid any confusion.

A mismatch between the details given in the cover letter or documents and the details provided over the phone can be disastrous.

What Questions Are Likely to Be Asked If a Schengen Visa Interview (face-to-face or telephonic) Happens?

I spoke to some of my friends and fellow travelers who have been through the situation.

Here’s the essence of it!

• Why do you want to visit Europe or the country you are applying to?
• What is the purpose of your visit?
• Can you share the itinerary you have planned?
• How are you planning to travel within the Schengen zone?
• Have you booked your intra-Schengen flight, bus, cruise, or train tickets?
• Who’s financing your trip?
• Do you know that Europe is expensive? Would you be able to manage the cost?
• Which airline company have you booked your tickets with?
• What’s your date of departure?
• When are you coming back?
• How many days are you planning to stay in the Schengen area?
• Have you booked your stay for the entire duration?
• Which hotel have you chosen for your stay in (the country you are applying to)?
• How long have you been working with the (company name)?
• Do you have any friends or family members in (the country you are applying to)?

Be realistic and optimistic during the interview because that can get you the Schengen visa easily 🙂

How Long Does it Take for a Schengen Short Stay Visa to be Approved in India?

It’s recommended to apply for a Schengen visa at least 3 weeks before your travel dates to give yourself buffer time.

You usually hear from the embassy within 15 days (2 weeks) of receiving your application file.

But there have been cases when people get their visas in just 3 or 4 days.

In our case, it took 20 days to get the visa from the Norwegian Embassy. The delay was because of the summer vacation rush.

Next time around, it only took 6 days for us to get the visa from the Austrian Embassy.

So, I guess it varies from case to case and embassy to embassy.

The Estimated Time is Over! I’m Still Waiting for the Visa. What Should Be My Next Step?

Firstly, don’t panic.

It does take more than the estimated time in some instances, like when the embassy is overwhelmed with visa applications due to summer vacations.

If you haven’t received your visa within 15 days, it’s advisable to write an email to the embassy mentioning your travel dates.

Don’t forget to attach the travel itinerary and hotel or flight booking papers.

Call the VFS to get the correct email address because sometimes the email address isn’t mentioned on the embassy’s website. If your application takes longer than the required time, VFS forwards your case to the embassy for a quick response.

Why Was My Schengen Visa Rejected?

There can be a lot of reasons for the Schengen visa rejection.

To elucidate a few –

• Past or Current Criminal Record
• The documents and cover letter you provided are unable to endorse the purpose of your travel. They failed to convince the visa officer.
• You haven’t shown enough proof of funds.
• You have demonstrated false or forged travel documents. It can be anything from false hotel or flight booking documents to employment proof documents. Remember, the embassy officials cross-check everything, and this can result in a visa rejection, as well as a bad name and difficulty obtaining a visa in the future.
• A mismatch between the dates you mentioned in the travel itinerary and the dates you stated in the visa application.
• Your Travel Insurance is invalid and inadequate. A Travel Insurance Policy is a must for a Schengen visa, and it doesn’t cost you any money because good insurance companies refund the amount if a visa is denied.
• Your intention to return is unclear. Your cover letter or supporting documents that show ties to your home country are not convincing the embassy official. Sometimes, just the return flight tickets aren’t enough. You need to show that you have a job or business back home, you own a property, your kids are enrolled in a school, and you have a leave sanction from your employer clearly stating that you’ll be back to the job on this particular date.
• To err is human. Embassy officials can make a mistake while handling the application. One can reapply in cases where they are sure about the documents presented.
• You have applied at the wrong Embassy because you were unable to determine your primary destination.
• The supporting documents fail to show the booked accommodation for each Schengen country and each night you spend in the Schengen region.
• The flight bookings aren’t complete. For example, when you travel as a group, you mistakenly forget to show flight bookings for one of the applicants.
• You cannot demonstrate transport bookings inside the Schengen region.
• Invalid invitation letter
• Unacceptable birth or marriage certificate
• The reason for rejection can be your passport. The passport is damaged or not in good condition, it is not valid as it expires in less than 6 months, or it doesn’t have enough blank pages (at least two blank pages are needed).
• You failed to respect the Schengen Visa limitations last time, e.g, overstaying in the Schengen Area or spending more days in some other Schengen country rather than your primary country.

Will My Fee Be Refunded If My Visa Gets Rejected?

Unfortunately, No.

The visa fee covers the cost of processing the visa application.

Can I Apply for a Schengen Visa After Rejection? Can I Apply Through a Different Embassy as a Fresh Application?

You have two alternatives.

One is to appeal against the decision.

The reason for the refusal is mentioned in the rejection letter. Appeal only if you feel that the reason given is not right. Also, appeals concerning rejections take a long time, from weeks to months, and are not a good alternative if your travel dates are fixed.

So, the second and best option is to reapply through the same embassy or a different Schengen state embassy.

You stand a fair chance if you reapply, as you are treated as a new applicant. Don’t forget to make changes per the reason for refusal.

How Long Can I Stay in the Schengen Zone Once I Get My Visa? What’s the Schengen Visa Validity?

A Schengen visa generally allows you to stay in any of the Schengen states during the trip, within the validity of the visa.

The Schengen visa validity is a maximum of 90 days within 180 days for tourist purposes.

Don’t confuse the visa validity and the duration of stay.

The validity of your Schengen Visa can be 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years, depending on the embassy’s decision, but the duration of stay can be a maximum of 90 days.

How Can I Check My Schengen Visa Validity?

The Schengen Visa validity is mentioned on the visa sticker affixed to your passport.

In our case, the visa validity was 45 days.

Can I Leave the Schengen Region and Come Back Again With the Visa That’s Still Active?

The Schengen visa allows single entry or multiple entries based on your visa application.

The same is mentioned on your visa sticker.

With a single-entry visa, you can enter the Schengen zone only once for a specific period. In contrast, a multiple-entry visa allows you to go in and out of the Schengen region freely within the validity of the visa.

I Have Connecting Flights, With a Layover at a Schengen State Airport. Do I Have to Apply For The Transit Visa to Exit the Airport?

No!

You have a Schengen visa valid for entry to all the Schengen states.

You can exit the airport to travel to a Schengen state during the layover.

Can a Schengen Visa Be Extended?

A visa can only be extended if you have stayed in the Schengen region for less than 90 days in any 180 days and the current visa hasn’t expired.

If the reason for the extension isn’t strong and severe enough, it rarely gets through.

What Are the Things to Keep in Mind to Improve The Chances of Success in Scoring a Schengen Visa from India?

• Research.Research. Research. Know the rules from A to Z.
• Write an impressive cover letter.
• Choose the embassy to apply for your visa application wisely. Check the embassy toughness index and plan your itinerary around the easiest-to-get visa embassy.
• Turn down VFS. They know nothing more than the information given on the website and repeat the same in a parrot fashion.
• Plan well in advance.
• Carry additional copies of the documents while applying at VFS to avoid any rush.

Disclaimer: The tips and tricks mentioned in this post are based on my personal experience. Please don’t consider them as a standard for judging or deciding because every case is unique. Also, please note that all the information provided here was accurate at the time of publishing, but may change without prior notice. The visa policies are volatile, and the visa information keeps changing periodically. We try to keep the post updated; however, there can be certain discrepancies. If you find any, please let us know 🙂

All the best!

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