The short answer
Indian passport holders need a Schengen visa for short trips to Europe's 29 Schengen countries. One visa covers them all — France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and more — for up to 90 days in any 180. The United Kingdom is not part of Schengen and needs its own visa. We checked the rules below against the European Commission, the EU Delegation to India and the embassies' Delhi pages on 6 October 2026.
Which country to apply to
Apply to the country where you will spend the most nights. If you split your time equally, apply to the country you enter first. A Paris–Swiss Alps–Italy holiday with five nights in Switzerland and three in each of the others goes to the Swiss embassy.
Fees
The visa fee is €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 11, payable in rupees at the embassy's exchange rate. On top of that, the visa centre (VFS Global or BLS, depending on the country) charges a service fee — BLS lists ₹1,802 for Spain, and VFS charges are similar. Optional extras such as SMS updates and courier cost more.
When to apply
You can apply up to six months before travel, and no later than 15 days before. Standard processing is 15 days, which can stretch to 45 in some cases. For May–June and Diwali travel, Delhi appointments are hard to get, so we book them as soon as dates are firm — ideally three months ahead.
Documents
A passport issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least three months after you return, with two blank pages; a 35×45 mm photograph on a white background; bank statements for the last three months; income tax returns for two years (or Form 16); salary slips and a leave letter if you are employed; hotel and flight reservations; a covering letter with your day-by-day plan; and travel insurance with at least €30,000 of medical cover valid across Schengen. Each embassy publishes its own checklist, and small details differ.
Longer visas for repeat travellers
Since April 2024, Indians who have obtained and lawfully used two Schengen visas in the previous three years can be given a two-year multiple-entry visa, normally followed by a five-year visa if the passport is valid long enough. It is decided case by case, so keep your previous visas and travel records in order.
Fingerprints and the visa centre
First-time applicants, and anyone whose fingerprints are more than 59 months old, give biometrics in person. In Delhi, the VFS Schengen centre moved in January 2026 to VFS Global House, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Connaught Place — check your appointment letter for the exact address, as some countries use other centres and Spain uses BLS.
At the border: EES
Europe's Entry/Exit System has been fully running since 10 April 2026. Instead of a passport stamp, your face and fingerprints are recorded at the first border (children under 12 give no fingerprints). Expect longer queues on your first entry. ETIAS, the online travel permit you may read about, is only for visa-free nationalities and does not apply to Indian visa holders.
How we help
We build the itinerary to match your application, prepare a document checklist for every family member, and help schedule biometrics appointments. For official requirements, always refer to the relevant embassy or its visa centre.
