A Complete Guide to Schengen Tourist Visa from India: Eligibility, Cost, and Rules

From the vibrant streets of India to the picturesque Schengen landscapes, the dream of exploring Schengen is within your reach. The Schengen Tourist Visa for Indian Travelers is something you must comprehend in order to begin this adventure.

This piece will examine the prerequisites, delve into the fundamentals, and lead you through the process of discovering Schengen's elegance. Are you set out on this voyage?

Schengen Tourist Visa Requirements for Indian Citizens

All Indian Citizens must adhere to some visa requirements in order to obtain the Schengen Tourist Visa. The following paperwork must be submitted in order to complete the application for obtaining the Schengen tourist visa to enter Europe:

• Application Form for Schengen Tourist Visa: The completed online form needs to be downloaded in two copies and signed at the end.
• Two pictures that comply with Schengen regulations: They should be 35–40 mm wide, taken at a close-up of your head and shoulders so that your face occupies 70–80% of the frame, and no older than six months. It must be taken with impeccable clarity and sharp focus, without any creases or ink marks, and in compliance with all ISCO standards.
• Valid Passport: To attach the visa, it must have two blank pages and have been issued within the previous ten years. After the intended duration of stay in the Schengen Area, the passport must remain valid for an additional three months.

• Clean and clear photocopies of the passport's first and last pages (biodata).

• Past passports (if applicable): If you have more than one old passport, bind them together with a rubber band rather than staple them and present them with the other paperwork.

• Original personal covering letter: Outlining your reasons for visiting the EU, the nations you intend to visit, the dates you have available, the accommodations you have in mind, and other specifics of your journey.

• No Objection Letter: This is a letter from your employer or your place of higher education confirming your return to your home country is guaranteed by your promise to fulfill contractual obligations there.

• Travel health insurance that provides hospitalization, emergency care, and repatriation in the event of death. The member states of the Schengen Zone have decided that a minimum coverage of 30.000 EUR is required, and that coverage must be valid for the whole time that you are visiting the Schengen Area.

• Flight Ticket: There is no need to purchase actual airline tickets when making a flight reservation. But, in order to verify your intended entry and departure dates, the embassy requires you to purchase a plane ticket. Tickets purchased one way are not accepted.

• Evidence of lodging for the duration of the visit in the Schengen Region. You need to present your hotel reservation if you are staying there. If you are staying with friends or family, they need to provide documentation proving they have enough space for you.

• Evidence of Financial Status: It is your responsibility to provide proof that you have enough money for the trip and can support yourself while in the Schengen area. A bank statement from the last three months - which cannot be more than three days old - should be able to attest to that.

The Schengen tourist visa application varies depending on where you plan to go. In certain instances, the consulate might request additional information or documentation from you while processing your application, or they might get in touch with you for a follow-up interview. Since submitting the first set of required documents does not ensure that you will be granted a tourist visa for Europe, be sure to submit them as well.

Also Read: Insights Into the Schengen Region Countries

Schengen Travel Visa Requirements for Minors

If you are a minor's parent or legal guardian applying for a Schengen tourist visa, additional paperwork will be required. These documents include:

• The Birth Certificate of the Minor
• Application signed by both parents
• If the child is under the complete custody of one parent only, a family court order
• Official copies of both parents' passports and identification
• If the minor is going to travel alone, a notarized parental authorization signed by both parents or guardians is required.

Photo Requirements for Schengen Tourist Visa

These are the main photo requirements according to ICAO Standards that you must adhere to when you process a Schengen tourist visa application.

• Two identical pictures, taken no older than six months apart.
• The picture is 35 mm by 45 mm in size.
• The photo ought to be in color rather than black and white.
• 70–80% of the image should be occupied by the head.
• There should be light in the background. It is advised that light gray be used with no patterns.
• The candidate needs to face the camera directly.
• A neutral-looking face without a smile or closed mouth.
• Avoid wearing colors or uniforms that blend in with the surroundings.

Application Process for Schengen Tourist Visa

The process of obtaining a Schengen area Tourist visa involves following these easy steps:

Step 1: Fill the Application Form for Schengen Area Tourist Visa

Fill out the online Schengen tourist visa application form completely and accurately. Print it twice, then sign it when you are done. When asked about the reason behind your trip, be sure to check the "tourism" box. Basic details like your name, nationality, passport number, country of birth, and date of birth are requested on the Schengen tourist visa application form.

Inquiries about your itinerary, including how long you want to spend in each country and where you are staying, will also need to be answered. Verify that the data you provided on the application form matches the data in the other documents.

Step 2: Compile the Schengen Tourist Visa Document Requirements for Tourists

Make sure you finish the documentation file that visitors are required to submit to the Schengen authorities.

Step 3: Schedule an interview

It is necessary to schedule an appointment at least 15 days in advance of the planned trip, ideally six months in advance. Set up an interview by visiting the website of the consulate or embassy of the nation you intend to visit in your home country.

Step 4: Attend your Interview

Arrive on time at the consulate or embassy appointment center. Recall that they will most likely cancel your appointment if you are even a few minutes late. The entire submission process takes about ten minutes. Please ensure that: Every document you submit will be examined and verified by an official at the application center.

Step 5: Provide Biometric Data

If this is your first time applying for a Schengen Tourist Visa, you will also need to have your fingerprints scanned at the consulate. A brand-new Visa Information System will house them (VIS). Frequent visitors to the Schengen Area do not need to provide fresh finger scans each time they apply for a new visa because once finger scans are saved in VIS, they can be reused for up to five years for subsequent visa applications.

Step 6: Pay your Schengen Tourist Visa Fees

Adult tourists must pay a schengen travel visa cost of EUR 80 at the time of visa application submission. On the other hand, children under the age of twelve and those starting at age six must pay a Schengen Tourist Visa fee of EUR 40.

You will receive a receipt after paying the visa fee, which you must keep in order to pick up your completed application. The Schengen travel Visa cost will not be refunded in the event that the visa application is denied. Should you reapply for a visa, the Schengen Tourist Visa fees will need to be paid again.

Step 7: Submit your application at Embassy

Now that everything has been formalized, it is time to send in your application. You only need to apply to the country's embassy in your home country if you only intend to visit that one nation.

However, you must apply at the embassy of the nation you intend to spend the most time in if you are planning to visit two or more countries in one trip. After your submission, the consulate might take some time to process your application upon which you will receive your visa on approval.

Do you want to keep your visa from being denied? Read this: How Can I Avoid Schengen Tourist Visa Rejection?

Cost of Schengen Tourist Visa

The cost of a Schengen tourist visa is between €60 and €80, with children under the age of six receiving it free of cost.

On a Touring plan? Consider this: Top 30 Countries Which Does Not Require Visa From India

Latest Rules for Schengen Tourist Visa

Below listed are some latest Schengen Tourist Visa rules that all tourists need to keep in mind while processing the Schengen Tourist Visa application:

All Set to Explore Schengen With the Tourist Visa with GetGIS

Understanding the prerequisites for a Schengen Tourist Visa is the first step towards realizing the exciting journey of embarking on a Schengen adventure as an Indian traveler.

Discover the enchantment of Schengen, encompassing breath-taking scenery and energetic metropolises. Your trip to the country of amazing adventures is well within your reach with the correct planning and help from professionals like GetGIS. So prepare yourself for the incredible experiences that Schengen has to offer by packing your bags, seizing the chance, and setting out! Safe travels!

Book Your Free Consultation