Visa guide · updated October 2026Do Indians need a visa for the Schengen area?
Indian passport holders need a Schengen visa to visit the Schengen area. The short-stay visa costs €90 for adults (€45 for children aged 6 to 11, free under 6), allows up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and is normally decided within 15 days. Apply to the country that is your main destination.
When you do not need a visa
You can enter without a visa if you hold one of the following:
- A valid residence permit or long-stay visa issued by any Schengen country
- A valid multiple-entry Schengen visa issued by another Schengen country, within its 90/180-day limit
Schengen visa options for Indians
| Option | Who it is for | Stay and validity | Official fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schengen short-stay visa (type C) | Tourism, business, and family or private visits | Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area | €90 |
| Schengen visa, child aged 6 to 11 | Children travelling with or without their parents | Same as above | €45 |
| Schengen visa, child under 6 | Children under 6 | Same as above | No visa fee |
| National long-stay visa (type D) | Study, work or family stays of more than 90 days | Set by each country’s own rules | Set by each country |
Schengen visa fees
| Option | Official fee |
|---|---|
| Schengen short-stay visa (type C) | €90 |
| Schengen visa, child aged 6 to 11 | €45 |
| Schengen visa, child under 6 | No visa fee |
| National long-stay visa (type D) | Set by each country |
The €90, €45 and free rates are the Schengen fees set by EU rules and are the same for every Schengen country. They are paid in rupees at the rate set by the consulate, and a visa application centre adds its own service charge.
Documents required
The official source lists these documents:
- Passport issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area
- Completed and signed Schengen visa application form
- Recent photo that meets the Schengen specifications
- Travel medical insurance valid across the Schengen area for the whole stay
- Documents showing the purpose of the trip, where you will stay, that you can pay for the stay, and that you intend to return
- Fingerprints, collected when you submit the application
How to apply
Work out which country to apply to: your only or main destination, or your first point of entry if you spend equal time in several Schengen countries.
Follow the instructions of that country’s consulate in India and book an appointment at the consulate or its visa application centre.
Submit the form, passport, photo and supporting documents in person and give your fingerprints.
Pay the visa fee and any service charge, then wait for the decision. Apply no later than 15 days before travel; up to 6 months ahead is allowed.
Processing time
Usually 15 days; this can be extended to up to 45 days if the consulate needs to examine the application further. You can apply from 6 months before the trip and no later than 15 days before it.
Visa application centres in India
Schengen visa applications are accepted in 19 Indian cities. Which centres you can use depends on the country you apply to.
Visa application centres
- Ahmedabad
- Bengaluru
- Bhubaneswar
- Chandigarh
- Chennai
- Cochin
- Coimbatore
- Goa
- Gurugram
- Guwahati
- Hyderabad
- Jaipur
- Jalandhar
- Kolkata
- Lucknow
- Mumbai
- New Delhi
- Puducherry
- Pune
AhmedabadBengaluruBhubaneswarChandigarhChennaiCochinCoimbatoreGoaGurugramGuwahatiHyderabadJaipurJalandharKolkataLucknowMumbaiNew DelhiPuducherryPuneNot every Schengen country accepts applications in every city. Open the guide for the country you are applying to for its own list.
Centre list from VFS Global, BLS International and GVCW, checked on 26 October 2026. Centres open and close, so confirm before you travel to one.
Popular places to visit in the Schengen Area
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Paris, France by Yann Caradec from Paris, France, CC BY-SA 2.0; Rome, Italy by Bert Kaufmann from Roermond, Netherlands, CC BY-SA 2.0; Barcelona, Spain by dronepicr, CC BY 2.0; Amsterdam, Netherlands by Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Frequently asked questions
Indian passport holders need a Schengen visa to visit the Schengen area. The short-stay visa costs €90 for adults (€45 for children aged 6 to 11, free under 6), allows up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and is normally decided within 15 days. Apply to the country that is your main destination.
Schengen short-stay visa (type C): €90. Schengen visa, child aged 6 to 11: €45. Schengen visa, child under 6: No visa fee. National long-stay visa (type D): Set by each country. The €90, €45 and free rates are the Schengen fees set by EU rules and are the same for every Schengen country. They are paid in rupees at the rate set by the consulate, and a visa application centre adds its own service charge.
Usually 15 days; this can be extended to up to 45 days if the consulate needs to examine the application further. You can apply from 6 months before the trip and no later than 15 days before it.
Work out which country to apply to: your only or main destination, or your first point of entry if you spend equal time in several Schengen countries. Follow the instructions of that country’s consulate in India and book an appointment at the consulate or its visa application centre. Submit the form, passport, photo and supporting documents in person and give your fingerprints. Pay the visa fee and any service charge, then wait for the decision. Apply no later than 15 days before travel; up to 6 months ahead is allowed.
From the official sources listed at the end of this page, checked on 26 October 2026. Visa rules and fees change, so confirm them on the official site before you apply.
Official sources
The visa facts on this page come from these official pages, checked on 26 October 2026. Rules and fees can change, so confirm them before you apply.