Paris in the spring. Rome in the summer. The Swiss Alps in December. Amsterdam's canals. Barcelona's streets at midnight. Greece's islands glowing white against the Aegean blue. Europe isn't one destination — it's twenty-nine, all accessible with a single visa.
That's the magic of the Schengen Visa. One application, one stamp, and you can travel freely across 29 European countries — from Portugal to Finland, from Iceland to Greece. No border checks, no additional visas, no separate paperwork for each country. You move through Europe the way Europeans do.
For Indian travellers, the Schengen visa is the gateway to the most popular European holiday destinations. Whether you're planning a 10-day Euro trip covering Paris, Amsterdam, and Zurich, or a focused week in Italy, or visiting your child studying in Germany — the Schengen short-stay visa (Type C) covers it all.
But the application process is detail-oriented. You need to apply at the right embassy, submit the right financial evidence, buy travel insurance that meets specific minimum requirements, and build an itinerary that actually makes sense. One misstep in any of these areas can mean a refusal.
At E3 Immigration, we've managed Schengen visa applications for every type of traveller — first-time visitors, multi-country trip planners, business travellers, and families visiting relatives. We know what each embassy looks for, and we make sure your application is airtight.
Schengen (Type C)
€80
29
90 Days / 180
15-30 Days
The Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that allows you to travel within the Schengen Area — a zone of 29 European countries that have abolished internal border controls. Once you enter any Schengen country, you can travel to any other Schengen country without additional visas or border checks.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Schengen Short-Stay Visa (Type C) |
| Maximum Stay | 90 days within any 180-day period |
| Entry Type | Single, double, or multiple entry (as granted) |
| Countries Covered | 29 Schengen member states |
| Work Allowed? | No — you cannot work on a Schengen tourist visa |
| Study Allowed? | Short courses only (no formal degree programs) |
| Travel Insurance | Mandatory — minimum €30,000 medical coverage |
| Format | Physical sticker in passport |
Your Schengen visa gives you access to all of these countries with a single application:
This is where most people get confused — and where mistakes happen. The rule is straightforward but important:
Apply at the embassy/consulate of that country. Visiting only Italy? Apply at the Italian embassy (VFS Italy). Only France? Apply at the French embassy (VFS France). Simple.
Apply at the embassy of the country where you'll spend the most nights. If you're spending 4 nights in France, 3 in Switzerland, and 3 in Italy — apply at the French embassy. If equal nights in multiple countries, apply at the country of first entry into the Schengen Area.
⚠️ Common Mistake: Applying at the "easiest" embassy instead of the correct one. Some applicants believe certain embassies have higher approval rates and intentionally apply there — even if their itinerary doesn't justify it. If the embassy discovers your main destination is a different country (through your hotel bookings, flight itinerary, or interview), they'll refuse the application. Always apply at the correct embassy.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Valid Passport | Must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen Area, with at least 2 blank pages |
| Completed Application Form | Country-specific form, completed and signed |
| Photographs | 2 recent passport photos per ICAO specifications (35mm × 45mm, white background) |
| Travel Insurance | Minimum €30,000 coverage, valid across all Schengen states, covering medical emergencies and repatriation |
| Financial Evidence | Bank statements (3-6 months), ITR, salary slips — sufficient for your entire stay |
| Accommodation Proof | Hotel bookings for entire trip, or invitation letter with host's ID and address |
| Travel Itinerary | Day-by-day plan including cities, transport between countries, and activities |
| Flight Reservation | Round-trip booking (tentative/hold booking accepted — don't buy confirmed tickets) |
| Employment Proof | Employment letter, leave approval, business registration (self-employed) |
| Cover Letter | Explaining your travel purpose, itinerary, funding source, and intent to return |
Before anything else, finalise your travel plan. Which countries? How many nights in each? This determines which embassy you apply at. For multi-country trips, it's the country where you spend the most nights. We help clients build itineraries that are logistically sound and embassy-compliant.
Most Schengen countries process visa applications through VFS Global or BLS International in India. Book your appointment online. During peak summer (May-August), appointment slots fill up weeks in advance — book early. You can apply up to 6 months before your travel date and no later than 15 days before.
Fill out the Schengen visa application form — available online on the embassy or VFS website. Print it, sign it, and date it. Every field must be filled accurately. Some embassies now use online-only forms (e.g., France uses France-Visas portal). We ensure your form is completed correctly for your specific embassy.
Purchase Schengen-compliant travel insurance. The policy must meet these exact requirements:
Cost: approximately ₹1,500-₹4,000 depending on the provider and trip duration. Bajaj Allianz, TATA AIG, and ICICI Lombard offer Schengen-compliant policies.
Visit the VFS/BLS centre on your appointment date. Submit your passport, application form, and all supporting documents. Provide biometrics (fingerprints and photograph). If you've provided biometrics for a Schengen visa within the last 59 months, you may be exempt from providing them again (VIS — Visa Information System stores them).
Pay at the VFS/BLS centre during submission:
Standard processing: 15 calendar days (as per Schengen Visa Code). In practice, most embassies in India take 15-30 days. During summer, it can stretch to 45 days for some embassies. Track your application online via VFS. When processed, collect your passport from VFS or receive it by courier. If approved, the visa sticker will show your validity dates, number of entries, and allowed stay duration.
| Component | Cost |
|---|---|
| Schengen Visa Fee (Adult, 12+ years) | €80 (~₹7,200) |
| Schengen Visa Fee (Children 6-11 years) | €40 (~₹3,600) |
| Children under 6 | Free |
| VFS / BLS Service Charge | ₹1,800-₹2,500 |
| Travel Insurance (Schengen-compliant) | ₹1,500-₹4,000 |
| Photograph (if done at VFS/studio) | ₹200-₹500 |
| Courier Return (optional) | ₹500-₹800 |
* Total cost per adult applicant: approximately ₹10,000-₹12,000. Fees are non-refundable even if the visa is refused.
The Schengen visa allows a maximum stay of 90 days within any 180-day rolling period. This is not 90 days per trip — it's 90 days total across all Schengen countries within any 180-day window.
If you enter the Schengen Area on January 1 and stay for 60 days (until March 1), you've used 60 of your 90 days. You have only 30 days remaining before July 1 (the 180-day mark from January 1). If you re-enter on April 1 and stay 30 days, you're at your limit. You cannot re-enter until enough days "fall off" the 180-day window.
⚠️ Overstaying Is Serious: If you exceed 90 days, even by one day, you'll face fines, deportation, and a potential entry ban to the entire Schengen Area. Future visa applications to any Schengen country will be significantly affected. We track our clients' day counts to ensure compliance.
| Itinerary | Countries | Duration | Apply At |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Western Europe | France → Switzerland → Italy | 12-15 days | Country with most nights |
| Romantic Europe | France → Netherlands → Belgium | 10-12 days | France (usually most nights) |
| Mediterranean | Spain → Portugal | 10-14 days | Spain or Portugal |
| Central Europe | Germany → Austria → Czech Republic | 10-12 days | Germany (usually) |
| Scandinavian | Norway → Sweden → Denmark | 10-14 days | Country with most nights |
| Greek Islands | Athens → Santorini → Mykonos | 8-10 days | Greece |
| Italy Focused | Rome → Florence → Venice → Milan | 10-14 days | Italy |
Use Booking.com with free cancellation. You need confirmed bookings for the application, but don't want to lose money if the visa is refused or plans change.
Don't try to cover 8 countries in 10 days. Officers assess whether your plan is realistic. 2-3 cities per week is reasonable. 5 countries in 7 days is not.
Count your nights carefully. If France = 4, Switzerland = 3, Italy = 3, apply at France. If tied, apply at the country of first entry into Schengen.
Summer appointments fill up fast. Book your VFS appointment 4-6 weeks before your planned travel. You can apply up to 6 months in advance.
The Schengen visa isn't complicated — but it's unforgiving. A missing hotel booking, a travel insurance policy that covers €29,000 instead of €30,000, an itinerary that doesn't match your embassy choice — any of these can result in a refusal. And a refusal doesn't just ruin your trip. It creates a negative record that follows you into future visa applications — for Schengen and beyond.
We handle the logistics that trip up most applicants. We build day-by-day itineraries that are embassy-compliant. We verify that your travel insurance meets every Schengen requirement. We organise financial documents to show sustained capacity. And we write cover letters that clearly explain your trip, your funding, and your reasons to return.
Whether it's your first European holiday or your tenth, whether you're visiting one country or six — we make sure the visa is the easiest part of your trip.
Common Europe Schengen Tourist Visa mistakes, weak points and planning gaps to fix before your application moves forward.
A clear, applicant-friendly guide to Europe Schengen Tourist Visa eligibility, documents, timing and next steps for Indian applicants.