Top 3 Schengen Travel Visas for Indians | Kansas Overseas

Want to travel to Europe for tourism? Planning to go to multiple European countries on one trip? You will have to get a Schengen Visa.

You can visit 27 countries in Europe with a single visa. There are other nations that will grant you entry as well.

What are the Top 3 Schengen travel visas for Indians?

The Top 3 Schengen travel visas for Indians are -

1. France Schengen Visa
2. Switzerland Schengen Visa
3. Italy Schengen Visa

The application process, fees, and documents required are the same.

How many Schengen visas were granted to Indians in 2022?

According to the 2022 Schengen Visa Statistics for Schengen Countries, Indian nationals got a total of 434,107 visa grants.

The Top 3 Schengen Travel Visas for Indians were that of France (1,06,987), Switzerland (91,989), and Germany (67,477).

How can I travel to Europe for tourism?

A Schengen Visa allows to to travel to and stay in any country in the Schengen Area, also known as the Schengen Zone. Every visit allows you a stay of up to 90 days. Your purpose of visit can be business or tourism.

What is Schengen?

Schengen is the passport-free zone in Europe which is the largest free travel area with no internal borders. Most of the European countries are in the Schengen Area.

What is a Schengen Visa?

The most commonly applied visa for Europe, a Schengen Visa lets you enter any of the Schengen countries for tourism or business.

As there are no passport control within the Schengen Area, a Schengen Visa allows you to -

• Enter,
• Travel to, and
• Leave

from any of the Schengen Countries.

Europe offers diverse adventures. Inspiring soulful connections and lifelong memories, Europe is where adventures are limitless and travel is free-flowing. Every year, many from India go to Europe for tourism.

What are the types of Schengen Visas?

You will be required to apply for a Schengen visa if you plan to travel to one or more countries in Europe on a short-term visit.

There are many reasons for which you can seek a Schengen Visa:

1. Visit Schengen visa for the “Purpose of Visiting Family, Friends or Relatives”
2. Business Schengen Visa, to fulfill a business agenda in a specific European country or countries.
3. Tourism Schengen Visa for going to Europe on a pleasure trip that involves tourism and/or vacation.
4. Attending a Cultural / Sports / Religious Event in Europe. Also for Film Crews.
5. Transit Schengen Visa which allows people to enter the Schengen Zone to change their mode of transport. An Airport Transit Schengen visa is for those who have to change flights at a Schengen airport. A Transit Schengen Visa for Seafarers is for seamen allowing them to get down from a ship in a Schengen seaport. They can leave their vessel at that seaport and stay there for some days till they get their next ship out from the Schengen Area.
6. Short-term Study Schengen Visa. Stay in a Schengen country for up to three months for short-term study or for research purposes.
7. Medical reasons. For those who need to receive medical treatment for their health condition.
8. Official visit. The Schengen Visa for official visits is for those who need to travel to the Schengen Area on an official invitation to take part in consultations, meetings, negotiations etc.

How many entries are allowed on a Schengen Visa?

Based on your reason for visit, you can be granted -

• Multiple entry visa
• Double entry visa
• Single entry visa

How to apply for a Schengen Visa?

The basic stepwise process to apply for a Schengen Tourist visa from India -

Step 1. Get information

Find out the documents required, the earliest that you can apply, the present processing times etc.

Step 2. File online application.

You will need the following documents to file your application online -

• Passport with at least 3 month’s validity left, issued within the last 10 years, and with a minimum of 2 blank pages remaining.
• Two recent passport-sized photos,
• Travel itinerary
• Flight tickets for the round trip,
• Hotel reservations for your stay
• Proof of employment (job offer letter, pension documents etc.)
• Proof of link to country (marriage certificate, birth certificate etc.)
• Supporting documents of personal income (salary slips for employees, certificate of registration if company owner etc.)
• Travel health insurance of a minimum of EUR 30,0000

Step 3. Book your visa appointment

You must book an appointment with a Visa Application Centre (VAC). External service providers are used by many governments for receiving visa applicants, taking their biometric information, and collecting their documents.

You must make sure that you apply well in advance. The earliest that you can apply for a Schengen visa is six months before your date of intended travel. The latest that you can apply is two weeks before your trip to Europe.

Step 4. Submit your application

Take your application with you when you go to attend your Schengen Visa interview at the VAC. All required documents and receipts must be with you.

At the visa application centre -

• Your application will be reviewed,
• The Schengen visa fee collected,
• Your photo and fingerprints (biometric data) taken, and
• Your passport and copies of supporting documents kept.

The VAC will then forward your application and documents to the consulate.

Step 5. Get your visa

Typically, Schengen visas are processed within 15 days of submitting the complete application. However, the processing time might go up to 45 days if additional documents are asked for.

Which countries can I enter on a Schengen Visa?

There are over 40 countries - with no border control between them - that you enter on a Schengen Visa. 27 countries are in the Schengen Area.

There are another 17 countries not in the European Union or Schengen Area where you can go with a Schengen Visa. These additional countries are not part of the Schengen Agreement, but allow you to enter with a valid Schengen Visa.

Where to submit my Schengen tourist visa application?

You must submit your Schengen visa application at the embassy/consulate general/VAC of your main destination in the Schengen Zone.

If you will visit more than 1 countries, your Schengen visa application must be submitted at the embassy/consulate/VAC of the country where you would either -

• Enter first, or
• Spend the most time in.

Strategic planning and submitting a complete application improve the chances of your Schengen visa being approved. A complete application is one that has no information missing and contains all the required documentation.

Expert guidance matters in immigration and visa process. Increase your chances of getting a Schengen Visa. Save time and money by getting it right the first time.

For more details, contact Kansas Overseas today.

Other FAQs

What is Schengen visa insurance?

Proof of a travel insurance policy is required to apply for a Schengen Visa. For Indian passport holders, the insurance must -

• Be for at least EUR 30,000,
• Provide coverage in all Schengen states, and
• Include coverage for all expenses such as urgent medical attention, evacuation, or repatriation.

What is the Schengen Information System (SIS)?

An information database used by the European Union, the Schengen Information System (SIS) allows authorities to share and manage information about individuals in the Schengen states. An SIS alert is made available to all authorities with access to the visa information system.

How can an Indian passport holder enter Europe for tourism?

Generally, a citizen of India will be required to secure a Schengen Visa to enter a Schengen country in Europe.

What is Schengen Convention?

The Schengen Convention - signed on June 19, 1990 - supplements the Schengen Agreement which was signed on June 14, 1985. Both the documents were signed by the five countries of Netherlands, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany.

How many Schengen Countries?

27 countries in the Schengen Zone - 23 out of the 27 EU member States, and the four European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries of Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.

Bulgaria, Romania, and Cyprus will soon be a part of the Schengen Area as well.

Can I visit the United States on a Schengen Visa?

No. You cannot visit the US on a Schengen Visa. You will have to get a US Visitor visa instead. US passport holders don't need a visa to enter the European Union.

What is the European Migration Network (EMN)?

A network of the European Union, the European Migration Network (EMN) connects migration and asylum experts.

Which countries are in the European Union?

Which countries are in the European Economic Area (EEA)?

The EEA includes EU countries and also Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland. Switzerland is not a part of the EU or EEA.

What is a diplomatic passport?

A diplomatic passport or official passport is issued by the Government of India to individuals that -

• Have a diplomatic status, or
• Are on a deputation for official duty overseas.

What is VFS Global?

VFS Global is a visa outsourcing company that manages the administrative tasks related to passports and visas on behalf of the client governments. There are 3,000+ visa application centres worldwide.

What can I do on a Schengen visa?

You must apply for a Schengen visa if you wish to enter and stay in Europe for the purpose of -

• Tourism,
• Vacation,
• Sightseeing, or

Visiting friends/family.