Schengen Visa Guide

Everything to know while applying for a Schengen visa

It may come as no surprise that you can travel within Europe without a visa, making it one of the world’s largest visa-free zones. However, you do require a visa, known as Schengen visa, to enter the continent, and then travel across countries.

The visa allows a traveller to enter any country in the Schengen area. It is a short-stay visa that enables you to stay for up to 90 days for tourism purposes. The best part about the Schengen visa is that there are no border controls, and you can freely travel within the Schengen zone.

However, if you intend to work or study in one of the Schengen countries, or your stay exceeds 90 days, you must convert your Schengen visa to a national visa of that European country.

In this page, we will discuss the members of the Schengen countries, types of Schengen visas, who needs to apply for it, and more.

How to apply for Schengen visa?

To apply for a Schengen visa, you need to visit their embassy or visa centre to apply for the visa you need. The steps you need to keep in mind are:

Step 1	Book an appointment for a Schengen visa to proceed with your application
Step 2	Download the application form from their website and fill it out correctly
Step 3	Submit all the required documents, along with the form
Step 4	Once your documents are accepted, you will be called for an interview
Step 5	Wait for a response on your visa application; it may take up to 15 days or more

Note: Members of the European Union Parliament (MEP) adopted a report aimed at modernising the visa application process in the Schengen area, moving away from physical applications and visa stickers to a digital system. Now travellers who plan to visit the EU can apply for Schengen visa online making the visa process hassle-free.

How to track Schengen visa application?

You can track your Schengen visa application on the official websites of each EU country. You will need to fill out your visa application number and travel document number to see the process.

We have a comprehensive Schengen visa guide here which provides detailed information about the visa, how to apply, types of visa and more.

Which countries are members of the Schengen Area?

The Schengen area comprises 27 European countries, covering most of the European Union (EU) except Ireland. Although countries like Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Lichtenstein are not part of the EU, they still fall under the Schengen zone. The countries soon to be part of the Schengen Area are Romania, Bulgaria, and Cyprus.

These countries have officially put an end to all passport and other border controls. To explore any part of the Schengen area, you will only need a Schengen visa, after which you can roam about freely.

The Schengen visa countries are:

Croatia

Estonia

Germany

Iceland

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Poland

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Who needs to apply for a tourist Schengen visa?

Every non-European citizen planning to travel to Europe needs to get this visa for a short-term stay. These are the nationalities that need a Schengen short-stay visa.

Afghanistan

Algeria

Angola

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Bahrain

Bangladesh

Belarus

Belize

Benin

Bhutan

Bolivia

Botswana

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Cabo Verde

Cambodia

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

China

Comoros

Cote D’ivoire

Cuba

Democratic Republic of Congo

Djibouti

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

Egypt

Equatorial Guinea

Eritrea

Eswatini

Ethiopia

Fiji

Gabon

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea-Bissau

Guyana

Haiti

India

Indonesia

Iran

Iraq

Jamaica

Jordan

Kazakhstan

Kenya

Kosovo

Kuwait

Kyrgyzstan

Laos

Lebanon

Lesotho

Liberia

Libya

Madagascar

Malawi

Maldives

Mali

Mauritania

Mongolia

Morocco

Mozambique

Myanmar

Namibia

Nepal

Niger

Nigeria

North Korea

Northern Mariana Islands

Oman

Pakistan

Palestine

Papua New Guinea

Philippines

Qatar

Republic of the Congo

Russia

Rwanda

Saudi Arabia

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Somalia

South Africa

South Sudan

Sri Lanka

Suriname

Syria

São Tomé and Príncipe

Tajikistan

Tanzania

Thailand

Timor-Leste

Togo

Tonga

Tunisia

Turkmenistan

Republic of Türkiye

Uganda

Uzbekistan

Vanuatu

Vietnam

Yemen

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Types of Schengen visa

There are various types of Schengen visas, each for different purposes. Some of the visas are listed below.

Tourist visa
Business visa
Student visa
Transit visa
Medical visa
Official visit visa
Visitor visa
Culture and Sports Visa

1. Tourist visa

This is the most popular type of visa that allows a traveller to enter the Schengen area as a tourist. A tourist Schengen visa permits a stay for a maximum of 90 days within a six-month time period. This visa is only for leisure/tourism purposes, and no traveller is allowed to work/conduct business.

Eligibility	Completed application form Passport that is valid for a minimum of six months from the date of departure Round trip flight or itinerary Proof of accommodation Travel health insurance First and last page of your passport (scanned colour copy) At least two passport-size photographs with a white background Bank statement (proof of finance)
Validity	90 days
Processing time	10 working days

For how long is a Schengen tourist visa valid?

A business visa for the Schengen countries is valid for no more than 90 days. If you plan to travel to more than one Schengen country, you need to check the "multiple entry" option on the application form.

What is the processing time for Schengen tourist visas?

It may take up to 10 working days to respond to an application for a Schengen visa. Based on the application, the time taken for the visa to be processed may be more or less than two months.

2. Business visa

A Schengen business visa is required to conduct business in a Schengen country with a local company or individual. For this visa, the company in the area needs to invite you and provide a copy of the invitation letter.

Eligibility	Completed application form Passport that is valid for a minimum of six months from the date of departure Round trip flight Proof of accommodation Invitation letter from the company First and last page of your passport (scanned colour copy) At least two passport-size photographs with white background Bank statement (proof of finance)
Validity	90 days
Processing time	10 working days

For how long is a Schengen business visa valid?

What is the processing time for Schengen business visas?

It may take up to 10 working days to respond to an application for a Schengen visa. Based on the application, the time taken for the visa to be processed may be more or less than two months.

3. Student Visa

To study in one of the Schengen countries, you need to apply for a student visa which allows a short stay of a maximum of three months. If your course is longer than three months, you will need to apply for a long-stay study visa at the embassy in your home country.

Note: You cannot apply for a student visa extension from a Schengen country.

Eligibility	Completed application form A passport that is valid for a minimum of six months from the date of departure Proof of the accommodation (dormitory contract or rent agreement) Invitation/acceptance letter from the university First and last page of your passport (scanned colour copy) At least two passport-size photographs with a white background Proof of payment of university fees and student visa fees Bank statement (proof of finance)
Validity	3 months within a 6-month period
Processing time	15 working days

For how long is a Schengen student visa valid?

The Schengen student visa is valid for up to three months within a six-month period. After you receive the passport with the visa, double-check the validity period and duration of stay.

What is the processing time for Schengen student visas?

It may take up to 15 working days to respond to an application for a Schengen visa. Based on the application form, the time taken for the visa to be processed may be more or less than two months.

Where can I extend my Schengen student visa?

It is not possible to get your student visa extended in a Schengen country. Instead, you will need to return to your home country and apply from there for a longer study visa.

4. Transit Visa

A transit Schengen visa is for those who wish to enter the country in order to change their transport from air to sea, or change flights that have a long layover and require one to exit the airport. Before getting into details, you must know the difference between an airport transit visa and a transit visa.

Schengen Visa for Airport Transit

This type of visa is for those who have to change flights at the airport. The Schengen visa for airport transit allows for a stopover only at an international airport. The traveller is not allowed to leave the airport’s international transit area.

But, if you need to transit through more than one airport, you do not require the airport transit visa, instead, you will need to apply for a regular Schengen C-type visa. This visa is also valid for you to leave the airport where you arrived and connect to another airport within the same country.

Schengen Visa for Seafarers Transit

The Schengen visa for seafarers allows them to disembark from a ship or ferry in a Schengen seaport. This is permitted for a limited period of time until the next transport to a non-Schengen country is arranged.

A normal transit visa allows travellers no more than five days to move across more than one Schengen country on the way to a non-Schengen country. Besides that, there are also two other modes of transit visas for the Schengen area: airport and seaport.

Eligibility	Completed application form A passport that is valid for a minimum of six months from the date of departure First and last page of your passport (scanned colour copy) At least two passport-size photographs with a white background Proof of payment of visa fee
Validity	24 hours to 5-days
Processing time	2 weeks (Air) to 30 - 60 days (Sea)

For how long is a Schengen transit visa valid?

The airport transit Schengen visa is valid for 24 hours. To leave the airport, you will need to apply for a regular transit visa. On the other hand, a transit visa for seafarers permits travellers to stay for a maximum of five days.

What is the processing time for Schengen transit visas?

The processing time for Schengen transit visas is around two weeks. But for a specific transit visa or in extraordinary situations, it may take 30 to 60 days.

5. Medical Visa

The medical Schengen visa allows a traveller to enter any of the Schengen areas and receive treatment for their health. This visa is provided for a period of 90 days. However, if your treatment lasts over 90 days, you will need to apply for a National Visa for Medical Treatment. This can be done in the respective country; after this, you will be permitted to stay longer.

Eligibility	Completed application form A passport that is valid for a minimum of six months from the date of departure First and last page of your passport (scanned colour copy) At least two passport-size photographs with a white background A letter from a doctor Confirmation of treatment by the medical institution Proof of payment for the treatment Confirmed accommodation
Validity	90 days
Processing time	15 working days

For how long is a Schengen medical visa valid?

A medical visa for the Schengen countries is valid for no more than 90 days. If your treatment tends to extend, you must apply for a long-stay National Visa for Medical Treatment.

What is the processing time for Schengen medical visas?

It may take up to 15 working days to respond to an application for a Schengen medical visa. If there are mistakes on the application form, the time for the visa to be processed may take more or less than two months.

6. Official Visit Visa

Apart from the business visa, there is an official visit visa for Schengen countries. Through this visa, an individual is allowed an entry permit for reasons like meetings, negotiations, consultations, exchange programs, and other events held by intergovernmental organisations.

Eligibility	Completed application form A passport that is valid for a minimum of six months from the date of departure First and last page of your passport (scanned colour copy) At least two passport-size photographs with a white background Civil status certificate like a birth certificate Official note of the Consular Department (only for Diplomatic and Official)
Validity	90 days
Processing time	15 working days

For how long is a Schengen official visit visa valid?

The Schengen official visit visa is valid for 90 days within a 180-day period. However, depending on the visit, your visa may be different and may remain valid for five days to a month, depending on the issuing embassy.

What is the processing time for Schengen official visit visas?

It may take up to 15 working days to respond to an application for a Schengen visa. If there are mistakes on the application form, the time required for the visa to be processed may take more or less than two months.

7. Visitor Visa

This visa is issued for those who plan to visit their family, friends, and relatives living in one of the Schengen countries.

Eligibility	Completed application form A passport that is valid for a minimum of six months from the date of departure First and last page of your passport (scanned colour copy) At least two passport-size photographs with a white background Invitation letter from a relative residing in a Schengen country Travel insurance Round trip flight ticket Sponsorship letter
Validity	90 days
Processing time	15 working days

For how long is a Schengen visitor visa valid?

A Schengen visitor visa is valid for 90 days. However, the duration of your stay depends on the embassy or consulate issuing you the visa. If you plan to stay for over 90 days, you can apply for a visitors’ residence permit.

What is the processing time for a visitor visa?

It may take up to 15 working days to respond to an application for a Schengen visa. If there are mistakes on the application form, the time taken for the visa to be processed may be more or less than two months.

8. Culture and Sports Visa

This visa allows for a brief stay in the country for the purpose of culture, sports, and other such activities.

Eligibility	Completed application form A passport that is valid for a minimum of six months from the date of departure First and last page of your passport (scanned colour copy) At least two passport-size photographs with a white background Cover letter stating your reason for visiting Confirmed accommodation Bank statement Letter of sponsorship from an organisation
Validity	90 days
Processing time	15 working days
Specific requirements for attending cultural, sports, or religious events	Event information like an invitation letter, programme details, information about the event, etc. Proof of previous participation in festivals, sports, and/or ceremonies.
Specific requirements for filming	Original letter from the film production company Synopsis of the film and shooting locations A detailed list of the film crew Details for film permits Certificate of registration as a filmmaker

For how long is a Schengen Culture and Sports visa valid?

The Schengen visa for culture and sports is valid for 90 days within a 180-day period. However, depending on the visit, your visa may be valid for five days to a month, depending on the issuing embassy.

What is the processing time for Schengen Culture and Sports visas?

Guidelines for Indian nationals applying for a Schengen visa

The Schengen visa requires a series of documents. If you are planning a trip to Europe and require a Schengen visa, read the guidelines on how to prepare for your Schengen visa application from India.

The documents needed for a Schengen visa from India:

The Schengen visa application form must be properly filled out with the correct information. You can find the form on the official website or at the embassies in India.
Provide the original passport along with a copy. The passport must be valid for six months from the date of departure.
Make sure your passport contains at least two blank pages.
Have at least two passport photos with white background. It must have been taken in the last six months.
Provide a civil status certificate such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or family certificate.
Submit proof of accommodation.
Confirmed round-trip flight reservation from India to the EU and back.
Travel health insurance certificate. As of January 2023, the medical coverage for health insurance must cover at least EUR 30,000.
Payment receipt of the visa fee.
Have a cover letter for the Schengen visa. The letter must include all information about your trip, such as the reason for your visit, how long you plan to stay, where you will go in the Schengen area, and so on.
Show proof of financial means to get the visa. You need to submit the original copies of your bank account; the transactions must have lasted at least three to six months.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, you need an Indian passport to get a Schengen visa. Without a passport, you will not get a visa. If your passport is nearing expiry or damaged, you will need to apply for a new one.

Yes, a round-trip flight is needed to get a Schengen visa. By having this, it shows that you plan on returning after a certain time. The travel itinerary must also include flight information like date, flight number, and airline name.

If your visa is rejected, you will receive your documents; however, some embassies may only return your passport.

This depends on the type of visa you have applied for. The most common stay duration a traveller can get is a maximum of 90 days in a six-month period from the entry date. For a frequent traveller, you may get a visa valid for five years, but you cannot stay more than 90 days; hence, you need to obtain a multiple-entry visa valid for up to five years.

Most embassies request original documents instead of copies, although copies of every document are also requested, like for passport, and marriage certificate, among others.