Authorized Processing for Schengen Visa.

Indian nationals need a Schengen Visa (Type C) to visit any of the 29 Schengen countries in Europe for tourism, business, or family visits. One visa gives you access to all 29 countries. The visa costs €90 (~₹9,900) plus VFS service charges, allows stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period, and is applied through VFS Global centres across India. The Visa Tales handles end-to-end Schengen applications — from choosing the right country to apply to, document preparation, and VFS appointment booking.

Last Updated: June 2026

Schengen Visa Details

🇦🇹 Austria · 🇧🇪 Belgium · 🇧🇬 Bulgaria · 🇭🇷 Croatia · 🇨🇿 Czechia · 🇩🇰 Denmark · 🇪🇪 Estonia · 🇫🇮 Finland · 🇫🇷 France · 🇩🇪 Germany · 🇬🇷 Greece · 🇭🇺 Hungary · 🇮🇸 Iceland · 🇮🇹 Italy · 🇱🇻 Latvia · 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein · 🇱🇹 Lithuania · 🇱🇺 Luxembourg · 🇲🇹 Malta · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · 🇳🇴 Norway · 🇵🇱 Poland · 🇵🇹 Portugal · 🇷🇴 Romania · 🇸🇰 Slovakia · 🇸🇮 Slovenia · 🇪🇸 Spain · 🇸🇪 Sweden · 🇨🇭 Switzerland

One Schengen Visa = free movement across all 29 countries. No separate visa needed for each.

• Valid Indian passport
• valid at least 3 months beyond your planned departure date from the Schengen Area, issued within the last 10 years, with at least 2 blank pages
• Clear purpose of visit
• tourism, business, family visit, medical, cultural, or sports event
• Sufficient financial means
• enough funds to cover accommodation, food, transport, and return without working
• Schengen travel insurance
• mandatory, minimum €30,000 coverage, valid across all 29 Schengen states
• Strong ties to India
• employment, business, property, family obligations proving return intent
• No previous immigration violations
• no overstays or deportations from Schengen or other countries
• Clean criminal record
• no serious criminal convictions
• Genuine temporary visit
• you must intend to leave before your authorised stay expires

• Insufficient funds
• low bank balance, sudden large deposits, or income inconsistent with travel plans
• Weak ties to India
• no stable employment, property, or family obligations proving return intent
• Incomplete or incorrect documents
• missing forms, mismatched dates, unsigned application, missing old passports
• Insurance issues
• coverage doesn't match travel dates, covers only one country, or missing required clauses
• Unclear purpose of visit
• vague cover letter, generic itinerary, or travel plan inconsistent with your profile
• Wrong embassy
• applied to a country that's not your principal destination
• Poor travel history
• no prior international travel or previous visa refusals without explanation
• Inconsistent information
• mismatch between application form, cover letter, and supporting documents

⚠️ Note: This is a general list. Additional documents are required based on your specific profile after consultation.

• Valid Passport
• minimum 3 months validity beyond planned departure date, issued within the last 10 years, at least 2 blank pages, plus all old/expired passports
• Visa Application Form
• completed online (VIDEX for most countries), printed and signed
• Two Passport-Size Photographs
• 35mm × 45mm, white background, matte finish, not older than 6 months (ICAO standard)
• Schengen Travel Insurance
• minimum €30,000 coverage, valid across all Schengen states, matching exact travel dates (even a 1-day gap = rejection)
• Flight Reservation
• confirmed or tentative round-trip booking (do not buy non-refundable tickets before visa grant)
• Hotel Bookings / Accommodation Proof
• day-wise hotel reservations or invitation letter from host with their ID and address proof
• Day-Wise Travel Itinerary
• detailed plan showing cities, dates, activities, and transport between cities
• Proof of Funds
• bank statements (last 3–6 months), salary slips, ITR for last 2–3 years, fixed deposits
• Employment Proof
• employer letter with salary, designation, leave approval, and confirmation of return to work; or business registration + financials if self-employed
• Cover Letter
• explaining purpose of visit, itinerary, funding, and ties to India
• Invitation Letter (if visiting family/friends)
• from host in Schengen country, with their residence permit/ID copy, relationship proof
• Previous Travel History
• copies of all previous visa stamps (Schengen and non-Schengen)
• Proof of Ties to India
• property documents, family proof, ongoing business commitments

1. Contact The Visa Tales
• Reach out via WhatsApp or visit our office. Share your travel plan and we identify your principal destination country
2. Share Your Documents
• Send all required documents digitally via WhatsApp or email
3. Application Preparation
• We complete the visa application form, write your cover letter, prepare your itinerary, and review every document for completeness
4. VFS Appointment Booking
• We book your VFS Global appointment at the nearest centre (available in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chandigarh, Kochi, and more)
5. VFS Visit
• You visit VFS in person for document submission and biometrics (fingerprints + photo). We prepare you with a checklist so nothing is missed
6. Fee Payment
• Visa fee (€90) + VFS service charge paid at the centre
7. Visa Decision
• Processing takes 15–30 days. We track status and notify you immediately
8. Passport Collection
• Collect your passport with visa sticker from VFS or opt for courier delivery

✅ Licensed & experienced.

We are an RCIC-licensed immigration consultancy (License #R710507) with 4+ years of specialised experience in Canadian immigration — visitor visas, Super Visas, and Canada PR.

✅ Right Embassy, First Time

We analyse your itinerary to identify the correct principal destination — avoiding the #1 amateur mistake that causes rejections.

✅ Rejection-Proof Review

Every application is reviewed against the 8 most common rejection triggers before submission — catching errors that unlicensed agents miss.

✅ End-to-End Support

From itinerary planning and document preparation to VFS appointment booking, cover letter writing, and post-submission tracking.

✅ We handle the edge cases.

Previous visa refusal? Expired visa? Minor traveling without both parents? We've processed these before and know what additional documents are needed — so you don't discover the problem after your application is rejected.

• Apply 4–8 Weeks Early
• Applications can be submitted up to 6 months before travel. During peak season (April–August, Nov–Jan), VFS appointment slots fill weeks in advance. Don't wait.
• Old Passports Are Mandatory
• Submit ALL previous passports, even expired ones. Missing old passports is one of the top 3 rejection reasons for Indian applicants.
• Insurance Must Match Exactly
• Your Schengen travel insurance dates must exactly match your travel dates. Even a 1-day gap between insurance and travel dates can cause rejection.
• Don't Buy Non-Refundable Tickets
• Never purchase non-refundable flights or hotels before receiving your visa. Use tentative/refundable bookings for the application.
• Multiple-Entry Possible
• First-time applicants usually get single or double entry. With strong travel history (especially prior Schengen travel), you can receive multiple-entry visas valid for 1–5 years.
• EES Digital Border System
• The Entry/Exit System is rolling out across Schengen airports (2025–2026). All entries and exits will be digitally recorded — overstays are automatically flagged.
• Passport 10-Year Rule
• Your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years on the date of departure. Even if it has validity remaining, a passport older than 10 years will be rejected.

Do Indian citizens need a visa to visit Europe? Yes. Indian passport holders need a Schengen Visa (Type C) to visit any of the 29 Schengen countries. One visa covers all 29 countries — you don't need separate visas for each.

How much does a Schengen visa cost for Indians? The embassy fee is €90 (~₹9,900). Add VFS service charges (~₹1,800–2,500) and mandatory travel insurance (~₹1,500–3,000). Total cost is approximately ₹11,000–16,000 per person.

How long does Schengen visa processing take from India? Standard processing is 15–30 days from your biometrics appointment. During peak season (summer, Christmas), it can extend to 45 days. Apply at least 4–8 weeks before travel.

How long can I stay in Europe on a Schengen visa? Up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day window. This is counted cumulatively across all 29 Schengen countries — not per country.

Which country should I apply for a Schengen visa to? Apply to the country where you'll spend the most nights (principal destination). If equal, apply to the country of first entry. Applying to the wrong country is a common rejection reason.

Can I visit multiple European countries on one Schengen visa? Yes. That's the whole point — one visa covers all 29 Schengen countries. You can travel freely between them during your authorised stay.

What is the Schengen visa rejection rate for Indians? Approximately 15% of Indian Schengen applications are rejected (2024 data). The most common reasons are insufficient funds, weak ties to India, and incomplete documentation.

Do I need biometrics for Schengen visa? Yes. All applicants must provide biometrics (fingerprints + facial photo) at a VFS Global centre. Biometrics are valid for 59 months — if you gave them recently for a previous Schengen visa, you may not need to repeat.

Is travel insurance mandatory for Schengen visa? Yes. You must have travel insurance with minimum €30,000 coverage, valid across all Schengen states, with dates matching your exact travel period. No exceptions — this is required under Article 15 of the EU Visa Code.