Planning your next backpacking solo trip to Europe? Here's how you can apply for a Schengen Visa

If you hold an Indian passport, a Schengen Visa is your golden ticket to travelling across 27 European countries on a single visa. But securing approval isn’t always easy.

As a short-stay visa, Schengen visa covers tourism, business, visiting family or transit, allowing holders to remain in Schengen countries for a maximum of 90 days within 180 days. Since Indian passport holders don’t have visa-free access, a Schengen Visa is your best option for hassle-free mobility across Europe.

Here is your detailed guide on how to apply for a Schengen Visa and other important details to note:

For Indian passport holders, there’s no visa-free access to the Schengen Zone. That means applying for a Schengen Visa—which covers multiple European destinations—well in advance of your trip.

Types of Schengen Visas

Indians can apply for different types of Schengen Visas depending on their purpose:

• Tourist Visa: For vacations 

• Business Visa: For corporate events,  meetings

• Family Visit Visa: For visiting relatives

• Transit Visa: For layovers in Schengen airports

Where you apply depends on your travel itinerary:

• Single-country trip: Apply at that country’s embassy/consulate.

• Multiple-country trip: Apply at the embassy of the country where you’ll stay the longest.

• Equal stay duration: Apply at the country of first entry.

Visa costs, processing time & key documents

In June last year, adult Schengen visa fees increased to 90 euros from 80 euros, while children between the ages of 6 and 12 will now pay 45 euros instead of 40 euros. It is still free for those applying between the ages of 0 and 6 (under six). Standard approval time ranges from 15-30 days, so applicants should apply at least 45-60 days before departure.

Documents required

• Valid passport (6 months validity, 2 blank pages)
• Visa application form
• Flight & hotel reservations (or an invitation letter)
• Travel insurance (€30,000 minimum coverage)
• Bank statements & income proof

Schengen visas and rejections

Common reasons for rejection

• Insufficient proof of funds.
• Inadequate travel insurance coverage.
• Unclear purpose of visit or suspicion of non-return.

Appealing a visa rejection

• Applicants can submit an appeal to the relevant embassy or consulate, provided the Member State allows appeals.
• Supporting documents addressing the stated reasons for refusal must accompany the appeal.
• The appeal must be filed within the specified deadline mentioned in the refusal notification.

Recommendations for reapplying

• Address the reasons for previous refusals thoroughly in the new application.
• Seek guidance from embassy officials to ensure compliance with visa requirements.

Try applying through Lithuania, Estonia, or Greece, which have higher approval rates. Strong bank statements and a clear travel itinerary also improve your chances.