What is Schengen Visa for Indians? A Comprehensive Guide

Are you dreaming of exploring the stunning landscapes of the Alps, the romantic streets of Paris, or the ancient ruins of Rome? The Schengen Visa is your passport to unlocking the wonders of Europe. In this blog, we’ll delve into the intricacies of the Schengen Visa, providing you with all the essential information you need to plan your European adventure. From understanding what does Schengen mean, and the types of Schengen Visa to navigating the application process, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading this 

What is Schengen Visa from India?

A Schengen visa is an authorisation issued by one of the Member States of the Schengen Area allowing a non-EU citizen to enter the area or to stay in the territory of the Member States for more than 90 days (short stays) during any 180 days. The visa also allows for transit through international transit areas of Schengen airports.

With the help of the Schengen Visa, one is allowed to make multiple visits to the Schengen area within the duration of the visa. You can also travel to the country through international transit as well. 

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What are the 4 Types of Schengen Visa?

There are several types of Schengen visas from which the person can choose and then apply for the same accordingly. Let’s take a look at them:

Airport Transit Visa (ATV) (Type A Visa)

An airport transit visa (ATV) authorises the person to pass through international transit zones of the Schengen Area country airport and await a connecting flight to a non-Schengen country. Apart from this, one is not allowed to leave the international transit zone and enter the Schengen territory (for instance stay at a hotel or travel to another Schengen agreement country.) Nationals from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, and Sri Lanka all require an airport transit visa.

Transit Schengen Visa (Type B Visa)

This visa is similar to the airport transit visa which is valid for 5 days. It allows the holder to travel through the Schengen Area to their final destination outside of the Schengen Area.

Short-Stay Visa (Type C Visa)

The Schengen short-stay visa (visa Schengen court séjour) allows one to enter any of the Schengen countries for a maximum period of 90 days. This may include an uninterrupted stay of 90 days or several stays with a cumulative length of 90 days. 

This visa fits well for those planning for tourism and business, taking short training courses, internships or working after obtaining a temporary work permit, all are granted the short-stay visa.

This visa can further be categorised as:

• Single-Entry Visa: In this, the person is allowed to enter only once in any of the Schengen Areas. Once they leave the country, they are not allowed to re-enter even if the visa is still valid.

• Double-Entry Visa: This visa allows the holder to enter twice into the Schengen Area with the validity mentioned on the visa. After the second exit, one is not allowed to re-enter even if the visa is still valid.

• Multiple-Entry Visa: With this visa, there are no restrictions on the number of entries. However, the validity is limited to only 90 days within six months. The first day of the visa’s validity is the day of the initial arrival into the Schengen Area. Multiple entry visas can be divided into several categories such as: one-year entry, two-year entry and five-year entry.

National Visa (Type D Visa)

According to Austrian national law, holders of a Visa D are entitled to stay for 9o days to 6 months and may be granted a visa for one or more entries. This visa can be used for travelling purposes such as tourism or personal visits, engaging in professional activities, pursuing studies, participating in a training program, or completing an internship and family-related reasons. 

Keep in mind that the rules and regulations will vary from country to country in the Schengen Area.

Limited Territorial Validity Visas (LTV)

This type of visa is issued to people in special cases, such as for humanitarian purposes.

Now that we have taken a look at all the major Schengen visas, let us look at some of the other visas that are granted to people.

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Did You Know?  Indian individuals can now receive long-term, multi-entry Schengen visas that are valid for two years after obtaining and lawfully using two visas within the preceding three years, following the recently implemented visa “cascade” rule for India. If the passport has enough remaining validity, the two-year visa will typically be followed by a five-year visa. Holders of these visas have the same travel privileges as citizens without visas for the duration of their validity.

What is the Purpose of a Schengen Visa?

You can use the Schengen visa for multiple reasons such as tourism, business, medical treatment, visiting family, training placements, volunteer activities, studies, airport transit, transit to sea or any other reason. 

What are the 26 Schengen Area Countries?

The Schengen Area signifies a zone where 26 European countries abolished their internal borders and joined hands (Schengen agreement). Here is the list of countries that come under the Schengen Area:

Austria	Belgium
Czech Republic	Denmark
Estonia	Finland
France	Germany
Greece	Hungary
Iceland	Italy
Latvia	Liechtenstein
Lithuania	Luxembourg
Malta	Netherlands
Norway	Poland
Portugal	Slovakia
Slovenia	Spain
Sweden	Switzerland

What is a Non-Schengen Country?

As simple as it sounds, a non-Schengen country is a country that is not part of the Schengen Agreement. All those who want to travel to non-Schengen countries need to apply for a separate national visa to enter the country.

The majority of European countries are part of the Schengen Agreement, but there are some notable exceptions. These are:

Eastern European countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, and Ukraine. 

EU states: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania, and the United Kingdom are EU states that are not part of the Schengen area.

What Documents are Required for Schengen Visa?

At the time of applying for the Schengen visa, you will be required to provide specific documents as part of the standardised process. These documents are generally the same for all the Schengen member countries.

Following are the documents which you will need:

• Schengen Visa application form which you can complete via online mode, fillable PDF or by hand. (This is the standard form for Schengen member states.)

• Recent Passport-size photographs you must have two photos that have been taken within the last three months as per the visa photo requirements. The standard size of the photo must be 35mm x 45mm and coloured.

• Valid Passport which should not be older than 10 years, must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your departure,  have two blank pages for the visa stamp and if you have previous passports with Schengen visas, include copies.

• Schengen Medical Insurance cover where you will have to show your proof of travel insurance covering the entire Schengen Area. The minimum coverage of travel insurance should be EUR 30,000. This will help in covering emergencies like illness and accidents.

• Proof of Accommodation where you need to submit documents of where you will stay throughout your trip which can include hotel/hotel bookings, rental agreements, and invitation letters.

• Round-trip travel itinerary where you will provide proof of round-trip reservation or travel itinerary including flight numbers, dates of entry and exit from the Schengen Area.

• Finally, proof of paid visa fees.

Minimum Bank Balance for Schengen Visa

When of the most important factors when applying for the Schengen Visa is that you have to demonstrate sufficient means of subsistence to support yourself financially during your stay in the Schengen Area. By showing proof to the authorities, you are assuring that can cover your living and medical expenses without becoming a financial burden to anyone. 

A subsistence cover means that you can travel with the Schengen Area which will include costs for local transportation such as trains, buses and taxis. Secondly, you will be able to bear expenses for hotels, hostels, or other lodging options.

How Do I Prove My Financial Stability?

One of the most common ways to demonstrate your financial stability is by providing bank statements which will clearly show your funds, your spending behaviour and much more. Some other ways include:

• Proof that you own property.
• Proof of employment or income which could include a letter from your employer or pay slips.
• Tax returns.
• Proof of financial sponsorship from someone else.
• Credit cards, cash, or traveller’s cheques.
• Proof of pre-paid accommodation.

If you can and want, you can also show more money than the required amount to increase your chances of getting a Schengen visa. If your financial situation has recently changed, then you explain in the cover letter that you no longer hold the same amount of money which you had at the beginning of the visa application.

Minimum Financial Requirements by Country

Keep in mind that the required amount of means of subsistence varies depending on the specific Schengen country you plan to visit. Each country sets its limit for daily expenses, and essential costs such as food, accommodation and local transportation. Let us look at the minimum money that one must have for each Schengen country:

Country	Minimum Financial Requirement
Austria	EUR 100 per day
Denmark	EUR 47 per day
France	EUR 65 per day
Finland	EUR 50 per day
Italy	EUR 269,60 for a stay of 1 week
Netherlands	EUR 55 per day
Spain	EUR 113 per day
Switzerland	EUR 100 per day

Keep in mind that the above-mentioned cost is general and will vary for each person.

Schengen Visa Application Process

After understanding the types of Schengen Visa, and the countries it is valid in, the documents required. It is finally time to apply for a visa. Here is the step-by-step process which you must follow when applying for the same. 

Where to Apply for Schengen Visa?

When applying for the Schengen Visa, you must lodge your application for the same at the consulate of the country you intend to visit. 

• If you are visiting more than one Schengen country; you will need to apply at the consulate of the country where you will spend the majority of your time. 

• If you are visiting several Schengen countries (equal length of stays); you must apply at the consulate of the first country you will visit.

When to Apply for Schengen Visa?

When applying for the Schengen Visa, you must ensure that you submit your application to the consulate at least 15 days before you plan to travel and not earlier than 6 months. 

Schengen Visa Fee from India

Every three years, the Commission assess and revises the visa fees based on certain criteria set by them. In the latest update, as of 11 June 2024, the fee for a Schengen Visa has once again been revised. Take a look at the following table which lists the revised fee for each category. 

Category	Schengen Visa Fees (Old Fee)	Schengen Visa Fee (Updated Fees)
Adults	EUR 80	EUR 90
Children aged 6 to below 12 Years	EUR 40	EUR 45
Nationals of Cabo Verde	EUR 60	EUR 6,750
Applicants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus	EUR 35	EUR 35

You must note that an additional visa fee may apply if go through visa service centres, which collect applications on behalf of consulates in some cases.

What is the Schengen Visa Validity?

Schengen Visa is a form of short-stay visa which allows the person to stay for 90 days in any 180 days. This means that the total duration of stay or the validity of the visa is of maximum 90 days. 

Since the Schengen Visa are of different types, the precise validity of your visa is indicated under the heading “Duration of visit” on your visa. 

One must note that once you get your visa, you also get a visa sticker which mentions the duration of your stay where after it expires, you have to leave the Schengen Are. 

Can My Visa be Extended?

If you are thinking of extending your visa period, you must prove your reasons for extending the same. This could include humanitarian reasons or serious personal reasons due to which you can’t leave the territory of the Schengen area before the expiry of your visa.

As per the official rule, a person’s visa can only extended if they have stayed for less than 90 days in the territory of the Schengen agreement during the last period of 180 days, and if their current visa has not expired.

What is the Processing Time for Schengen Visa from India?

Once your Schengen visa application is submitted to the Consulate, a decision is taken by the Consulate within 15 calendar days. However, this period can also be extended up to 30 to 45 days if a more detailed examination is required. 

Note that those family members of EU or EEA citizens who fall under the Free Movement Directive are eligible for a free and accelerated visa procedure.

What if Schengen Visa is Rejected?

In case your Schengen Visa gets rejected, you have the option to appeal against this decision. Upon rejection, you will be informed about the decision on refusal and its reasons in the standard blank, issued by the Consulate. 

However, you are free to re-apply again if your application has been rejected earlier. However, you must keep in mind the reasons for rejection earlier before submitting a new application and make amendments accordingly. 

What Happens if I Don’t Use My Schengen Visa?

If you don’t use your Schengen visa, then nothing significant will happen. As usual, it will go unused and does not negatively impact your future visa applications unless you repeatedly apply for and fail to use Schengen visas.

If you repeatedly apply for the Schengen Visa and don’t use it then it could be a matter of concern and might raise concerns about your travel intentions with immigration authorities.

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FAQs

We hope you now understand what is a Schengen Visa. Want to apply for a Visa for your study abroad journey? Drop us a comment in the section below, or you can connect with a visa expert at Leverage Edu, and we will guide you on your dream journey!!