To get a Schengen visa from India, apply to the embassy of the country where you will spend the most nights (or, if the nights are equal, the country you enter first), book a biometrics appointment at its visa centre and submit your documents with the Euro 90 visa fee (about INR 9,600 for adults) between six months and 15 days before you fly. Embassies usually decide within 15 calendar days, although this can stretch to 45 days, so for a summer 2027 holiday it makes sense to submit six to eight weeks ahead.

One Schengen visa covers 29 European countries, including Switzerland, France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Austria, for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, but it cannot be used for work.

Your itinerary decides the embassy, so if you are still choosing a route, look at our Europe holiday packages first.

Which country to apply to: the main destination rule

Your application goes to the embassy of your main destination. Embassy websites explain the rule in three parts:

1. Longest stay wins. The country where you spend the most nights is your main destination, if the purpose of each stay is the same.
2. Equal nights. If two or more countries tie, apply to the country through which you first enter the Schengen area.
3. Purpose can override nights. A business stop takes priority over a longer holiday stop.

For example:

• 4 nights in Switzerland, 2 in Paris: apply to Switzerland (see our Switzerland visa guidance).
• 3 nights in Paris, 3 in Lucerne, landing in Paris: apply to France (see our France visa page).
• 5 nights in Rome, Florence and Venice, then 2 in Zurich: apply to Italy (see our Italy visa page).

Applying to a different embassy because it seems quicker is one of the common reasons for refusal. If your plans change after the visa is issued, try to keep the main destination the same.

How to apply for a Schengen visa from India, step by step

1. Fix your itinerary: dates, cities and nights. On a group tour, the tour programme gives you this.
2. Fill in the application form for that country, online or on paper depending on the embassy, and sign it.
3. Book an appointment at the visa centre. In Delhi, Switzerland, France, Italy and Germany use VFS Global; the Spanish embassy uses BLS International.
4. Attend in person to submit documents, pay the fees and give fingerprints and a photo. Postal applications are not accepted.
5. Track and collect your passport, by collection or courier, once the embassy decides.

Booking your Schengen visa appointment in Delhi

Appointment slots are usually the real bottleneck. Waits reported by Delhi applicants have ranged from about two to six weeks depending on the country, and slots get scarce in the months before the summer holidays. Start checking the booking portal as soon as your trip is within the six-month window. Paid extras such as prime-time slots or a premium lounge make the visit more comfortable, but they do not speed up the embassy's decision.

Biometrics and the new border check

Everyone aged 12 and above gives fingerprints. If you gave them for a Schengen visa in the last 59 months, they can usually be reused. At the border, the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) has fully replaced passport stamps since 10 April 2026: on your first entry, officers scan your fingerprints and take a photo, so allow a little extra time at immigration.

Schengen visa documents checklist

Each embassy publishes its own list, but the core Schengen visa documents for Indian tourists are similar. The Spanish embassy's New Delhi checklist is typical:

• Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least six months beyond your departure from the Schengen area, with two blank pages, plus copies of old passports and visas.
• Signed application form and a recent colour photo on a light background.
• A cover letter explaining your trip, with a day-by-day itinerary.
• Return flight reservation and hotel bookings for every night. Don't buy non-refundable tickets until the visa is granted.
• Original bank statements for the last three months, stamped and signed by the bank.
• Income tax returns (ITR-V or Form 16) for two years and, if salaried, the last three salary slips.
• A self-attested PAN card copy and proof of address, such as a recent utility bill.
• Travel medical insurance that meets the Schengen rule (below).
• For children travelling without both parents: a consent letter signed by both parents.

Self-employed and retired travellers should check the embassy's list for extra proof of income, such as business registration or pension documents.

The travel insurance rule

Your policy must cover at least Euro 30,000 (about INR 32 lakh), be valid across the whole Schengen area for your entire stay, and include emergency hospital treatment and medical repatriation. Check the wording before you buy: insurance that falls short is a frequent reason for refusal.

Common reasons Schengen visas are refused

• Applying to the wrong embassy for your itinerary.
• An unclear purpose, or documents that don't match the trip.
• Nights with no hotel booking, or an itinerary that doesn't add up.
• Weak or missing proof of funds.
• Insurance below the Euro 30,000 rule, or a damaged passport.
• A previous overstay in the Schengen area.

The best safeguard is consistency: your form, cover letter, bookings, leave letter and bank statements should tell the same story.

Schengen visa fees for Indians and the total cost in rupees

The Schengen visa fee has been Euro 90 for adults since June 2024. Children aged 6 to under 12 pay Euro 45, and children under 6 pay nothing. You pay in rupees at the visa centre, along with its service charge. At about INR 106 to Euro 1, a Switzerland application works out like this:

Cost item	Per person	Per couple
Visa fee, adult (12+)	Euro 90 (approx. INR 9,600)	approx. INR 19,200
Visa fee, child (6 to under 12)	Euro 45 (approx. INR 4,800)	–
Visa fee, child under 6	Free	–
VFS service charge (Switzerland)	INR 3,100	INR 6,200
Total for Switzerland	approx. INR 12,700	approx. INR 25,400
Optional: SMS alerts	INR 135 to INR 500	INR 270 to INR 1,000
Optional: passport courier	INR 500 to INR 900	INR 1,000 to INR 1,800
Optional: premium lounge	INR 2,500 to INR 5,000	INR 5,000 to INR 10,000
Travel insurance	Depends on age and days	Depends on age and days

Service charges differ between embassies, so check your visa centre's fee page before the appointment.

Schengen visa processing time and when to apply for 2027

Embassies must decide within 15 calendar days of receiving a complete application, extendable to 45 days if they want an interview or more documents. You can apply no earlier than six months and no later than 15 days before your trip, but the last fortnight is risky because appointments run out first. With many Indian families heading to Paris and the Alps in May and June, visa centres are most crowded in the weeks before.

A practical timeline for a May or June 2027 holiday

• 4 to 6 months before: fix your route, book the tour or hotels, start collecting bank statements and ITRs.
• 2 to 3 months before: book your visa appointment as soon as suitable slots appear.
• 6 to 8 weeks before: submit your application and biometrics.
• 2 to 4 weeks before: passport back with the visa; now buy any non-refundable bookings.

Frequent traveller? The multiple-entry "cascade" for Indians

Since April 2024, Indians who have obtained and lawfully used two Schengen visas in the previous three years can be considered for a two-year multiple-entry visa, which can later be followed by a five-year visa if the passport has enough validity. It is not automatic, and first-time applicants usually get a visa covering only their trip dates.

Europe group tours with visa help from Dewan Holidays

A fixed-departure tour gives you a clear day-by-day itinerary, which is exactly what the embassy wants to see. Three of our Europe group tour packages to consider:

• Best of Paris & Switzerland: 6 nights, group departure with flights included, from INR 2,01,990 per person*
• Best of Switzerland & Italy with Austria: 7 nights, group departure with flights included, from INR 2,18,990 per person*
• Grand Europe: 12 nights across the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy, group departure with flights included, from INR 2,92,990 per person*

*Price as listed on our website at the time of writing. Check the tour page for current dates and prices.

On a multi-country tour, our team checks the night-by-night plan and tells you which embassy to apply to. Dewan Holidays helps with visitor-visa documentation and appointments for Switzerland, France, Italy and other Schengen countries. The embassy makes the final decision, and our help is not legal or immigration advice. Prefer to travel privately? See our Switzerland tour packages from India.

Schengen visa FAQs

How much is the Schengen visa fee for Indians in 2027?

It is Euro 90 (about INR 9,600) for adults, Euro 45 for children aged 6 to under 12 and free under 6, plus the visa centre's service charge. The Euro 90 rate has applied since June 2024; check the embassy's fee page before applying in case it changes.

Which country should I apply to if I'm visiting several Schengen countries?

Apply to the country where you spend the most nights, or the country you enter first if the nights are equal. The visa then lets you travel across all 29 Schengen countries within its validity.

How early can I apply for a Schengen visa from India?

Up to six months before your trip and no later than 15 days before it. For summer travel, aim to submit six to eight weeks ahead, because Delhi appointment slots fill up early.

Schengen visa kitne din mein milta hai?

Usually within 15 calendar days of a complete application. If the embassy asks for an interview or more documents, it can take up to 45 days.

Do I need travel insurance for a Schengen visa?

Yes, it is compulsory: at least Euro 30,000 of medical cover, including emergency hospital treatment and repatriation, valid across the Schengen area for your whole stay.

Can Indians get a five-year multiple-entry Schengen visa?

Yes, but only after building a travel history. Two Schengen visas obtained and used lawfully in the previous three years can lead to a two-year visa and then a five-year one, at the embassy's discretion.

Planning Europe for 2027? Tell us your dates and the countries on your list, and our team in Connaught Place will suggest a route and help you prepare a complete visa file. Send us an enquiry or call +91 9310 800 700.