Schengen Tourist Visa for Indians

Schengen Tourist Visa (Type C) validity and rules for Indian passport holders as of 2025:

🛂 Schengen Tourist Visa for Indians – Key Facts

✅ 1. Visa Type

• Short-stay Schengen Visa (Type C)

• For tourism, visiting friends/family, or business

• Allows travel to Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period

📆 2. Validity Rules

🕒 90/180 Rule

• You can stay a maximum of 90 days within any rolling 180-day period.

• The 180 days are counted backward from each day of your stay in Schengen.

📅 Visa Duration vs. Validity

• Validity: The period between your visa start and end dates.

• Duration of Stay: Number of days you're allowed inside Schengen (not necessarily the same as validity).

• Example: Visa valid from 1 July to 28 September with "duration of stay: 30 days" means you can stay any 30 days within that window.

🌍 3. Countries Covered

• The visa allows access to 27 Schengen countries, including:

  • France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, etc.

• Not valid for non-Schengen EU countries (e.g., Ireland, Romania, Bulgaria unless explicitly included).

📋 4. Application Rules for Indians

🗂️ Documents Required

• Valid passport (issued within last 10 years, at least 3 months validity after return)

• Schengen visa application form

• 2 recent passport-sized photos

• Proof of travel: flight tickets, hotel bookings

• Travel insurance (minimum €30,000 coverage for medical emergencies)

• Cover letter explaining trip

• Proof of financial means (bank statements, ITR, sponsor letter)

• Employment or business proof

💶 Visa Fee (as of 2025)

• €80 (approx ₹7,200) for adults

• €40 for children 6–12 years

• Free for children under 6

🛫 5. Entry & Exit Rules

🚪 Single vs. Multiple Entry

• Single-entry: You can enter Schengen only once.

• Double-entry: Allows re-entry once after leaving.

• Multiple-entry: Enter/exit as many times as you want, but respect 90/180 rule.

✈️ First Port of Entry Rule

• Apply through the country:

  • Where you will spend most days, or

  • First point of entry if days are equal across countries

🧾 6. Other Important Notes

• No extensions typically allowed unless emergency or force majeure.

• Overstaying results in fines, bans, and future visa denial.

• Overstaying results - 6 Months Ban to give next Schengen Tourist Visa.

• You can apply 6 months in advance, but ideally 15–45 days before travel.