Indian passport · Schengen area
Do Indian passport holders need a visa for the Schengen area?
In brief
Yes. Indian passport holders need a visa for the Schengen area, arranged before travel.
Schengen visa fee for Indians: The Schengen visa fee is EUR 90 for adults and EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 12; visa service centres may charge an extra service fee. EUR 90 ≈ INR 9,440, EUR 45 ≈ INR 4,720 at the ECB rate of . Official fee. Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, checked .
Schengen visa processing time for Indians: Normal processing is 15 days and can be extended to 45 days; apply at least 15 days and at most 6 months before the trip. Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, checked .
LIST OF THIRD COUNTRIES WHOSE NATIONALS ARE REQUIRED TO BE IN POSSESSION OF A VISA WHEN CROSSING THE EXTERNAL BORDERS OF THE MEMBER STATES
European Union, Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (EUR-Lex consolidated text of 30.12.2025)
Checked 6 Nov 2026Source: European Union, Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (EUR-Lex consolidated text of 30.12.2025)Report a change
Independent reference, not a government website. We don't issue visas or sell visa services.
ContentsIn brief
At a glance
| Access | Visa required |
|---|---|
| Stay | A Schengen visa allows short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.2 |
| Validity and entries | Not stated by the official source |
| Official fee | The Schengen visa fee is EUR 90 for adults and EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 12; visa service centres may charge an extra service fee.2 |
| Official processing | Normal processing is 15 days and can be extended to 45 days; apply at least 15 days and at most 6 months before the trip.2 |
| Where to apply | Apply at the consulate of the country you will visit; if you visit several, at the one where you will spend the longest time (for equal stays, the first country).2 |
Do Indians need a visa for the Schengen area?
The European Union, Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (EUR-Lex consolidated text of 30.12.2025) lists India among the countries whose nationals need a visa before they travel.
“LIST OF THIRD COUNTRIES WHOSE NATIONALS ARE REQUIRED TO BE IN POSSESSION OF A VISA WHEN CROSSING THE EXTERNAL BORDERS OF THE MEMBER STATES”
Conditions and exceptions
Under the EU 'cascade' for India (18 April 2024), Indian nationals residing in India can get a two-year multiple-entry visa after two lawfully used visas in the previous three years, normally followed by a five-year visa if the passport allows.
According to the newly adopted visa “cascade” regime for India, Indian nationals can now be issued long-term, multi-entry Schengen visas valid for two years after having obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years. The two-year visa will normally be followed by a five-year visa, if the passport has sufficient validity remaining.
EEAS · checked
Schengen visa types for Indians
A Schengen visa allows short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs · checked
How to apply from India
Apply at the consulate of the country you will visit; if you visit several, at the one where you will spend the longest time (for equal stays, the first country).
European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs · checked
How to apply from the UAE
Indian citizens who live in the UAE:
Indians living in the UAE apply as UAE residents: as a rule, at the consulate responsible for the country where they legally reside.
European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs · checked
Fee
The Schengen visa fee is EUR 90 for adults and EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 12; visa service centres may charge an extra service fee.
European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs · checked
These are government fees as the official sources state them. Agencies add their own service fees; those are not visa fees, and we don't list them.
Processing time
Normal processing is 15 days and can be extended to 45 days; apply at least 15 days and at most 6 months before the trip.
European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs · checked
Documents and entry checks
If you live in the UAE
We have not checked a separate rule for UAE residents for the Schengen area.
If you need a visa, see How to apply from the UAE.
What changed
- Checked against the official sources on this page: the rule above still holds.
FAQ
Is the Schengen area visa-free for Indians now?
No. Indians need a visa before they travel.
How much does a Schengen visa cost in India?
The Schengen visa fee is EUR 90 for adults and EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 12; visa service centres may charge an extra service fee.
Can I get a Schengen visa in 7 days?
Normal processing is 15 days and can be extended to 45 days; apply at least 15 days and at most 6 months before the trip.
Other trips on an Indian passport
Sources
Official sources only. Each was checked on the date shown.
- European Union, Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (EUR-Lex consolidated text of 30.12.2025): entry rule
- European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs: visa types, fees, processing time, how to apply, applying from the UAE and documents
- Delegation of the European Union to India and Bhutan (EEAS): entry conditions