Global Visa · Schengen · Tourist
Schengen Visa from India
From India, fees, documents, appointment and processing timelines for 2026.
Quick answer
Schengen visa service from India — documents, fees (€80), processing times, and appointment strategy. Apply from Kerala via Mapshore.
Check your Schengen Visa from India timeline
Our team will confirm current processing times and fees for your passport.
Do Indians Need a Schengen Visa?
Yes — Indian passport holders require a Schengen visa to enter any of the 29 Schengen member states. There is no visa-on-arrival for Indian nationals. You must apply through the consulate (or its authorised visa application centre) of the country where you will spend the most nights, or your first point of entry if nights are equal.
The good news: India's Schengen refusal rate sits at approximately 10–14%, well below the UAE average of 23.7%. A well-prepared application from Kerala almost always succeeds.
Which Schengen Countries Can You Visit?
A single Schengen visa gives you access to 29 countries — including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Greece, Portugal, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Czech Republic, and more. You can move freely between them without border checks during your approved stay.
- Popular for Kerala travellers: France, Spain, Netherlands, Italy, Greece
- Easiest approval: Czech Republic, Finland, Portugal (see Section 11)
- Long-stay options: Austria, Germany (language courses or extended tourism)
Your visa is issued for the primary destination. Multi-country itineraries are common — simply list the full travel plan in your cover letter.
Schengen Visa Requirements from India
Every consulate uses a core checklist. Missing or inconsistent documents is the single biggest cause of refusal for Indian applicants.
- Passport: Valid at least 3 months beyond your return date, with a minimum of 2 blank pages. Carry all previous passports.
- Photographs: 2 recent photos (35 × 45 mm, white background, taken within the last 6 months)
- Travel insurance: Minimum €30,000 coverage, valid across all Schengen states for the full trip duration, zero deductible. Our travel insurance page lists Schengen-approved policies.
- Flight bookings: Confirmed onward and return flights. Do not purchase tickets before the visa is approved — use a ticketing agency that provides a booking confirmation (Mapshore can arrange this).
- Hotel bookings: All Schengen nights accounted for. Print confirmations.
- Bank statements: Last 6 months, showing consistent balance. A minimum closing balance of ₹1,00,000–₹2,50,000 is typically expected depending on trip length. Salary credits must be regular — large unexplained cash deposits raise flags.
- Income proof: Salary slips (3 months) + bank letter, OR trade licence + ITR + CA-certified balance sheet if self-employed
- Employment letter / NOC: On company letterhead, confirming leave approval, position, salary, and that you will return
- Cover letter: Day-by-day itinerary, reason for travel, ties to India (property, family, employment)
Students additionally need: college enrolment letter, fee receipts, sponsorship letter from parents with their bank statements.
Schengen Visa Fees from India 2026
The Schengen visa fee is set by EU regulation and is the same across all consulates:
| Applicant | Fee (EUR) | Approx. INR |
|---|---|---|
| Adults (18+) | €80 | ≈ ₹7,200 |
| Children 6–11 | €40 | ≈ ₹3,600 |
| Children under 6 | Free | — |
| Students (18–25, Erasmus+) | €35 | ≈ ₹3,150 |
The VFS or BLS service fee (₹1,500–₹2,500) is charged on top. Fees are non-refundable even if the visa is refused.
Where to Apply in Kerala and India
You must apply at the authorised Visa Application Centre (VAC) for the consulate of your destination country. Kerala applicants typically use centres in Kochi or Kozhikode; nearby options include Chennai and Bangalore.
| Country | VAC operator | Nearest centres |
|---|---|---|
| France | TLScontact / VFS | Kochi, Chennai, Bangalore |
| Germany | VFS Global | Kochi, Chennai |
| Italy | VFS Global | Kochi, Chennai |
| Netherlands | VFS Global / BLS | Chennai, Bangalore |
| Greece | VFS Global | Chennai, Bangalore |
| Spain | BLS International | Kochi, Kozhikode, Chennai |
| Czech Republic | VFS Global | Chennai, Bangalore |
Mapshore's Kochi and Kozhikode offices handle document verification, appointment booking, and courier submission where available. You can visit us before your VAC appointment to have your file checked.
Appointment Strategy 2026 — How to Beat the Queue
Schengen appointment slots for popular consulates (France, Italy, Germany) fill within minutes of release, especially for summer travel. Plan well ahead:
- Book 8–12 weeks in advance for June–August or December–January travel.
- Release time varies by consulate — France TLScontact typically releases slots at 8 am; set an alarm.
- Least-congested consulate strategy: If your trip is multi-country with no clear primary destination, choose Czech Republic or Portugal — both have lower application volume from India, shorter queues, and approval rates above 95%.
- VFS allows online appointment booking at visa.vfsglobal.com. BLS Spain bookings at blsindia-spain.com.
- Avoid Mondays and the first week of each month — slots typically refresh and vanish fastest then.
Mapshore books appointments on your behalf and monitors slot availability, which is especially useful for school-holiday travel windows.
Schengen Visa Processing Time from India
Standard Schengen processing time is 15 calendar days from the date of your VAC appointment. However:
- First-time applicants or complex employment situations: up to 45 days
- Peak season (June–August, December–January): expect 30–45 days at French and Italian consulates
- Czech Republic, Finland: often 7–10 days year-round
Consulates can request additional documents, which restarts the clock. Submit a complete file the first time. We recommend applying a minimum of 6 weeks before travel, 10 weeks for summer departures.
The 90/180-Day Rule Explained
A Schengen visa allows a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day rolling window across all 29 Schengen states combined — not per country.
How the rolling window works: Starting from any date you are in the Schengen zone, count back 180 days. The total number of days you were in Schengen during that window must not exceed 90. This means you cannot do 90 days, leave for 90 days, and return for another 90 — the window is rolling, not reset-from-entry.
- Example: 15 days in France + 10 days in Italy = 25 days used. You have 65 days remaining in that 180-day window.
- Overstaying is a serious offence and can result in a multi-year ban.
- Use the official Schengen calculator at ec.europa.eu/home-affairs to track your days.
Common Schengen Visa Refusal Reasons for Indian Applicants
India's ~10–14% refusal rate is manageable. Most refusals fall into four categories:
| Refusal reason | Share | How to prevent it |
|---|---|---|
| Doubts about intention to return to India | ~40% | Strong ties: property, family, stable employment, letter from employer confirming return |
| Insufficient financial proof | ~25% | 6-month statement, consistent salary credits, no unexplained large deposits |
| Incomplete or inconsistent documents | ~20% | Align hotel, insurance, and flight dates exactly; cover letter matches itinerary |
| First-time applicant with weak travel history | ~15% | Start with Czech Republic or Portugal — higher tolerance for first-timers |
A prior visa refusal (any country) must be disclosed. It does not automatically cause another refusal, but the reason must be addressed in a new cover letter.
Multiple Entry vs Single Entry Schengen Visa
Your first Schengen visa is almost always a single or double entry valid for the exact trip duration. Multiple-entry visas (1 year, 2 years, or 5 years) are granted to applicants with an established Schengen travel history.
- Single entry: One visit, fixed start and end dates. Exiting Schengen (including to UK, Turkey, or non-Schengen EU states) uses the entry.
- Multiple entry: Unlimited visits within the validity period, subject to the 90/180 rule each time.
- Building history: One strong application leads to a 1-year MEV on the next trip, then 2-year, then 5-year. Mapshore tracks your visa history and applies for the appropriate validity at each renewal.
Schengen Countries by Easiest Approval from India
If your trip is flexible on destination, these consulates consistently have the highest approval rates and shortest processing times for Indian applicants:
- Czech Republic (~97% approval, 7–10 days): Low application volume from India, straightforward requirements, English-language consulate staff. Prague is an outstanding destination in its own right — Old Town, castles, and an easy rail hub to Vienna, Germany, and Poland.
- Finland (~96% approval, 8–12 days): Northern Lights, Helsinki, and Lapland. The Finnish consulate in Chennai handles south Indian applications efficiently.
- Portugal (~95% approval, 10–15 days): Lisbon and Porto are among Europe's most-visited cities. VFS handles submissions from Chennai and Bangalore.
- Netherlands (~94% approval, 10–14 days): Amsterdam, Keukenhof tulip fields. Strong VFS network in India.
By contrast, France and Germany have higher volumes, longer queues, and slightly stricter scrutiny — not because India is targeted, but because demand is much higher.
How Mapshore Handles Your Schengen Application from Kerala
Mapshore's visa desk in Kochi and Kozhikode has processed hundreds of Schengen applications from Kerala. Here is exactly what we do:
Document Review
We review your passport, bank statements, employment letter, and travel plan before anything is submitted. We tell you exactly what is missing or weak.
Appointment Booking
We monitor VAC slot availability and book your appointment the moment slots open. For peak-season travel, this alone saves weeks.
Prepare Your Documents
Cover letter, itinerary, hotel and flight confirmations formatted exactly to consulate requirements. We also arrange travel insurance and flight bookings if needed.
Submission & Tracking
We accompany you to the VAC or handle courier submission where available. You get daily updates until the passport is returned.
Call or WhatsApp our Kochi office to start your Schengen application today. We handle France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Czech Republic, and all other Schengen member states.
Why choose Mapshore for your Schengen visa from India
We have filed this before
Mapshore has been arranging visas alongside flights and holidays since 2005, so the checklist we hand you is the one that is working at that consulate now.
Your file is checked before it goes in
We read every document against the current requirement list first. Most straightforward refusals come down to a missing statement or a photo at the wrong size, and those are cheap to catch early.
Honest timelines, not best cases
We tell you the turnaround to plan around for your nationality and the season you are travelling in, and we say so early if your dates are too tight to be safe.
A refusal is not the end of it
Bring us the refusal letter. We work out which ground it was refused on, fix that specific thing, and file again rather than resubmitting the same file.
One named person on your file
You deal with the consultant handling your application rather than a queue, and we still pick up when something shifts mid-holiday.
Schengen visa questions from India
Yes. VFS Global Kochi handles Germany, Netherlands, and most VFS-listed embassies. BLS International Kochi handles Spain and Italy. For France, the nearest TLScontact centre is in Bengaluru. Most applicants from Kerala do not need to travel to Delhi or Mumbai.
A general benchmark is 50 to 100 EUR per day of stay. For a 10-day trip, show at least ₹50,000 to ₹75,000 in accessible savings across 3 months of statements. A large deposit made just before applying does not substitute for a consistent balance history.
Yes. A valid Schengen visa issued by any member country allows free movement across all 26 Schengen countries for its validity period, subject to the 90-day limit in any 180-day window.
You may spend a maximum of 90 days in the Schengen Area within any rolling 180-day period. The window rolls back 180 days from today each time you calculate it, not from a fixed calendar date. Overstaying triggers a ban of one to three years.
Apply 6 to 8 weeks before travel. The earliest permitted is 6 months before your departure date. For June to August travel, aim for 8 weeks to buffer against extended processing times at busy consulates.
Yes. The 80 EUR embassy fee and the visa centre service charge (₹2,500 to ₹3,500) are both non-refundable if your application is refused. The fee pays for the assessment, not the outcome.
No. The visa decision belongs to the embassy, and no agency can legally guarantee approval. Mapshore reviews your documents against embassy-specific requirements before submission, reduces the risk of rejection from preventable errors, and prepares a complete, consistent application package.
Most Schengen embassies offer urgent processing for documented emergencies, with decisions in 3 to 5 working days. The standard fee of 80 EUR applies. Contact Mapshore immediately if you have an urgent requirement so we can advise on the fastest realistic path from Kerala.
What Our Customers Say
Reviews left by travellers on Google.
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We approached Mapshore for UK multiple tourist visa assistance for me and my family. It was very pleasant and easy experience from start to end. Special thanks to Ms.Manju for arranging appointment and everything within month and we got visa in two week's time from appointment. Thank you!
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We recently booked a tour to Phuket and Krabi through Mapshore Travels for our parents, and we couldn’t be happier with the entire experience. From start to finish, the trip was beautifully organized, and every detail was thoughtfully arranged. Our parents, who are both above 60, were looked after with such genuine care that it gave us complete peace of mind. The hotels were top-notch, the food was delicious, and the entire itinerary was perfectly balanced for comfort and enjoyment. A special word of appreciation to Arshitha, who was our first point of contact – she coordinated everything seamlessly and was always available to answer questions. And a big thank you to Sadiq, the tour guide, who was incredibly friendly and made sure our parents felt at ease throughout the trip. Our parents came back with glowing smiles, beautiful memories, and immense satisfaction. We wholeheartedly recommend Mapshore Travels for anyone looking for a stress-free and well-organized vacation experience, especially for senior travellers. Thank you for making this journey so special for our parents.
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Participated Thailand tour (From 26th April to 1st May 2025) with Mapshore Travels. We 30 members team really enjoyed the trip. The tour was well organised with 2 days night stay at Phuket and 2 days night stay at Krabi with first class accommodation and food. During the tour we participated in Phuket City Tour, visited Siam Niramit, Phi Phi island by big boat with lunch and National Park followed by Krabi City Tour, 7 islands Sunset tour by Longtail boat with all amenities. The tour conductor Mapshore provided english speaking Guide service throughout our tour. Really a hassle free tour and our special appreciation to Sri. Shehab, the representative of Mapshore, for his special care and hospitality to each and every tour member. I strongly recommend to choose Mapshore Travels for all kind of tours and services.
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We recently had an amazing Phuket-Krabi tour with Mapshore, and it was truly a memorable experience. The itinerary was packed with enjoyable activities including island tours, cultural shows, shopping, and heritage site visits. The accommodations were top-notch, with stays in 4-star hotels conveniently located near major tourist attractions. We flew with Malaysian Airlines, which offered a comfortable travel experience. The restaurants selected for our meals were of good standards, offering a variety of delicious options. Transportation throughout the trip was excellent, timely, and felt very safe. A special thanks to our tour manager Shehab and local guide Sui for their exceptional coordination and support. Everything was seamlessly managed from start to finish, making the trip smooth and stress-free. Highly recommended.
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We recently traveled to Vietnam with Mapshore Holidays and had an amazing experience. Everything was well-organized—from airport transfers to hotel stays and sightseeing tours. The itinerary was well-paced, and we got to explore some beautiful cities and landmarks. The guides were friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful throughout the trip. We didn’t face any issues, and the entire journey was smooth and enjoyable. Highly recommend Mapshore Holidays for a hassle-free travel experience!
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It was an amazing experience travelling to Thailand with mapshore! They have helped me throughout the trip in planning.They’re very professional,responsible and attentive to my needs.The itinerary was a perfect blend of activities,adventure,exploration and relaxation.From transportation to accommodation,everything was smooth and hassle-free.I would highly recommend them to anyone looking to explore new destinations!
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I recently traveled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with Mapshore Tours & Travels. From beginning to end, everything was well organized and communicated to us clearly. Thanks to Arshita for always checking on us, even while we were in Malaysia. I hope I get to travel with your team again very soon. All the best in everything you are doing to help people see the world! :)
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The trip was amazing and beyond our expectations. Excellent coordination and arrangements.Stay and food was excellent. Drivers and their support was excellent. Cruise trip was mind-blowing and amazing. And my wedding anniversary celebration in the cruise was a great surprise. No negatives to say full of positives. Two small negatives are lunch at safari world is not good as compared with other days lunch and flight to thailand was little bit horrible due poor seating. But these negatives can be forgettable by the very much positive sides Thank for providing such a wonderful memorable vacation to me and my family. Rating from my side on behalf of my family especially from my kids, is 10/10 Thank you once again to all the crews 👌
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Thank you for arranging an amazing trip to Armenia. The whole trip went very smoothly and we all had our best holiday ever because of Piljo"s support. He was all time available for the guidance during the trip. Thank you Mapshore and Piljo
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Unforgettable trip to Phuket&Krabi with RJ Fazlu, thanks to Team Mapshore, especially Team Manager Mr. Piljo! Impeccable service, unforgettable experiences, and lifelong memories. Highly recommended! Don't miss out!"
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Thanks Piljo Paul for arranging an amazing trip. The whole trip went very smoothly and my kids had their best holiday ever.It was wonderful! Your organisation was excellent and the variety of venues and hotels was great.Thankyou once again!
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Thanks for amazing trip .🙏🤟👍
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Perfect 👍
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