How Much Time Does It Take to Process a Schengen Visa for Indians?

Applying for a Schengen visa from India is an easy process. Most countries have a rejection rate of less than 10% when it comes to Indian passport holders. If you apply to the Switzerland embassy for your visa, the chances of getting rejected are less than 6%.

Moreover, denial depends on various factors. If you do not have all the documents or the consulate does not feel that you are a genuine applicant, your visa will get denied. Thus, the ease of getting a visa with the least Schengen visa processing time depends on you as well.

There are various steps involved in the application of a Schengen visa. Here is the list of steps that you need to take to apply for a Schengen visa from India:

1.Determine the kind of visa that you need according to your requirements - Choose whether you need a tourist, visitor, medical, or any other Schengen visa.
2. Understand where you have to apply for the visa - Determine the right place where you need to submit the application for the visa.
3. Book a Schengen visa appointment slot for yourself - Go to the online website of the issuing authority and book an appointment for the day that you deem appropriate.
4.Prepare all the documents that you have to submit - Ensure that you have all the documents like your application form duly filled, employment proofs, medical insurance plan, passport, etc.
5. Submit this application and the documents required - On the day of your visa appointment, you will have to submit all the documents and your biometric information.
6. Pay the required visa fee - According to the type of visa, pay the required fee.
7. Retrieve the passport after the Schengen visa waiting time is over - After the Europe visa processing time is complete, you will get the result of your visa application. If the visa is approved, you will have to collect the passport from the VAC, which will have the Schengen visa stamp.

The Europe visa processing time can be long; thus, applying for a Schengen visa as early as possible is advisable. For a Schengen visa, the application process can be undertaken no more than 6 months before you plan to travel. Also, you have to submit your application at least 15 days before your trip has been scheduled.

The Schengen waiting time can vary so it is essential that you apply for the visa on time to avoid any issues later. It is said to be at least 3 weeks before you plan to undertake your travel to the Schengen region as there can be some delays in the application processing time.

The time taken for a Schengen visa processing from India is usually about 15 days. But if it is a particularly busy season, the Schengen visa processing time can be up to 30 days. In some cases, the time might be 60 days due to some complications or blockages - so always apply in advance to avoid any last-minute hassles.

Under the Schengen visa, you can stay in the Schengen region for a period of 90 days, maximum within a period of 180 days. However, the visa validity can vary depending on the duration for which the visa has been issued to you by the embassy. You can get a multiple entry or single-entry visa depending on the reason that you have provided for getting the visa.

For instance, if you are in the Schengen region on a student exchange programme or for professional training, the duration for the validity of the visa will be the same as the duration of the programme that you are undertaking. If the training is for 3 weeks, the validity of the visa will also be for three weeks only.

Once you have the application for the visa ready, you can book your appointment slot with the VAC, embassy, or consulate. Some of the embassies have outsourced the process of application to visa application centres that third-party vendors handle. These VACs are present in some of the major cities in India. Thus, if you need to travel to a different location for your visa interview, that needs to be factored in while you calculate the Schengen visa processing time.

There are two different situations, and depending on your situation, you can apply for a Schengen visa.

• If you plan to go to only one Schengen country

If you wish to take a trip to only one country, submit your application to the authority that issues the visa, like the consulate, VAC, or the consulate. Determine the right place where you have to apply for the visa.

• **If you plan to visit more than one Schengen country **

If you wish to travel to more than one country, there are two ways to apply for the visa -

• If you are planning to spend the same number of days in both of the countries - apply for a visa to the authority of the country where you will be visiting first.
• If you are planning to spend a different number of days in the countries - apply for a visa to the authority of the country where you will be spending the maximum number of your days.

The Schengen visa processing time can vary from 15 to 30 days. If you have collected all the documents and have filled out the application form, book the appointment as soon as possible so that there are no unnecessary delays in the process. Also, while it is important to submit the application early, do not rush and submit incomplete or wrong documentation. Take your time to collect the right documents and then go ahead with the application process.

Lastly, before you submit your application, ensure that you include a travel insurance policy in the application. It is compulsory to have a travel insurance plan along with your application.

Information last updated May 23. While this information is sourced reliably, visa requirements can change. For the most current visa details, visit the official Consulate/Embassy website.