The Schengen Tourist Visa lets Indian travellers visit Europe for holidays and sightseeing, for a stay of up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. Apply through the consulate or VAC of the country where you will spend the most days, or your first point of entry if there is no single main destination. Good preparation on the travel-plan side is what usually separates a smooth application from a delayed one.
This guide is written for Indian tourists planning a holiday, sightseeing trip, or leisure visit across Europe who want clear Schengen (Type C) Visa guidance from India. Each destination country's consulate or embassy sets its own detailed rules and these can change, so use this as a practical preparation guide and confirm the final requirements with the relevant consulate before submission.
Schengen visa processing timeline at a glance
| Stage | Typical Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard processing | Up to 15 calendar days | The default timeline set by the EU Visa Code for a complete application |
| Extended processing | Up to 30 calendar days | Can apply in individual cases, for example where further documentation is needed |
| Exceptional cases | Up to 60 calendar days | Rare, and limited to specific exceptional circumstances |
There is no official fast-track "Priority" or "Super Priority" service from any Schengen consulate. Some Visa Application Centres offer an optional paid premium or prime-time service that speeds up your appointment slot and paperwork handling, but it does not change the consulate's own decision timeline.
Planning your Schengen holiday application
- Draft day-by-day travel itinerary covering the countries and cities you plan to visit
- Hotel bookings or accommodation confirmation for the full trip
- Return flight booking or a clear travel plan showing you will leave the Schengen Area within your permitted 90 days
- Bank statements for the last 6 months showing funds for the trip
- Travel/medical insurance valid Schengen-wide with cover of at least Euro 30,000
- Leave approval letter or proof of your job/business continuing in India
Related Schengen Visa categories
We assist with the full range of Schengen Visa categories for Indian travellers: Schengen Visa, Tourist Visa, Business Visa, Family Visit Visa, Visa for Wedding, Medical Treatment Visa, Airport Transit Visa, and Short-Term Study Visa.
Common mistakes Indian applicants should avoid
Booking flights before documents are ready, submitting a vague or incomplete itinerary, or showing insufficient funds relative to the length of the planned trip are the most common issues for tourist applicants.
How a Schengen visa agent can help
Our team checks passport details, photo specification, purpose of visit, proof of funds, mandatory travel insurance, and supporting documents before the application moves forward, and helps coordinate your appointment at the Visa Application Centre for your destination country (operated by VFS Global, BLS International, TLScontact, or VisaMetric depending on which Schengen country you are applying to). For this topic, start with Schengen Tourist Visa support and then choose the correct category based on your travel plan.
Practical recommendation
Keep your itinerary realistic and specific rather than an open-ended "touring Europe" plan — naming actual countries, cities, and approximate dates makes the purpose of your trip much clearer to the caseworker, and helps confirm which country's consulate should handle your application.
Important: Visa Expertz handles Schengen Visa assistance only. We do not provide EU work permits, national long-stay (Type D) visas, or immigration/settlement services. No genuine agent should guarantee approval because final decisions rest with the consulate or embassy of your main destination Schengen country.
