Indians are now travelling more than ever. Europe is undoubtedly the first choice for many from India. Ask any avid traveler from India, they would have a bucket list filled with places to see in Europe. If you see by the data, the number of people travelling to Europe from India has doubled since 2014. So how do you travel to Europe? Of course, Indian passport holders are required to obtain Visas from the respective embassies. But there’s a convenient setup among 26 European countries who form the Schengen area of Europe. It is enough for Indian Passport holders to obtain a Schengen Visa to visit all these nations.
Basics about the Schengen area
According to a border agreement named
Schengen Area Agreement, 26 European countries allow EU citizens to travel
freely within the area. And for Non-EU citizens, with proper Schengen Visa,
they are allowed to travel freely within the Schengen area for a limited period
of 90 days within six months of issue of the Visa. Non-EU citizens with a
Schengen Visa can have multiple entries up to the 90 days period out of the 180
days Visa period.
With proper documentation, you can obtain Schengen Visa from India from the embassy of the country which is your entry point to the Europe trip. Alternatively, you can obtain Schengen Visa from India from the embassy of the country where you will spend the maximum days of your Europe trip. Make sure to choose the right type of Visa as per your purpose of travel.
From the magical streets of France to the
stunning landscapes of Switzerland, there’s so much magic within the list of
Schengen countries. Here’s the list of 26 countries under Schengen Area.
Trivia:
Schengen is the name of a village in Luxembourg bordering with both France and
Germany. As the historic agreement was first signed at the village, the
agreement was named after the village.
Where to apply for a Schengen visa in India?
• As
mentioned in the basics about the Schengen area, you will have
to choose a country in the Schengen area to apply for a Schengen area.
• According
to the rules, if you are visiting one country alone, you will have to apply to
that particular country’s embassy. If you are visiting more than one country,
choose either the first country you enter or the country you are going to spend
the most days in.
• After
you have chosen a Schengen country to apply, visit Embassy World Wide to find a
list of embassies and consulates of the respective country in India. So, make
sure you choose the right embassy/consulate/VAC of the country and double-check
if you fall under the jurisdiction of it.
• Next
step is to visit the website of the
embassy/consulate you have chosen and download the Visa application form.
• Next,
you will have to submit the filled Visa application form to the chosen
embassy/consulate/VAC.
• Check
with the website to know where visa submission takes place, as the visa
submission process regulations differ with each country. It can be its embassy,
consulate or outsourced visa center acting as visa submission point.
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