The complete Guide to a Schengen tourist Visa for Indians

The Schengen tourist visa allows a visitor to spend 90 days in a 180-day period in a Schengen area country and therefore suitable for visiting Germany, France, Italy and Spain amongst others. Using this visa, you can visit such attractions as historical sites, great art masters’ creations, and have fun in different outdoor activities enjoying the view of Europe’s beautiful landscapes. The freedom to move back and forth between countries definitely adds to the overall richness of the travel therefore the Schengen tourist visa for Indians is definitely an important document for any traveller-to-be.

In this guide that spans length and breadth of this site, we’ll take you through an easy step by step guide to applying for a Schengen visa, documents required and useful tips you need to know. Whether you are going to Europe on a romantic weekend or with kids, or even going alone for a business trip, it is important to know the ins and outs of the visa process in order to make your dream come true. So, let’s go deeper into the details and show you the way to the successful visa application.

What is a Schengen Tourist Visa?

A Schengen tourist visa is a short stay visa that allows the traveller to visit any of the 29 member countries in the Schengen Area. This visa normally permits a stay of up to 90 days in 180-day period, which makes it suitable for those who want to travel around Europe without having to obtain several visas. Schengen area comprises of Europe’s most visited tourist attractions such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Netherlands among others. Visiting these two countries with a single visa, tourists will be able to see the difference in culture, history, and geography of each country.

Not only does this visa improve travel organization but it also improves the journeys’ quality. After getting a Schengen tourist visa, you can wander from one country to the other within the member countries thus making it possible for one to plan for a vacation in line with his or her preferences. Whether you are interested in art and history of Paris, food of Barcelona or architectures of Amsterdam, the Schengen visa will help you have the best of your Europe trip. This makes it to be popular to many tourists around the world especially those who wish to explore the beauty of several countries at once.

Who Needs a Schengen Tourist Visa?

Any Indian national intending to travel to any Schengen country for leisure purposes must obtain Schengen tourist visa. This requirement is present to check that travellers obey the immigration laws set when coming to Europe. Whether you are visiting Norway to see the beauty of fjords or moving to Florence to enjoy its art, or living the night life of Berlin, this visa is crucial to make a legal entry and to travel within the Schengen zone. The visa enables the tourists to undertake recreational activities, social visits and cultural events without having to apply for different visa to different countries.

Furthermore, the Schengen visa is also protective for travellers as well as for the countries which are the members of the area. With the use of visas, Schengen nations can be in a position to control the number of people that get access to the countries’ borders, and therefore improve security and discourage immigration. In order to get a Schengen tourist visa, it is very easy for Indian travellers to do so, if all the documents that are required are collected properly and all the papers are filled accurately. This paper aims at discussing the significance and the general procedures for acquiring the visa to avoid any inconvenience in travelling across Europe.

Application Process for a Schengen Tourist Visa for Indians

1. Determine Your Visa Type

When launching the application, ensure that for your purpose of visit you will need a short stay visa (Type C). This visa is for tourism purposes, it allows a person stay in the Schengen Area up to 90 days within six months. It is only necessary to appreciate this provision when it comes to the process of applying for this requirement.

2. Gather Required Documents

This is very important when applying for your visa, and these are the documents that you are supposed to gather. Ensure your passport has at least three months validity from the date you intend to exit the Schengen Area. In addition, complete the visa application form and complete the required photograph, your itinerary, proof of lodging, insurance and proof of funds to support yourself during your stay.

3. Book an Appointment

Following that it will be wise to go to the appointment making process after having documents prepared. You will have to go to the nearest Schengen embassy or consulate of the first Schengen state you intend to visit or the state where you intend to spend most of your time. Most of the countries also allow applications through the designated visa application centres that offer even more options for appointment booking.

4. Attend the Interview

However, when you are attending your consultant at the agreed time, you should ensure that you take your application with all the required accompanying documents. Some of the questions that the interview may ask may include; where are you going, why are going there, and when are you going? Clear and confident corresponding answers will allow to eliminate doubts and to prevent possible difficulties with the application.

5. Wait for Processing

Depending on the type of visa you wish to be granted, the time taken in the processing of your application is between 15 to 30 days after the interview. This time may also differ depending on which embassy or consulate you should apply to, and many other factors that will be discussed later on. You are recommended to apply for a visa a month earlier in case something goes wrong in the process and you are denied a visa.

Conclusion:

Hence it is important and the first and foremost step for any person who wants to experience the beauty of Europe’s landscapes and the regions’ heritage, to apply for Schengen tourist visa for Indians. By possessing the knowledge of how to apply for a visa, gathering the necessary papers and being prepared for your visa interview, you add a high probability of passing the visa application. The moment you get this visa, you have the opportunity to travel within the Schengen Area, which means you can visit several countries at once which will be very exciting.

Just a friendly reminder that you should not begin this wonderful process without preparing for it and acquiring your Schengen Tourist Visa before the intended travel date. Freeman et al, 2006 are in agreement with this arguing that opportunity to visit great places, to eat different meals, and to experience a different culture is in tourism. If your goal is clear and you know what kind of information you need, you can turn your dream into reality and travel across Europe making your life happier and more purposeful.

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