Now that the pandemic has passed, the tourism sector has already started to get back to the way it was earlier. In fact, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, almost 235 Million people have travelled in the first half of the year 2023.  Indeed, most of the crowd is towards the European sector and especially the Schengen area. Consequently, individuals from India who wish to visit Schengen visa countries must apply for a Schengen Visa. So if you are planning to apply for a Schengen visa from India, then here are nine latest tips to get your Schengen visa faster in 2025. 

Update as of 21 December 2024 – Disclaimer – All the views, opinions & tips mentioned in this blog are purely based on my personal experiences and do not guarantee any successful visa application. The following blog outlines what I learned based on my previous experience applying for five Schengen Visas from Czechia and Poland. Visa issuance decisions always vary on a case to case basis and may not be the same for everyone. Keep following Very First Tale Blogs to learn tips based on my personal experience of applying for a Schengen Visa.

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#1 Start Your Schengen Visa Application Process Well In Advance 

First and foremost, for most of the Schengen countries, the Schengen visa application can be made six months in advance of your departure date. Therefore, if you’re planning to apply for a Schengen visa from India, it’s crucial to sttart your Schengen visa application process well in advance.

By doing so, you can ensure a smooth and efficient experience. Beginning the process early will allow you ample time to gather all the necessary documents required for your Schengen visa application, including your passport, travel itinerary, and proof of financial stability. 

Moreover, starting early will also enable you to address any potential challenges or queries that may arise during the application process. By applying for a Schengen visa from India in a timely manner, you can increase your chances of obtaining the visa without any unnecessary delays.

In India, most of the Schengen Countries and their respective embassies’ have outsourced their visa application process to VFS Global. You can get to know all the details of the VFS Global Schengen visa application centre from VFS Global’s official website itself.  Contrary to this, there also are a few countries that accept Schengen visa applications directly from their Embassy or Consulate. Kindly do your research for those countries.

#2 Write A Descriptive Cover Letter – It is the Key !

A cover letter is your key. A good and descriptive cover letter, covering all aspects would surely ensure your chances of visa approval.

The cover letter of your Schengen visa application is the most important part of your application. Writing a detailed & descriptive cover letter is very crucial and important. Your cover letter is the first thing that the visa officer will tend to read, so it needs to be written in the most perfect or professional manner. 

A cover letter for the Schengen visa application must always involve the following things – 

• A paragraph that explains your intention & purpose for travel 
• A second paragraph explaining your professional work status and your income-related details 
• If a person/company/organisation is inviting you, then a third paragraph providing all the details of your invitee
• A bulleted or numbered list of all the documents that you have attached along with your application
• Last but not the least, a call to action paragraph to humbly & politely requesting to grant the visa 

Now there isn’t any fixed template for a cover letter as it may vary from person to person. but if you’re looking for a detailed format that I’ve used in all my previous Schengen visa applications, you can reach out to me via email. I’ll gladly provide you with the format. However, please note that there will be a small fee involved. This fee is to acknowledge the time and effort I put into my work and to support the maintenance of this blog.

#3 Provide Sufficient Documents For Your Profession 

Thirdly, when applying for a Schengen visa, it is necessary that you provide a sufficient amount of documents related to your profession / financial background etc. These documents would serve as evidence of your employment, business, freelancing or educational background, depending on your specific circumstances. 

Make sure to provide all the documents mentioned in your document checklist as per the country you are applying to. Some of the common documents you need to submit while applying for a Schengen Visa are –

• Two recent passport-size photos of size 3.5 mm x 4.5 mm
• Personal covering letter
• Income proof / income statements / financial documents
• Employment / student / professional working status letters
• In case you are a business owner, then kindly attach all relavnt proofs establishing your business presence
• Travel insurance worth EUR 30,000
• Trip itinerary
• Confirmed hotel bookings / accommodation proofs
• Reserved / confirmed return flight tickets
• Internal transfers & travel bookings within Europe, if any
• Personal stamped bank statements
• Any more supporting documents in support of your application
• Photocopies of your passport
• Previous Schengen visa copies, if any

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Also Read – Schengen Visa Is Free For AIESEC Exchanges! Here’s How To Apply For Poland Visa In 3 Simple Steps For AIESEC Exchanges

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Here is the list of documents you must attach while applying for a Schengen visa from India according to your profession – 

Schengen Visa Document List For Salaried Employees

• Last 2-3 years ITR Returns 
• Last 3-4 pay slips 
• NOC / Leave approval letter from your employer or HR
• Employment letter from your employer stating your position in the company and your tenure 

Schengen Visa Document List For Business Owners / Sole Proprietors / Company Owners / Self-Employed

• All official documents proving all professional activity
• GST Registration certificate
• Udhyam MSME Registration Certificate
• Business Bank Account Statements stamped from the bank

Schengen Visa Document List For Freelancers / Content Creators / Bloggers 

• All official documents proving all professional activity
• Fixed Deposit receipts and Mutual Fund statements under your name, if any
• Letters from your clients for your work proof
• Cover letters on your official letterheads as well

Schengen Visa Document List For Students 

• Bonafide certificate from your school / college / university 
• ID card copy
• Incase you are applying as an individual applicant, you would need a sponsorship letter on INR 100 stamp paper assuring to cover all your expenses while on trip

Schengen Visa Document List For Un-employed 

• A sponsorship letter on an INR 100 stamp paper from your sponsor 
• All financial details / documents of the sponsor 

#4 Show Strong Ties With India

Fourth, demonstrating strong ties with India is very crucial when applying for a Schengen visa. It is very very important to establish and provide evidence that you have compelling reasons to return to India after your visit to the Schengen area. 

This one of the biggest aspects which Visa Officers take in consideration while deciding your application.

Here are some of the documents that you must attach with your visa application to establish strong ties with India – 

• Papers of any immovable property in India
• Employment contracts
• Bank statements
• Family ties
• Business details here in India, if any

These documents serve to establish your roots and ties in India and your intention to return home. Showing strong ties with India will enhance your credibility and assure the visa officer that you have no intention of overstaying your visa or engaging in unauthorised activities while abroad.

#5 Travel History Is Not The Only Deciding Factor 

Although travel history is an important aspect to be considered while applying for a Schengen visa, it may not be the deciding factor. Travel history does make your passport stronger and builds trust for your travels. 

However, I have seen multiple people around me who have received Schengen visas on fresh passports. Surprisingly, my mom got her first Schengen Visa on a fresh passport when applied together as a family to travel to Poland in 2023 for tourism.

In short, it all depends on the authenticity of your documents. Now again, this depends from application to application. Therefore, you need to make sure to pay utmost attention to all your documents.   

#6 Establish Strong Finances 

Sixth on the list is to establish strong finances when applying for a Schengen visa. It is essential to demonstrate your ability to financially support yourself throughout your stay. Providing evidence of stable income, such as employment contracts, pay slips, or bank statements, will show your financial stability. 

By establishing strong finances, you can assure the visa officer that you have the means to cover all your expenses during your intended stay. Along with the above-mentioned financial documents, here are some of the documents you can attach to make your visa application stronger. 

• Salary statements / income proof 
• Immovable property details, if any 
• Fixed Deposit receipts, if any
• Mutual Fund statements, if any

#7 Plan Every Single Day Of Your Trip 

Depending on the purpose of your visit, you should try to plan every single day of your trip and prepare a day-to-day itinerary. A trip itinerary is a crucial document when you are applying for a Schengen visa from India. Your itinerary must include your day to day activities and places you intend to visit during your trip.

Whether you’re travelling for tourism, business, or any other purpose, it is advisable to always have a well-organized itinerary outlining your activities and destinations for each day. The visa officer should get to know what exactly your plans are during the trip. 

If you need a template for your Trip Itinerary or need a custom Trip Itinerary made for your Schengen visa application, then please do get in touch with us over email. I would be happy to help.

#8 Do It All By Yourself – No Need Of An Agent !

The next and also one of the most important tips on the list is to always do the entire Schengen visa application process by yourself. Applying for a Schengen visa from India is a straightforward procedure that can be easily done independently. There is absolutely no need to hire any visa agent or apply through any travel companies or pay any additional fees for your visa application. 

The process of applying for a Schengen Visa from India is designed to be very user-friendly, and all the necessary information and forms are readily available on the VFS Global Website or the country’s respective Embassy website.

Furthermore, by personally doing the entire visa application process by yourself, you also have full control over your application, ensuring accuracy and transparency. Taking charge of the process empowers you with a better understanding of the requirements and allows you to address any queries or concerns directly and quickly. 

Applying on your own is not only cost-effective but will also provide you with a sense of accomplishment and confidence in managing your travel plans.

#9 Select The First Appointment Slot In The Morning

Lastly, always book the first-morning slot whenever you plan to book your Schengen visa appointment from VFS Global. Doing so will help you avoid all the rush coming in the next consecutive appointment slots. Usually, the Schengen visa appointments open a week or a month in advance. Therefore, keep checking the VFS Global website or the respective country’s Embassy website for appointment slots.

#10 How To Get A Multiple Entry Schengen Visa from India

As released by the Press and information team of the Delegation to INDIA and BHUTAN on 22 April 2024, certain rules and specifications have been adopted to assess if the visa applicant can be provided with a multiple entry duration Schengen Visa provided they meet the required criteria.

This means, that in case an applicant meets the criteria specified by the respective Embassies while issuing the visa, then the applicant may be provided with a longer duration multiple entry Schengen visa. Now, what these exact criteria are, is nowhere clearly specified. This is something that happens internally within the EU Visa System.

Based on my personal experience of obtaining a multiple-entry Schengen Visa in October 2024 from Poland, here are a few key points that would help you to strengthen your application for a longer-duration visa. If you’re aiming for a multiple-entry Schengen Visa with an extended validity, keep the following tips in mind –

• Previous Schengen Visas – Ensure you have at least 3-4 previously issued Schengen Visas. This demonstrates your travel history and compliance with visa rules. You must be able to demonstrate that you are a frequent traveler to the Schengen area for your specified purpose.

• Adherence to Visa Conditions – It is very very crucial to have respected the validity and stay limits of all your previous visas on your passopassport. Any overstay or non-compliance can negatively impact your application, in general.

• Cover Letter – Write a clear and compelling paragraph in your personal covering letter explaining why you are requesting a longer-duration visa and why you need the same. Highlight the purpose of your travel and how you intend to use the visa responsibly.

• Strong Ties to India – Make sure to establish strong financial and personal ties to India. Submit all relevant documents for the same. This assures the visa officer of your intention to return to your home country after completing your travel.

• Multiple-Entry Justification – Clearly state in your cover letter why a multiple-entry, longer-duration visa is necessary for you, and why you need it. Be specific about your travel plans in future and how the extended validity will benefit you.

In conclusion, when applying for a Schengen visa from India, it is crucial to start the application process well in advance, provide sufficient documents for your profession, demonstrate strong ties with India, establish strong finances, plan every single day of your trip with a day-to-day itinerary, and handle the application process independently. 

By following these tips, you can enhance your chances of a swift and quick Schengen visa application. Remember, the process is designed to be accessible, and with proper preparation and attention to detail, you can surely enjoy your Europe trip with confidence and excitement.

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