Complete Schengen Visa Checklist for Indians 2026

The Schengen visa checklist changes slightly by country — France wants 6 months of bank statements, Germany sometimes wants only 3. Spain uses BLS, not VFS. Switzerland expects €100/day in funds; Portugal expects €75.

This checklist covers the universal requirements that apply to every Schengen application from India, plus the country-specific variations that matter. Use it before your VFS appointment to make sure nothing is missing — a single absent document gets your file rejected at the counter. This checklist is based on the exact document sets reviewed at AnchorVisa and cross-verified against official VFS and consulate requirements as of June 2026.

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TL;DR

• Schengen visa fee: €90 (~₹9,707) from October 2025 — some sources still show the old €80 fee
• Travel insurance: must say "Schengen Area" + minimum €30,000 — "Europe" cover alone is not sufficient
• Bank statements: must be branch-certified and stamped — online printouts are rejected at the VFS counter
• Spain uses BLS International, not VFS — go to india.blsspainvisa.com
• Apply through the country where you spend the most nights

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Who this is for: Indian nationals applying for a Schengen tourist visa — salaried employees, self-employed professionals, students, and retired applicants. Key terms: VFS = VFS Global, the visa application centre for all Schengen countries except Spain; BLS = BLS International, the visa application centre for Spain; ITR = Income Tax Return acknowledgement; Form 16 = certificate of tax deducted at source from your employer; GSTIN = Goods and Services Tax Identification Number; WD = working days.

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Contents

1. Universal Documents — Required for All Schengen Applications
2. Employment Documents by Applicant Type
3. Country-Specific Variations
4. Checklist: VFS Counter Compliance
5. Frequently Asked Questions

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Universal Documents — Required for All Schengen Applications {#universal}

Every Schengen application from India requires these documents regardless of which country you are applying to.

Identity and Travel

• Valid passport — issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months beyond your return date, minimum 2 blank pages
• Copies of all previous passports with visas (if any)
• Passport photos — 35×45mm, white or light grey background, matt finish, taken within 3–6 months. Note: the standard Indian passport photo (51×51mm square) is a different size and is not accepted

Application Form

• Completed and signed Schengen visa application form — available at VFS Global or the consulate's website
• Signed declaration that all information is true and complete

Travel Insurance

• Travel health insurance covering:
  • Minimum €30,000 in medical and emergency repatriation coverage
  • All Schengen member states (policy wording must say "Schengen Area" — "Europe" alone has been rejected)
  • Entire trip duration — from entry to exit date inclusive
• Insurers with Schengen-compliant products: Bajaj Allianz, HDFC Ergo, Tata AIG (verify policy wording before purchase)

Travel Documents

• Return flight reservation — booking confirmation printout (does not need to be a purchased ticket, but must be a confirmed reservation)
• Accommodation proof for every night of the trip — hotel bookings, Airbnb confirmations, or a host's invitation letter with their passport copy
• Day-by-day travel itinerary covering all planned activities and locations

Financial Documents

• Bank statements — certified and stamped by the bank branch (online printouts alone are not accepted). Duration varies: France and Portugal require 6 months; most others require 3–6 months
• ITR acknowledgements — last 2–3 years depending on country (see country-specific section)
• Evidence of sufficient funds (see our bank balance guide for per-country amounts)

Other

• Copies of previous Schengen, UK, or US visas (if any) — stamp pages of old passports
• Proof of ties to India — employment letter, property documents, family evidence

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Employment Documents by Applicant Type {#employment}

Salaried Employees

• Employer letter on company letterhead — confirms employment, salary, approved leave dates, expected return to work
• Leave sanction letter — formal approval of the specific leave dates (separate from employer letter)
• Last 3 months' salary slips
• Form 16 (if available)

Self-Employed / Business Owners

• Business registration — Certificate of Incorporation (companies), Udyam certificate (MSMEs), partnership deed, or trade licence
• GST registration certificate with GSTIN
• GST returns for the last 4–6 quarters
• ITR acknowledgements — last 2–3 years
• CA-certified balance sheet and P&L statement for the last 2 financial years
• Business bank statements — 3–6 months, branch-certified (in addition to personal statements)
• Client contracts or invoices showing active business (for ties-to-India case)

Freelancers Without Registered Business

• Personal bank statements showing regular client payment credits (3–6 months, certified)
• Client contracts or written agreements (email threads printed and signed are acceptable)
• ITR as individual — income declared under profession/freelance
• Signed declaration explaining freelance work, clients, income pattern, and India ties

Students

• Enrolment letter from institution confirming current student status and course duration
• No-objection certificate (NOC) from institution for the travel period
• Sponsor's bank statements (if parent/guardian is funding the trip) + sponsor's ITR + sponsorship letter
• Scholarship documentation if applicable

Retired Applicants

• Pension documentation — pension certificate or bank statement showing regular pension credits
• Property documents as primary ties-to-India evidence

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Country-Specific Variations {#country-specific}

WD = working days. FX rate: €1 = ₹107.86 (June 28, 2026)

Spain note: Spain uses BLS International — not VFS. Applicants who go to VFS for Spain are turned away. Book appointments at india.blsspainvisa.com.

Greece note: VFS operations for Greece resumed in February 2026 after a suspension. Slots are still scarce — book well in advance. Greece has a ~33% refusal rate for Indians; ensure your application is strong before choosing Greece as your main destination.

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Checklist: VFS Counter Compliance {#vfs-counter}

VFS counter staff reject files before they reach the consulate if any of these are missing or non-compliant. Check these specifically before your appointment.

• Bank statements carry a physical branch stamp on every page — not just a bank logo or net banking header
• Passport photos are 35×45mm — not the Indian standard 51×51mm
• Photo background is white or light grey — not blue or cream
• Travel insurance certificate explicitly states "Schengen Area" and €30,000 coverage
• Application form is signed — unsigned forms are rejected
• All documents are unfolded and in the correct order as per the consulate's checklist
• If applying for Spain: submission is at BLS, not VFS
• If applying for France: your cover letter is addressed to the consulate covering your state of residence (not necessarily the nearest city)

Document order matters. VFS staff in some centres reject files where documents are not in checklist order. Arrange your documents in the exact sequence on the official checklist.

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Frequently Asked Questions {#faq}

What is the Schengen visa fee in 2026?

€90 (~₹9,707 at June 2026 rates). The fee increased from €80 to €90 in October 2025. Some online sources and old VFS materials still show €80 — confirm the current amount at your consulate's VFS page before your appointment.

Do I need hotel bookings before applying for the Schengen visa?

Yes. Accommodation proof for every night of the trip is on the checklist for every Schengen country. Refundable hotel reservations from Booking.com are acceptable — you do not need to purchase non-refundable bookings. Spain verifies hotel bookings more strictly than most other countries.

How many months of bank statements does the Schengen visa require?

It depends on the country. France and Portugal require 6 months. Most others (Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Greece) require 3–6 months. When in doubt, submit 6 months.

Can I submit bank statements printed from net banking?

No. Bank statements must be certified by the branch — physically stamped and signed by an authorised officer on every page. Net banking printouts alone are rejected at the VFS counter.

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Related guides:

• Schengen Visa Cover Letter Format
• Schengen Visa Bank Statement Requirements
• How Much Bank Balance for Schengen Visa
• Schengen Visa Photo Specifications
• Which Country to Apply Schengen Visa Fastest
• VFS Schengen Appointment Slots India
• Schengen Visa for Self-Employed Indians
• Why Schengen Visas Get Rejected

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Written by Likhith Reddy — Founder, AnchorVisa. Likhith has personally navigated the UK Standard Visitor Visa and Schengen visa processes as an Indian applicant, and built AnchorVisa to offer the document-level review he wished had existed. All facts in this article are verified against AnchorVisa's Knowledge Base of official consulate and VFS requirements.

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AnchorVisa reviews your complete Schengen file against the exact checklist for your target country — and flags anything that will get rejected before you walk into VFS. Flat ₹2,499. Start on WhatsApp →

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Sources:

• VFS Global India — Schengen Visa Country Pages
• BLS International Spain India
• France-Visas — Official French Visa Portal
• VFS Switzerland India — Official Checklist