Schengen visa from Mumbai: steps, documents, timeline

Which country's consulate do you apply to?

You apply to the country that is your main destination, meaning the one where you will spend the most nights. If the nights are equal, you apply to the country you will enter first. As published by the European Commission, you normally apply in the country where you legally live, so a Mumbai resident applies in India, usually through the visa centre that consulate has appointed.

Choosing a different country because its appointments look easier is a common mistake. A visa from the wrong consulate can be questioned at the border, and an itinerary that does not match the application is one of the first things an officer checks.

How early should you apply for a Schengen visa?

As of November 2026, the European Commission says you may apply no earlier than six months before your trip and no later than 15 days before it. A decision normally takes up to 15 days and can be extended to 45 days if the consulate needs to look more closely or asks for more documents. Applying six to eight weeks ahead leaves room for a slow appointment calendar.

Appointment availability, not the decision itself, is usually what runs short in April to June and in the October and December holidays. Book the appointment first, then finalise flights and hotels as reservations you can change.

What are the steps, from start to passport return?

There are six steps: fix the itinerary and main destination, book the visa-centre appointment, complete the form and documents, attend in person to submit and give fingerprints, pay the visa fee, and wait for the decision. The passport stays with the consulate until it decides, then comes back with the visa or a refusal letter.

1. Fix the itinerary: countries, nights in each, and the main destination.
2. Book an appointment at the visa centre for that country's consulate.
3. Complete the application form and gather the documents listed below.
4. Attend in person: hand in the file and passport, and give fingerprints and a photo.
5. Pay the visa fee. As published by the European Commission: €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to under 12. A visa centre may add its own service fee.
6. Wait for the decision, then collect the passport or have it couriered back.

As published by the consulates (and confirmed in writing when you apply), children under 12 do not give fingerprints, and fingerprints already given for a Schengen visa within the previous 59 months can usually be reused.

Which documents does a Schengen visa from India need?

The core file is the same for most consulates: passport, form and photo, travel medical insurance, flight and hotel reservations, bank statements, and proof of your job or business. Each consulate publishes its own list and may ask for more. The table shows what each document is there to prove, which matters more than the paper itself.

What does the 90 days in any 180 days rule mean?

A short-stay Schengen visa lets you stay up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, never more than the days printed on the visa. Days in every Schengen country count together. If you have travelled to the area in the last six months, count those days before you plan the next trip.

Why are Schengen visas refused, and what helps?

The usual grounds are that the purpose of the trip was not shown, the money for the trip was not shown, or the officer doubted the applicant would leave on time. A clear itinerary, a short cover letter, statements that explain any large deposits, and proof of your job or business address all three directly. Nobody can guarantee a visa.