Last updated: 6 May 2026 · Author: VisaForTrip Editorial · Reviewed by visa consultants
Quick answer — A Schengen visa from India in 2026 costs around ₹11,500–₹15,000 in total: a fixed €90 (~₹8,300) government fee that goes to the embassy, plus a VFS Global service charge of ₹1,933 to ₹3,111 depending on which Schengen country you apply for. Children aged 6–11 pay €45; under-6 are free. (Source: German Federal Foreign Office, VFS Global India.)
If you’ve ever sat in front of the VFS Global India page wondering why the “service fee” line keeps changing depending on which country you click, you’re not alone. Schengen visa pricing for Indians is genuinely confusing — there’s the embassy fee that’s the same for every country, the VFS service fee that’s different for every country, and then a dozen tiny add-ons (insurance, photos, photocopies, courier delivery) that quietly inflate your final bill.
This guide is the version we wish we’d had when we started helping Indian travellers with Schengen applications. We’ve cross-checked every number with the German Federal Foreign Office, VFS Global’s India fee schedules, and consumer-press reporting from Business Today. By the end you’ll know exactly what to budget, where the price varies, and how to avoid the small mistakes that make a ₹11,500 application feel like ₹20,000.
The two parts of every Schengen visa fee
Every Schengen visa application — whether you’re applying for Germany, France, Italy or Spain — has exactly two cost layers. Once you understand these, the rest is detail.
- The government visa fee. This is set by EU regulation, not by VFS. It’s €90 for adults (raised from €80 in mid‑2024), €45 for children aged 6–11, and free for children under 6. In Indian rupees, €90 typically converts to ₹8,200–₹8,500 on the day you pay (rates fluctuate). This portion is non-refundable, even if your visa is refused.
- The VFS Global service fee. VFS is a private contractor that runs the application centres on behalf of the embassies. They charge a separate, country-specific service fee on top of the government fee. As of late 2025, this ranges from ~₹402 (Slovakia, the lowest) to ~₹3,111 (Portugal, the highest). Germany, the most common Schengen route for Indians, sits at ~₹1,933. (Source: VisaHQ news report on the November 2025 VFS fee hike.)
Add those two together and you get your “core” Schengen fee — usually ₹10,200 to ₹11,400. The extras (insurance, photos, optional services) push the realistic all-in budget to ₹11,500–₹15,000.
VFS service fee by country (2026 rates)
The single biggest reason your friend’s Schengen application cost less than yours? They probably applied through a different country. Here’s the comparison everyone wishes their travel agent would just show them upfront.
| Country | VFS service fee | + Govt fee (€90) | Total core fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slovakia | ~₹402 | ~₹8,300 | ~₹8,700 |
| Czech Republic | ~₹1,300 | ~₹8,300 | ~₹9,600 |
| Germany | ~₹1,933 | ~₹8,300 | ~₹10,233 |
| Switzerland | ~₹2,100 | ~₹8,300 | ~₹10,400 |
| Netherlands | ~₹2,400 | ~₹8,300 | ~₹10,700 |
| Italy | ~₹2,600 | ~₹8,300 | ~₹10,900 |
| Spain | ~₹2,800 | ~₹8,300 | ~₹11,100 |
| France | ~₹3,000 | ~₹8,300 | ~₹11,300 |
| Portugal | ~₹3,111 | ~₹8,300 | ~₹11,411 |
Important caveat: don’t just apply to the cheapest country. Schengen rules require you to apply through the country where you’ll spend the most days, or — if days are equal — your first port of entry. Picking the cheapest country to save ₹2,000 on the service fee is the single most common reason for an otherwise solid application getting refused.
The hidden costs nobody mentions
Here’s where the “₹11,500” number quietly turns into ₹14,000+ for most first-time applicants. Plan for these in advance:
- Travel insurance: ₹600–₹1,800. Mandatory. Must cover at least €30,000 in medical expenses and the entire stay, valid in all Schengen countries. The single most common cause of “technical” Schengen rejections is insurance dates being even one day off the travel dates. (Reference: Winny Immigration analysis of 2026 rejection patterns.)
- Biometrics-compliant photos: ₹150–₹300. The 35×45mm size with white background is specific. Most studios in metro cities know the spec, but ask for “Schengen size” explicitly.
- Photocopies and printing: ₹200–₹500. Bring two sets of every document. Yes, even though VFS says one set.
- SMS/email tracking add-on: ₹130–₹250. Optional but useful if you’re nervous.
- Premium lounge or “Prime Time” appointment: ₹2,500–₹5,000. Optional fast-track service. Skip unless you really need a peak-season slot.
- Courier return of passport: ₹500–₹800. Saves a second trip to the VFS centre.
So a realistic, all-in budget for one adult: ₹11,500 (Slovakia, bare minimum) to ₹15,000 (most popular destinations like Germany, France, Italy). A family of four typically lands around ₹50,000–₹55,000, with two children paying €45 each.
How to apply: the seven steps that actually matter
- Pick the right country. Where will you spend the most days? That’s the country whose embassy you apply through. If you’re doing a multi-country trip with equal days, pick the country of first entry.
- Book your VFS appointment. Go to the official VFS India portal for your country (e.g., visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/deu/book-an-appointment for Germany). Create an account, choose your nearest VAC city, and pick a slot. Book 4–6 weeks ahead outside peak season; 6–8 weeks ahead for travel between April and August.
- Fill the VIDEX (or country-equivalent) online application form. Print it, sign it, and bring the printout — including the barcode page — to your appointment. The barcode is non-negotiable.
- Pull together the document checklist. The exact list varies by country and purpose, but every Schengen application needs: passport (with at least three months’ validity beyond your return date and two blank pages), photos, completed application form, travel itinerary, hotel bookings, return flight reservation, travel insurance certificate, bank statements (last 3–6 months), ITR for the last 2 years, and a covering letter explaining the trip.
- Attend your appointment. Arrive 30 minutes early. Biometrics (fingerprints + photo) are taken at the centre unless they were collected within the last 59 months. Bring originals and copies of everything.
- Track online. VFS gives you a reference number on the receipt. Use it on the VFS tracking page or sign up for the SMS service. Standard processing is 10–15 working days; peak season can stretch this to 25 days.
- Collect your passport. Either at the VFS centre with the receipt, or by courier if you opted for return delivery. Don’t book non-refundable flights until your passport is in hand and the visa is verified.
Why ~15% of Indian Schengen applications are still being refused
This is the part most fee guides skip, and it’s the part that actually saves you money — because a refused application means losing the entire €90 plus VFS fee with no refund.
According to European Commission Schengen statistics, Indians submitted over 1.1 million Schengen applications in 2024 and approximately 165,000 were refused — a rejection rate of around 15%. The numbers were similar in 2025.
From our own work with Indian applicants and the patterns flagged by Atlys’ rejection-reasons analysis, here are the recurring causes:
- Unclear “ties to India”. The single biggest reason. Officers want to see why you’ll come back — a stable job, property, business, dependents, or upcoming commitments in India. Even with a healthy bank balance, “no clear reason to return” leads to refusal.
- Financial inconsistencies. A sudden lump sum deposited a week before your application looks suspicious. Officers prefer 3–6 months of consistent income matching your declared occupation.
- Insurance dates that don’t match travel dates. Even a one-day gap between your insurance and travel dates triggers a “technical” refusal. Insurance must cover the entire stay, all Schengen countries, with €30,000+ minimum.
- Wrong country chosen. Applied through France for a trip that’s mostly in Italy? Refusal under Article 32 of the Visa Code.
- Thin or missing accommodation proof. A booking made on a refundable site, then cancelled before submission, will be detected. Officers cross-check.
- Inconsistent itinerary. Hotel in Berlin from 3–7 May but flight ticket lands in Paris on 5 May? That’s a red flag.
If your visa is refused, you’re entitled to written reasons (Article 32, Visa Code) and you can either reapply with corrected documents or appeal through the destination country’s published process. Reapplying is usually faster.
Tips Indians who got approved told us
- 📌 Apply 6–8 weeks before travel, not earlier. Schengen visas can be issued up to 6 months before travel, but consulates are wary of applications too far out.
- 📌 Book refundable hotels first, then convert to non-refundable only after the visa is in hand.
- 📌 Use the same email and phone across booking, application form, and insurance. Mismatches trigger reviews.
- 📌 Carry a one-page “Day Plan” showing dates, cities, hotels, transport. Officers love this; it answers half their questions before they ask.
- 📌 If you’ve travelled internationally before, mention it in your covering letter. A history of returning to India after trips counts as a strong “tie”.
- 📌 Check the VFS fee on application day, not booking day. Fees do change. A November 2025 hike pushed several countries up by 15–20% with under two weeks’ notice.
Get your Schengen visa application reviewed before you submit
If you’d rather have an experienced eye go through your documents before you walk into VFS, that’s exactly what we do at VisaForTrip. Our team has handled hundreds of Schengen applications across all 27 Schengen countries — we’ll spot the small inconsistencies that lead to ₹11,500 refusals before they happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the total Schengen visa fee from India in 2026?
For an adult, the total is approximately ₹11,500–₹15,000. That’s €90 (about ₹8,300) in government visa fee, plus ₹1,933–₹3,111 in VFS service charge depending on the country, plus another ₹1,000–₹3,000 for travel insurance, photos, photocopies and optional services. Children 6–11 pay €45 instead of €90; under-6 are free.
2. How much is the VFS service fee for a Schengen visa from India?
VFS service fees in India range from approximately ₹402 (Slovakia, the lowest) to ₹3,111 (Portugal, the highest). Germany — the most common Schengen route for Indians — is around ₹1,933. The VFS fee is separate from the €90 embassy visa fee and is charged when you book your appointment. (Source.)
3. Did Schengen visa fees increase in 2025?
Yes. The EU raised the standard short-stay Schengen visa fee from €80 to €90 in mid-2024, and that rate continues into 2026. VFS Global also raised its India service charges by 15–20% in November 2025, taking total visa cost above ₹12,000 for many Schengen countries.
4. Is the Schengen visa fee refundable if my application is rejected?
No. Both the €90 government fee and the VFS service fee are non-refundable. This is why a careful pre-submission review pays for itself — losing ~₹11,500 to a preventable mistake is the most expensive way to “save money”.
5. Can I pay the Schengen visa fee in INR or only in Euros?
You pay in Indian Rupees at the VFS centre. The €90 government fee is converted to INR at the embassy’s daily rate (usually ₹8,200–₹8,500). Cash, debit, credit and increasingly UPI are accepted at major VFS centres in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad and Kolkata.
6. What is the cheapest Schengen country to apply through from India?
By VFS service fee alone, Slovakia (~₹402) is the cheapest, followed by Czech Republic and Germany. However, you cannot pick a country just to save on fees — Schengen rules require you to apply through your main destination or first entry point. Doing otherwise leads almost certainly to refusal.
7. How long is a Schengen visa from India valid for?
A standard short-stay Schengen visa allows up to 90 days within any 180-day period across all 27 Schengen countries. Validity itself can be single-entry, multiple-entry valid 1 year, or — for repeat travellers with clean histories — multi-year visas valid up to 5 years. The fee is the same regardless of validity. See our complete Schengen visa for Indians guide for the full rules.
Sources & references
- German Federal Foreign Office (India) — Schengen visa fees
- VFS Global India — France visa fee schedule
- European Commission — Short-stay Schengen visa statistics
- VisaHQ — VFS Global service fee hike November 2025
- Business Today — Schengen visa rejection appeal & reapplication guide
- Atlys — Schengen visa rejection reasons for Indians
- Winny Immigration — Common Schengen visa rejection reasons in 2026
Editorial note: All fees and processing times in this article are based on data published by official sources and reputable consumer publications as of May 2026. VFS service charges and embassy fees can change without notice — always verify on the official VFS Global India page for your specific destination country before paying.