Visa for Schengen

There are several types of Schengen visas Indian travellers may apply for. The requirements for Indians vary depending on the type of visa you wish to apply for and your specific circumstances, such as the length and purpose of your intended stay. Applicants to India are asked to submit their applications, their passport photos, their flight and hotel reservations, their medical insurance and financial records, etc. The basic rule of thumb is that 90 days in every 180 days period will not require you to leave the Schengen area. 

Types:

1. Uniform Schengen (USV) Visas

2. Limited Territorial (LTV) Visas

3. National Visas

• Uniform Schengen (USV) Visa

Schengen Area member countries issues uniform Schengen Visas, allowing a maximum stay of 90 days in 180 days. It is also possible to use the USV as a transit visa.

There are 3 subcategories of the Uniform Schengen Visa:

• Category ‘A’ and ‘B’ are obtained for Transit Visa 
• Category ‘C’ is obtained for Short term Visa. 

Category ‘C’ visa is typically issued for tourism, business, or family visits. It is also issued to people who come to Europe for 90 days or less to participate in short training programs, internships, conferences, and corporate meetings, or to engage in remunerated activities (of any kind). There are three types of Visas that can be obtained under this category 

1. Single Entry Visa: Single Entry Visa allows a holder to enter a Schengen country for a limited period of time. 
2. Double Entry Visa: The Double Entry Visa is similar to the Single Entry Visa, except that the traveller can enter and leave the Schengen country twice within the time limit specified on the visa. The visa will expire after the traveller’s second exit.
3. Multiple Entry Visa: Travellers with this type of visa are free to enter and exit the Schengen area as many times as they want. However, this can only happen once every six months and for a maximum of 90 days.

• Limited Territorial Validity (LTV) Visa

  A visa with limited territorial validity is only valid in the EU Member State that issued it. If each of these EU member states agrees, it may be exceptionally valid in the territories of several EU member states. This type of visa may be granted to individuals who do not have a valid travel document but need to travel to a Schengen area for any reason. As an exception to the common USV system, this type of visa is issued in very unusual cases such as humanitarian reasons or under international obligation. The holder of this type of visa is not permitted to enter or transit any other Schengen country that is not the first and final destination.

• National Visa
  

  The national visa of category “D” is granted to certain individuals who intend to study, work, or permanently reside in one of the Schengen countries. The national visa can be of a single entry, granted to people who need to reside in a Schengen country for a specific period of time and for a single purpose, after which they must return to their home country. A multi-entry national visa, on the other hand, is granted to certain individuals, allowing the holder to travel in and out of this Schengen country as he/she pleases, as well as travel throughout the entire Schengen Area without additional visa requirements.