Europe

ABOUT EUROPE

Europe is the World’s second-smallest continent – 10,180,000 km² covering approximately 6.7% of the Earth’s land and 2% of the Earth’s surface .

It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Arctic Ocean to the north and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. The Ural mountains in Russia mark the eastern extreme.

The southern regions are higher and include the Pyrenees, the Alps and the Carpathian mountain ranges.

The longest river in Europe is the Volga (2,850 km) in Russia.

The highest mountain is Elbrus (5,642 m) in Russia.

List Of Countries

Regions & Seasons

Europe can be broadly divided into three regions as shown on the map left.

Europe can also be divided according to European Union member states and non-member states as shown on the map right.

Europe lies entirely in the Northern hemisphere and has four distinct seasons

CLIMATE

The climate of Europe can be broadly divided into five different climate types:

Deciduous forest – Four distinct seasons with warm summers and cold, wet winters. The trees shed their leaves in autumn.

Coniferous forest – Also known as Taiga, cold and dry with snowy winters and warmer summers.

Mediterranean – Warm to high temperatures with rainfall in the autumn and winter months.

Grassland – Hot summers and cold winters with above average rainfall.

Tundra – This area is characterised by a layer of permafrost (soil that has remained below freezing for at least two years. Winters are very cold, summers are warm and there is little rainfall.

SCHENGEN STATES

Schengen Area – World’s largest passport-free zone
Named after “the Schengen Agreement” signifies a zone where 26 different European nations, acknowledged the abolishment of their internal borders with other member nations, for the free and unrestricted movement of people, in harmony with common rules for controlling external borders and fighting criminality by strengthening common judicial system and police cooperation.

List of Schengen Area Countries
The 26 Schengen countries are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Through Schengen zone, borders between European countries are only existent on maps, as to over 400 million nationals of 26 member countries the freedom of traveling passport check and border control free within and outside the area is guaranteed, as within a single country, since every country share the common travel and movement rights.

LIST OF SCHENGEN COUNTRIES

• Austria: http://www.vfs-austria.co.in/
• Belgium: http://www.vfsglobal.com/Belgium/India/
• Czech Republic: http://www.vfsglobal.com/czechrepublic/india/
• Denmark: http://dk.vfsglobal.co.in/
• Estonia: Embassy.New-Delhi@mfa.ee
• Finland: http://www.vfsglobal.com/finland/india/
• France: http://www.vfs-france.co.in/
• Germany: http://vfs-germany.co.in/
• Greece: https://in-gr.gvcworld.eu/
• Hungary: http://www.vfsglobal.com/hungary/india/
• Iceland: emb.newdelhi@mfa.is
• Italy: http://www.vfs-italy.co.in/mumbai/index.html
• Latvia: http://www.vfsglobal.com/latvia/india
• Lithuania: amb.in@urm.lt
• Luxembourg: http://www.vfsglobal.com/luxembourg/india/
• Malta: http://www.vfsglobal.com/malta/india/
• Netherlands: http://www.vfsglobal.com/netherlands/india/
• Norway: http://www.vfsglobal.com/norway/india/
• Poland: https://mumbai.mfa.gov.pl/en/
• Portugal: http://pt.vfsglobal.co.in/index.html
• Slovakia: http://www.vfsglobal.com/slovenia/india/index.html

HOW TO APPLY FOR US NON-IMMIGRANT VISA

You will have to follow a step-by-step guideline to apply for a Schengen visa in India.

In order to apply for a Schengen visa from India you must follow these steps:

• Figure out which Schengen visa type you need. There are different Schengen visa types depending on your purpose of traveling from India to Europe.
• Find out where you need to apply for a Schengen visa in India. Pay attention to the embassy / consulate / VAC of which country you need to apply at, as well as under the jurisdiction of which you fall.
• Decide when to apply for a Schengen visa in India. The earliest time you can lodge your Schengen visa application in India is 3 months before your planned trip while the latest time to file your visa application is at least 15 working days before you intend to travel to Europe.
• Collect the required Schengen visa documents for Indian citizens.
• Appoint an interview at a visa application center in India. Depending on the country, you may make an appointment online, through phone, or in person. Below in this article, you can find more information for each EU embassy/consulate located in India.
• Attend the interview on the day of your appointment. Show up on time and try not to be nervous. Remember that the interview is a crucial part of your visa application.
• Pay the visa fee. All Schengen states have fixed and synchronized visa fees. For more information, check Schengen visa fees for Indian citizens.
• Wait for the processing of your visa. After the interview, you will have to wait for at most 15 days, for a response on your application.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

The following list of documents are required for any short-term Schengen visa application:

• Visa application form. Fully completed and signed.
• Two recently taken photos must be attached. Both photos must be taken within the last three months, according to the visa photo requirements.
• A valid passport. Not older than 10 years and it should be valid for at least three more months beyond the date you plan to leave the Schengen area. Older passports with visas on them (if you have any).
• Round trip reservation or itinerary. It must include dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from the Schengen area. You can use the visa consultation services like this one. These guys can handle most of your visa requirements such as flight itineraries, hotel reservations along with free consultation over email.
• Travel insurance policy. A document that proves you have travel health insurance for the whole Schengen territory, with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros in case of any medical emergency as illnesses, accidents, and even repatriation in case of death. The Insurance policy can easily be purchased online from AXA Schengen or Europ Assistance.
• Proof of accommodation. A document that shows where you will be accommodated throughout your stay in Schengen. This can be one of the following:
  • A hotel/hostel booking.
  • A rental agreement.
  • A letter of invitation from a host at whose house you will be staying.
• Proof of financial means. Evidence that you have enough money to support yourself financially throughout your stay in the Schengen. This can be one of the following:
  • Bank account statement – that shows you have enough money in your account for the trip. The statement shall be no older than 3 months.
  • Sponsorship Letter – by another person that confirms they will be financially supporting your trip to the Schengen. In order for this letter to be valid, it must be accompanied by a bank statement of the sponsor, no older than three months.
  • A combination of your bank account statement and a letter of sponsorship.
• Proof of paid visa fee. €80 for adults and €45 for children from 6 to 12 years old.

Documents Required According to Applicant’s Employment Status:

• For employees:
  • Employment contract.
  • Current bank statement of the latest 6 months.
  • Leave permission from the employer.
  • Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary.
• For the self-employed:
  • A copy of your business license.
  • Company bank statement of the latest 6 months.
  • Income Tax Return (ITR).
• For students:
  • Proof of enrollment.
  • No objection letter from School or University.
• For retirees:
  • Pension statement of the latest 6 months.
  • If unemployed and married to an EU citizen:
    • Confirmation of Employment letter, no older than three months, from their spouse’s employer stating the position held within the company as well as the starting date.
    • Spouse’s valid passport.
    • An official marriage certificate.

Documents Required for Minors:

• The minor’s birth certificate.
• Application form signed by both parents.
• Family court order – in cases where only one parent has full custody over the child.
• Certified copies of ID / passport of both parents.
• A notarized parental authorization signed by both parents / guardians if the minor will be travelling alone.

WHERE TO APPLY

Where to Submit an Application?

You will have to lodge your Tourist Schengen Visa application at the embassy / consulate / visa center of your main destination in the Schengen Area.

By main destination, we mean:

• When visiting only one Schengen state, submit your application at the embassy / consulate / visa center of that country.
• When visiting more than two Schengen states, submit your application at the embassy / consulate / visa center of the country:
  • In which you will be spending more days
  • In which you will step in first, since you plan to spend an equal amount of days in each.

Pay attention to how the authorities of your main destination have regulated visa submission in your country. In bigger countries, visa submission is regulated through jurisdictions. Make sure to apply at the embassy, consulate or visa center of your destination country, under the jurisdiction of which the area where you live falls.

AFTER SUBMISSION

If you have already submitted an application for a visa at Visa Application Centre you can track your application

The time required to process Visa Applications is upto 15calendar days under normal circumstances. Collection process Please ensure you bring your receipt with you, which is issued to you on the day of your appointment.

In case a Representative or Travel Agent is coming to collect the passports/documents he/she needs to carry the original receipt, Photo Id of himself/herself, applicant’s passport photocopy and an authority letter from the applicant.

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

All applicants are required to book an appointment online to submit their visa application at the Joint Schengen visa application center.

Important: As part of the visa application procedure, from 2nd November 2015 applicants will need to provide Biometric fingerprint data along with a digital photograph. If you have temporary injuries on your fingers, applicants are advised to wait until the injuries have healed before you book your appointment. Henna on fingertips may also mean we are unable to get a clear scanned image and should be removed or allowed to fade before your appointment date.Before you make an appointment you should carefully read the visa application process available on the website to submit your visa application and supporting documents at the visa application center.

If you have missed your appointment on the scheduled day, the system will not allow you to reschedule or cancel and you will require to book a new appointment after 24 hours.

Please make sure you arrive at the visa application center 15 minutes prior to your appointment time. Applicants are not allowed to be accompanied inside the visa application center. The only exceptions to this are those accompanying children under 18 years-of-age or applicants who need special assistance for health reasons or disability.

If you are part of a family or group, each member of the family or group must make an individual appointment. For example, if you are a family of 4 with 2 adults and 2 children you must make 4 individual appointments.

Most of the countries give you the chance to book an appointment online. On the other hand, in others you will need to book the appointment in person, at the embassy or consulate of your destination country.

SCHENGEN VISA FEES

When applying for a Schengen visa there is a non-refundable mandatory visa fee every applicant must pay.

The Schengen visa costs vary depending on the type of visa and age of the applicant as well as some other exceptions stated below in the text. The Schengen visa fee can be paid in the designated consulate/embassy via cash, debit or credit card. However, some consulates may not allow you to pay by credit card.

The applicable visa fee in USD (US Dollar) is as per the current exchange rate. It is subject to change without notice.

Despite the fact that these fees are static and unchangeable until the Schengen members decide otherwise altogether, there are some categories exempt from paying this amount.

The visa fees may also be waived for participants aged 25 years or less in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events, organized by non-profit organizations. The decision will be made case by case according to the relevance of the event.

Again, in case the visa is denied there is no refund of the money paid.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS