Europe (multi-country) travel guide
Most Indian ordinary-passport holders need a Schengen visa for short visits to Europe. Apply through the consulate or authorised visa centre of your main destination, or the country of your longest stay. A Schengen visa allows up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Visa fees vary, so confirm them with the official mission before you book.
Facts checked 2 Nov 2026
Indian ordinary-passport holders generally need a Schengen visa before travelling to Europe for a multi-country trip. The Schengen Area has 29 countries, and one visa for short stays covers all of them, so you do not apply separately for each country. This guide explains who needs a visa, how to choose the application country, which documents are usually asked for, and what to confirm with the official mission. Rules and fees can change, so treat this page as a starting point and check the official source before you apply.
Yes, in most cases. Indian travellers with an ordinary passport generally need a Schengen visa for short stays in the Schengen Area. That covers most of the countries on a typical European circuit, including France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain. Confirm your own situation with the official mission, because exceptions depend on your passport type and circumstances.
A Schengen visa for short stays allows up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen Area. For a typical ten-day or fourteen-day circuit, that is well within the limit, but the 180-day window matters if you travel more than once in a year. Keep a record of your entries and exits, and plan your trips so you stay within the allowed days.
Apply through the consulate or authorised visa centre of your main destination, or the country of your longest stay. On a multi-country circuit, the main destination is usually the country where you spend the most nights. Confirm this with the official mission before you apply, and keep your itinerary consistent with the application. Tell your planner your route, so the application matches your bookings.
Whichever mission you apply to, expect to provide:
Requirements vary by mission and by the type of visa, so use the checklist given by the centre you apply through.
Start early, because appointments can take time to secure, especially in peak months. Reserve your appointment, prepare your documents and fill in the application form. Attend the appointment, provide your biometrics, and submit your documents. Keep your passport, approval and bookings together for the journey, and carry copies of the key documents in a separate place.
ETIAS is the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. It is designed for travellers who are exempt from a visa, not for Indian nationals who require a Schengen visa. European Commission pages describe ETIAS as scheduled for the last quarter of 2026, with the exact date still to be announced, so check the latest official notice. If you need a visa, your application follows the visa route described on this page.
Visa fees and service charges vary by visa type and by provider, so this guide does not quote a fee. Check the official mission or the authorised visa centre for the current charge before you travel. If you apply through a visa centre, compare what each provider includes before you pay, since service charges can differ.
Our Europe packages include visa assistance. Our team helps you prepare the application and check your documents against your itinerary, including the accommodation details the visa centre asks for. Visa fees, service charges and travel insurance are not included in the package price, so budget for them separately.
Read the Europe tour packages page to compare trip options, and the Europe travel guide for a full planning overview. Check how to reach Europe from India before you book flights, and Europe trip cost for the cost of a trip. For a first circuit, see our Swiss Paris Classic 7N package.
Ready-made trips
Paris 4N · Lucerne 3N
Paris 3N · Lucerne 2N · Venice 2N · Rome 3N
Paris 3N · Lucerne 2N · Venice 2N · Florence 2N
*Approximate price per person, excl. GST. Contact us for exact pricing.
Packages cover stays, transfers, sightseeing and meals as listed. Flights are not included. Prices are per person, excl. GST.
FAQs
Short answers to what travellers ask about Europe (multi-country).
Most Indian ordinary-passport holders need a Schengen visa for short stays in the Schengen Area. One visa covers all 29 member countries, so you do not apply separately for each one. Confirm your own situation with the official mission before you book.
A Schengen visa for short stays allows up to 90 days in any 180-day period. A typical ten-day or fourteen-day circuit is well within that limit. Keep track of your entries and exits if you travel more than once in a year.
Apply through the consulate or authorised visa centre of your main destination, or the country of your longest stay. For a multi-country circuit, this is usually the country where you spend the most nights. Confirm with the official mission before you apply.
Typical documents include a passport, an application form, a photograph, travel medical insurance, accommodation details, an itinerary, financial evidence and employment or business documents, plus biometrics. Requirements vary, so use the checklist from your visa centre.
No. ETIAS is for travellers who are exempt from a visa. Indian nationals who need a Schengen visa follow the visa route. European Commission pages describe ETIAS as scheduled for the last quarter of 2026, with the exact date still to be announced, so check the latest official notice.
Visa fees and service charges vary by visa type and provider, so this guide does not quote a fee. Check the official mission or authorised visa centre for the current charge, and compare what each provider includes before you pay.
Yes. Our Europe packages include visa assistance, which covers preparing the application and matching your documents to your itinerary. Visa fees, service charges and travel insurance are not included in the package price. Share your travel dates early, so the visa timing can be planned around your bookings.
Ask the visa centre or the official mission for the reason, and check what documents were missing or unclear. Speak to your planner before changing any flight or hotel booking, so the itinerary stays consistent with your application.
Tell us when you want to travel and who is coming. A trip expert builds a day-by-day plan with prices that you can change.
Prefer to answer a few questions step by step? Use the trip planner.
