Schengen (Europe) visa, handled for you from Surat
One visa, 29 European countries — France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Austria, Spain, Netherlands, Greece and more. As a Schengen visa specialist Explera handles embassy selection, VFS appointment, forms, cover letter, insurance and financial documentation.
Yes — Indian passport holders need a sticker visa (embassy) for Schengen (Europe). Explera Vacations, Surat's IATA-certified visa agent since 2009, files it end to end: up to 90 days in any 180 stay, 15–20 working days processing, 92% approval, your exact fee quoted in writing after a free document assessment. Apply on WhatsApp — no embassy queues for e-visas.
Visa type
Sticker visa (embassy)
Entry
Single / Multiple
Stay
Up to 90 days in any 180
Validity
As granted (up to 5 years multiple-entry)
Processing
15–20 working days
Approval rate
92%
Schengen (Europe) visa — key points at a glance
- ✓Sticker visa (embassy) for Indian passport holders
- ✓Permitted stay: Up to 90 days in any 180
- ✓Entry: Single / Multiple
- ✓Typical processing: 15–20 working days
- ✓Exact total quoted after a free document assessment (govt fee ~₹8,000)
- ✓Embassy / VFS submission with biometrics
- ✓Approx. 92% approval on Explera-filed applications
Overview
A single Schengen visa lets you travel across all 29 Schengen countries — Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. It is a full embassy (VFS) process with biometrics, so documentation quality decides approval — exactly where a Schengen visa specialist earns its fee.
The single most common cause of rejection is applying to the wrong embassy. The rule: apply to the country where you will spend the most nights, or — if nights are equal — your first point of entry. Explera reviews your itinerary and files through the correct mission, then books the VFS slot, prepares your cover letter, day-wise itinerary, €30,000 travel insurance and financial pack, and coaches you for submission.
Appointment slots for popular missions (France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany) can be scarce in peak season, so start 4–8 weeks before travel — applications are accepted up to 6 months ahead. Frequent, clean-history travellers can be granted long-validity multiple-entry visas of up to 5 years under the Schengen "cascade" principle, which Explera builds the case for wherever your travel record supports it.
Who needs a Schengen (Europe) visa?
Indian passport holders need a sticker visa (embassy) for Schengen (Europe), submitted through the embassy or VFS with biometrics. A complete, well-presented file is decisive — Explera prepares your cover letter, itinerary, financials and forms to embassy standards.
What documents are required for a Schengen (Europe) visa?
Passport
Valid 3+ months beyond return, 2 blank pages, plus old passports.
Schengen photos
Two recent 35×45 mm photos, 80% face, light-grey background.
Confirmed flights & hotels
Round-trip reservation and day-by-day accommodation for the whole trip.
Travel medical insurance
€30,000 minimum cover for the full stay — issued instantly by Explera.
Bank statements
Last 6 months, personal, with adequate closing balance & healthy activity.
ITR
Income-tax returns for the last 2–3 years.
Cover letter & itinerary
Purpose of visit and detailed day-wise plan (prepared by Explera).
Additional documents (case-by-case)
If employed
Leave-sanction letter, employment letter, 3 months’ salary slips.
If self-employed / business
GST, company registration, business bank statement, visiting card.
If sponsored
Sponsor letter, sponsor bank proof and relationship proof.
How do I apply for a Schengen (Europe) visa from Surat?
- 1
Profile & country
We assess your itinerary and pick the right embassy to apply through.
- 2
Document pack
Explera prepares cover letter, itinerary, insurance and checks financials.
- 3
VFS appointment & biometrics
We book your slot; you attend VFS for fingerprints and submission.
- 4
Decision
Passport returns by courier in 15–20 working days with the visa sticker.
How long does a Schengen (Europe) visa take?
Standard processing for a Schengen (Europe) visa is 15–20 working days from the date of biometric submission.
Peak season (summer holidays, Diwali and Christmas) and busy embassies can extend timelines, so we recommend applying at least 3–4 weeks before travel.
Explera applies with time to spare and keeps you updated at every stage — you can always reach the visa desk on +91 70963 32299.
Why Schengen (Europe) visas get refused — and how we prevent it
Most refusals come down to avoidable mistakes. Explera pre-screens every application against each of these before we file:
Incomplete, inconsistent or poorly-scanned documents
Insufficient or unexplained bank balance and unclear funding
Passport valid for less than 6 months or without blank pages
Weak travel history or an unconvincing purpose of visit for first-time applicants
Unconfirmed or unrealistic itinerary, tickets or hotel bookings
Tips for a smooth Schengen (Europe) visa
- ✓Keep your passport valid at least 6 months beyond your Schengen (Europe) travel dates, with 2+ blank pages.
- ✓Maintain a healthy, steady bank balance for 3–6 months before you apply — sudden large deposits raise questions.
- ✓Apply early: start your Schengen (Europe) visa at least 3–4 weeks before departure to absorb any delay.
- ✓Bundle your visa with flights, hotels and insurance through Explera — a complete, consistent file approves faster.
What travellers say — Schengen (Europe) visa through Explera
Recent Schengen (Europe) visa applicants from Surat & Gujarat. Explera is rated 4.8/5 across 2,130+ verified reviews — read more.
★★★★★
“As a first-time traveller I had a hundred questions about the Schengen (Europe) visa. Their team answered all of them patiently on WhatsApp, prepared my file, and it was approved. My whole family now uses Explera.”
Jignesh Radadiya
Ahmedabad · Solo travel
★★★★★
“Applied for my Schengen (Europe) sticker visa (embassy) through Explera and honestly did not visit any office — shared documents on WhatsApp and the visa came in 15–20 working days. Very smooth and professional.”
Komal Sheta
Vadodara · Parents’ visit
★★★★★
“Family holiday to Schengen (Europe) and the visa was the part I was most worried about. Explera's Surat desk checked every document before filing and kept updating me till approval. Totally stress-free.”
Vivek Sojitra
Rajkot · Family holiday
Your local Schengen (Europe) visa agent — Surat & all of Gujarat
Explera Vacations runs a dedicated visa desk in Surat — at the Surat Diamond Bourse (Khajod) and on L. H. Road (Varachha) — handling Schengen (Europe) sticker visa (embassy)s for travellers across Surat, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot, Vapi and the rest of Gujarat. Most applications run entirely on WhatsApp: share your documents, we verify and file, and you track the application to decision on one thread. Document pickup is available across Surat, and where the mission requires biometrics we book the VFS appointment most convenient to you.
City-wise Schengen (Europe) visa desks:
Schengen (Europe) visa FAQ
Schengen (Europe) visa — your questions
Information last reviewed: August 2026. Visa rules, fees and processing times change frequently and are set by the destination authorities. The information above is indicative for Indian passport holders — Explera confirms the current requirements for your profile before you apply.
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