Short-stay visa (C) — tourism & visiting: Indian citizen → Czechia
You need a Schengen visa (type C)
India is on the EU's visa-required list: you need a short-stay visa before travelling to Czechia. One visa covers all 29 Schengen countries.
The bottom line
- The fee is €90 (€45 for children 6–12, under 6 free).
- Standard processing is 15 days, extendable to 45 when the consulate needs a closer look — apply up to 6 months ahead, and no later than 15 days before travel.
- Because Czechia is your main destination, Czechia's consulate decides your application — applying to a different country because its appointments are faster ("visa shopping") gets applications refused.
- Frequent travellers with a clean visa history can be granted multiple-entry visas valid 1–5 years.
When to start
Start 30 days–6 months before your travel date.
Your MAIN destination (longest stay) decides — for this plan, Czechia. Equal time in several countries? Then it's the first country you enter. Applying to a more convenient consulate instead ("visa shopping") is a standard refusal reason.
Passport, photos, travel medical insurance (€30,000 minimum — mandatory), itinerary and financial evidence. Consulate-specific checklists are on Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Complete the application via Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then book the appointment. VFS Global in many countries. Pay the €90 fee (+ the centre's service fee). Appointment scarcity, not processing, is usually the bottleneck — book early.
Submit documents and give fingerprints and a photo. Fingerprints stay valid in the VIS for 59 months, so repeat applicants within 5 years can often apply without appearing in person.
Standard processing is 15 days, extendable to 45 for a detailed examination. Track via the centre; don't book non-refundable travel yet.
Check dates, number of entries and the territorial validity line the moment you collect the passport. 'ETATS SCHENGEN' means the whole area; a country code list means limited validity. Report errors before travelling.
What you'll need
- Passport — Valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from the area, issued within the last 10 years, with 2 blank pages.
- Photo — Recent passport photo meeting ICAO rules (35×45mm) — centres can usually take one for a fee.
- Travel medical insurance — Minimum €30,000 coverage, valid in the whole Schengen area for the full stay — mandatory for every C visa.
- Financial evidence — Recent bank statements or payslips showing you can fund the trip; per-day reference amounts vary by destination.
- Travel details — Flight reservation and accommodation for the whole stay — reservations are fine; don't buy non-refundable tickets before the decision.
- Ties to India — Employment letter, enrolment, family or property evidence supporting your intent to return.
Good to know
- One visa covers all 29 countries — but you must apply through the country of your MAIN destination (longest stay), not whichever consulate is fastest.
- Multiple-entry visas with 1–5 year validity can be granted to travellers with a positive visa history.
Where you'll apply
Where you'll apply in India
Apply in your districtWho runs the centre: Typically VFS Global in many countries
Czechia consulates have territorial jurisdiction: apply to the mission covering your area of legal residence in India. Start on the official portal below — it directs you to the visa centre/operator for your area; you generally cannot pick another city for a faster slot.
Getting a slot — book early · community-reported, checked 2026-06-13
- Slots are released in batches with no fixed public schedule — most often early morning local time, on Monday mornings, and around the 1st of the month.
- For popular consulates (e.g. France, Italy and Spain in big cities), a fresh batch can be gone within minutes — be registered and logged in before you look.
- Cancellations free up slots throughout the day, so check daily even when it shows ‘no availability’.
- Because of this, apply as early as you are allowed — up to 6 months before travel. Waiting until 1–2 months out often means no slots are left at all.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs — official portal (find your centre) →
Continue on the official site →