Europe Visa and Immigration Overview for Applicants in India

November 15, 2026

Team of Boldvoices · 15 November 2026 · Official guidance checked 15 November 2026

Start with your itinerary and purpose. This regional overview covers Schengen short visits and where to find country-specific immigration procedures for longer stays.

Jump to your route

Study · Work · Official job openings · Visit · Join family · Settle

Opportunities and rule changes

The European Commission says the Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully operational across the Schengen countries since 10 April 2026. It records relevant entries and exits for short-stay travellers and may collect biometrics. ETIAS is for visa-exempt travellers. Indian passport holders who need a Schengen visa for a short visit use the visa process.

Study in Europe

Use the destination country’s national student instructions and check admission, funding and insurance requirements. Confirm whether you need a long-stay visa, a residence permit, or both.

Official job openings by industry

Verified total of open vacancies that support a work visa, by industry: No official total verified as of 15 November 2026. Where a portal displays a filtered count, use it as a count of results for that search and check individual adverts for overseas eligibility and visa support.

Use EURES to search by country and occupation, then check the employer’s listing and the national work-permit route. For a job in Germany, use the Germany guide for national requirements. Count an advertised vacancy as visa-linked only when its terms support that classification.

Before counting an opening, check that the advert is active, accepts applications from overseas, and supports the specific work-visa route or provides the job offer needed for it. Count one advert once and record the number of positions separately if the employer publishes it.

Work in Europe

Use the EU Immigration Portal to look up national work routes in participating countries. Check the intended country’s employer, profession, qualification and permit requirements. Where an EU Blue Card route is available, check the national eligibility and salary rules.

Schengen short visits

The common short-stay limit is up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. For several destinations, apply to the competent country for the main stay. If stays are equal and there is no other main destination, use the country of first entry. Check that mission’s instructions in India for insurance, itinerary and evidence of funds.

Family reunification

Look up the country of residence and the sponsor’s status. Family members of an EU citizen exercising free-movement rights may have different procedures from relatives of a non-EU resident. Use the applicable national or EU guidance.

Long-term residence

Check the national eligibility conditions and which residence periods count. Use the EU Immigration Portal to find the relevant country rules. Germany and the United Kingdom have separate guides in this desk.

Germany visa and immigration guide · United Kingdom visa and immigration guide

How to apply from India

Determine the competent destination before booking. Use its official mission or delegated application centre in India, gather the required itinerary, funding and insurance evidence for short visits, and follow the country-specific procedure for longer stays.

Fees and processing

The European Commission lists a standard Schengen short-stay fee of €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 12, with exemptions and possible service charges. Normal processing is 15 days and may extend to 45 days in cases requiring greater examination. National fees and processing vary.

Common question

Does an Indian passport holder applying for a short-stay Schengen visa also need ETIAS? The European Commission directs visa-required Indian short-stay travellers to use a Schengen visa. Check the official EU guidance for your passport and circumstances.