Český Krumlov in July

Visa needed before you fly for up to 90 days, about ₹11,810

1. Apply for a Schengen short-stay (type C) visa at a VFS Global Czech visa centre in India, 4-8 weeks before you fly, and at least 6 weeks ahead for April to September (no earlier than 6 months). Apply to Czechia if it is your only or longest stay in Schengen. The fee is €90 (about ₹9,600; €45 for children 6-11) plus the VFS service charge (about ₹2,220 with GST, paid when you book the appointment); neither is refunded if the visa is refused.
2. Your application is decided by the Czech Consulate General in Mumbai if you live in Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, or Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, and by the Czech Embassy in New Delhi for the rest of India; any VFS Czech centre takes it. Give your fingerprints and photo at the appointment (skipped if you gave them for a Schengen visa in the last 59 months). A decision usually takes about 15 calendar days, up to 30 if more checks are needed.
3. If you have lawfully used two Schengen visas in the last three years, ask for a multiple-entry visa: under the EU's 2024 cascade rules for Indians you can be given a two-year visa, then a five-year one.
4. At your first Schengen airport (Prague, or the European hub where you change) your fingerprints and face are scanned at passport control (the EU Entry/Exit System, in full use since April 2026) instead of a stamp. Allow extra time for it.

Carry: Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen Area, with two blank pages; Completed visa application form and two recent photos (35 x 45 mm); Travel insurance with at least €30,000 medical cover, valid in every Schengen country for the whole trip; Return flight booking and a day-by-day itinerary; Hotel bookings for every night; Bank statements for the last 3-6 months, income-tax returns, and a leave letter from your employer (or business or college papers).

One Schengen visa covers Czechia and every other Schengen country (Germany, Austria, Hungary, Italy, France, Switzerland and more) for up to 90 days in any 180, so a Prague–Vienna–Budapest tour needs only one visa. ETIAS is only for visa-free travellers, so it does not affect you. Appointments for April to July go fast across every Schengen country: check visa.vfsglobal.com for your city before you book flights.

Checked 2026-10; confirm with the embassy before you fly.