Indians Choosing Alternative Destinations Due to Limited Availability of Schengen Visa Appointments

Key Takeaways

1. Indians are increasingly considering travel destinations with simpler visa rules instead of Schengen countries.
2. They have expressed frustration over the limited availability of Schengen visa appointments.
3. In 2023, Indians filed a total of 966,687 Schengen visa applications.

Due to the limited availability of Schengen visa appointments, many Indians are opting for alternative travel destinations outside the Schengen Area. 

Travel and tourism industry experts have noted that Indians are now considering summer vacations in countries like Australia, Georgia, and Japan, which have less stringent visa requirements.

Additionally, there is growing interest in visiting Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan among Indian travelers.

Frustrated by the scarcity of available Schengen visa appointments, many Indians have voiced their concerns, calling on authorities to address the issue promptly. The difficulty in securing appointments has led many to cancel or postpone their travel plans to Schengen countries.

Travel agents in India have also highlighted the problem, noting that the earliest available appointments for German and Italian Schengen visas are in July. This delay means that Indian passport holders planning to visit these countries cannot apply for visas this or next month.

Indians Filed Almost 1 Million Schengen Visa Applications in 2023

Recent data reveals that Indians filed 966,687 Schengen visa applications in 2023, making them the third-largest nationality group in terms of visa requests, after Chinese and Turks.

Out of these applications, 811,290 Indians were granted Schengen visas, while 151,752 applications were rejected. The top five Schengen countries issuing the highest number of visas to Indians were Switzerland, France, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands.

Eligibility for 2-Year Multiple Entry Schengen Visas

Since April, Indian nationals have become eligible for two-year multiple-entry Schengen visas under new EU rules designed to facilitate easier travel to the bloc. However, not all applicants will receive these extended visas. 

To qualify, Indians must have lawfully obtained and used two Schengen visas in the last three years and have a documented travel history to the Schengen Area. Typically, a two-year multiple-entry visa will be followed by a five-year visa, provided the applicant's passport has sufficient remaining validity.