Europe Made Travel Easier: Schengen Visa To Go Fully Digital, What It Means For Indians
The new rules will make Schengen visa process fully digital. That means no more physical visa stickers in passports and no more long queues at consulates to submit paper forms
For millions of Indians, the process of securing a Schengen visa has long been a necessary — but often tedious — part of planning a European holiday or business trip. But that's about to change. The European Union has officially announced that the Schengen visa system will go fully digital, making visa applications easier, faster, and more secure.
Here's everything you need to know about the digital Schengen visa rollout, how it works, and what it means for Indian travellers heading to Europe.
What Is A Schengen Visa?
The Schengen visa is a short-term visa that allows non-EU nationals to travel across 29 European countries (as of 2024) without needing separate visas for each. This includes popular destinations like France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. In 2023 alone, Indians filed over 600,000 applications for Schengen visas, with the highest number going to countries like France and Germany.
What's Changing?
Under the new rules approved by the European Council and set to be implemented by 2026, the Schengen visa process will become completely digital. That means no more physical visa stickers in your passport and no more long queues at consulates just to submit paper forms.
The only exception will be first-time applicants or those with expired biometric data (more than five years old). They will still need to visit a consulate or visa application centre to submit fingerprints and get their photo taken. For repeat travellers, the entire process could become 100% virtual.
Why Is The EU Going Digital?
There are several reasons behind this major shift:
Efficiency: The new system will drastically cut down processing times and reduce errors caused by manual handling.
Security: A digital system helps prevent fraud and misuse of visa stickers, which can be forged or altered.
Convenience: Travellers can apply from anywhere, eliminating the need to visit embassies or third-party visa centres for every trip.
Cost Savings: Governments and applicants alike will benefit from streamlined operations and fewer administrative bottlenecks.
How Will The New Digital Schengen Visa Work?
Once the platform is live, Indian applicants will go through the following steps:
Create an Account on the EU Visa Portal: Enter personal details, travel history, and upload necessary documents (passport, itinerary, proof of accommodation, insurance, etc.)
Select The Destination Country: If you are visiting multiple Schengen countries, you must apply to the one where you'll spend the most time.
Pay the Visa Fee Online: Currently, the Schengen visa fee is €80 for adults and €40 for minors. The amount remains unchanged for now.
Submit Biometric Data (If Required): First-timers must still visit the visa application centre for fingerprints and a photograph. Once submitted, the biometrics remain valid for five years.
What This Means For Indian Travellers
For Indian citizens — especially frequent flyers, business professionals, and holidaymakers — this is welcome news. Last year, nearly 3 crore Indian nationals went to foreign countries, an 8% increase from 2023 that saw a 29% year-on-year jump to 2.79 crore, crossing the pre-pandemic peak of 2.69 crore that was achieved in 2019, as per Ministry of Tourism data.
In the first two months of 2025, 50.9 lakh Indians travelled abroad, up 6% from the corresponding period last year, tourism ministry data showed.
Europe continues to be the top travel destination for Indians, with Switzerland, France, Austria, Germany leading the pack, and Eastern European countries like Czech Republic, Hungary, and Croatia gaining popularity, the report said.
Currently, the visa process involves collecting multiple documents, physically submitting them to VFS or consular offices, and waiting weeks for updates. The digitisation will:
Avoid issues like misplaced passports or delayed courier returns
However, Indian travellers must still meet all the existing requirements: sufficient financial proof, confirmed return tickets, travel insurance, and a genuine purpose of travel.
Will Visa Rejections Still Happen?
Yes. A digital system does not mean relaxed rules. Visa officers will still assess the credibility of each application. Currently, Indian applicants face rejection rates between 15% and 25%, depending on the country. Strong documentation and financial clarity will still be critical.
That said, digital processing could help avoid rejections caused by administrative errors or missing forms — a common complaint with physical submissions.
When Will This Be Implemented?
The European Commission has stated that the digital Schengen visa platform will be ready for rollout by 2026. This gives time for IT infrastructure to be built, personnel to be trained, and countries to harmonise their visa policies on the new platform.
Some pilot programmes may begin as early as late 2025, particularly in high-volume countries like India, China, and Turkey.
Could This Mean Easier Visas In The Future?
Digitisation could open the door to multi-entry and longer-validity visas for travellers from trusted countries like India. Already, several EU nations are pushing for 'trusted traveller" programmes that would offer 3- or 5-year visas to applicants with a clean travel history. A digital system makes it easier to track, monitor, and reward such applicants.
There is also potential for integration with India's own digital platforms (like DigiLocker) to allow for faster documentation verification.
The move to a fully digital Schengen visa system marks a major shift in how Europe manages its borders — and how Indian travellers plan their trips. While challenges remain around biometric verification and high rejection rates, the digitalisation promises faster service, greater transparency, and fewer logistical headaches.
For Indian students, professionals, and families dreaming of strolling through Paris, skiing in the Alps, or closing deals in Berlin, the future just got a little easier — and more digital.
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About the Author
Shilpy Bisht
Shilpy Bisht, Deputy News Editor at News18, writes and edits national, world and business stories. She started off as a print journalist, and then transitioned to online, in her 12 years of experience. Her prev...Read More
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First Published:
August 01, 2025, 12:32 IST
News zip Europe Made Travel Easier: Schengen Visa To Go Fully Digital, What It Means For Indians
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