General information about Schengen visa

COMMON INFORMATION SHEET FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICANTS IN INDIA

TYPES OF SCHENGEN VISA

Short-stay visa (C visa) is a type of Schengen visa allowing its holder to stay up to 90 days in any 180 day period in Schengen area. Short stay visa can be issued as single or multiple entry visa with period of validity up to five years.

An airport transit visa (A visa) is a type of Schengen visa that can be issued to an alien for entry into, staying in, and exiting from the international transit zone of an Estonian airport to the next country of transit or destination to which the alien is entitled to enter. An airport transit visa does not grant the right to enter Estonia and stay in Estonia.

The list of countries whose nationals are required to have an airport transit visa

More information about Schengen area and EU Common Visa Policy can be found for example on the webpage of European Commission.

Diplomatic missions and consular posts of Estonia are following when processing visa applications the regulation establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code).

 

WHO CAN APPLY FOR SCHENGEN VISA IN THE EMBASSY OF ESTONIA IN NEW DELHI?

In Estonian Embassy in New Delhi only Indian passport holders and non-Indian passport holders who are permanently living and working in India and whose main destination in Schengen is Estonia can apply for Schengen visa.

Estonia is the applicant’s main destination in Schengen if

  • you travel only to Estonia or
  • you visit more than one Schengen member state, or if several separate visits are to be carried out within a period of two months, the application must be lodged at the representation of the main destination. The main destination is understood to be the destination where you intend to spend the longest time or where the main purpose of the intended journey is carried out or
  • you wish to visit several Schengen member states and you are not sure of the state of main destination or plan to spend the equal number of days in each state, the visa must be applied for at the representation of the state through which the visa applicant intends to enter the Schengen area.

 

WHO DOES NOT NEED A VISA FOR VISITING ESTONIA?

Nationals of the member states of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) and any third-country national who is a holder of a Residence Permit of a Schengen country do not need a visa to enter Estonia. Furthermore, the holders of passports of certain countries do not need a visa to enter a Schengen region (including Estonia) for stays of no more than 90 days in any 180 days period.

For a complete overview of who does not need a visa for visiting Estonia, click HERE

 

WHERE TO SUBMIT THE VISA APPLICATION?

Visa application should be lodged at one of the VFS Global visa centres in India. Please see all locations HERE

At the request of a consular officer, you are required to appear at the Embassy in person in order to provide explanations concerning facts, which are relevant in application for the visa.

If you are not a resident of India and wish to visit Estonia, you have to apply for the Schengen visa at your home country.

Please see the list of Estonian representations which are handling visa applications and the list of countries where Estonia is represented by another country’s Embassy for issuing Schengen visas.

Attention! Estonian Honorary Consuls cannot not collect or examine visa applications, they may only provide general information on visa requirements. It is not possible for the Embassy in New Delhi to accept applications through third persons or travel agents.

 

WHEN TO SUBMIT THE VISA APPLICATION?

Visa application must be lodged personally; visa application of minor (below 18) is lodged by parent or guardian.

Application can be lodged up to six months before start of the trip to Schengen area (9 months, if applicant is a seafarer) and must be applied not later than 15 days before start of the trip.

 

HOW LONG IS VISA PROCESSING TIME?

Applications shall be decided within 15 working days of the date of the lodging of a complete application. Applicants are generally given an indicative date when to pick up their application. This period may be extended up to a maximum of 45 calendar days in individual cases, notably when further scrutiny of the application is needed.

Applications accepted at the VFS Global visa centre will be submitted on the next working day at the Embassy of Estonia in New Delhi.

Please note that if application is submitted in a satellite centre (non-Delhi), it may take up to 72 hours in transit to New Delhi. All the applications received from satellite centres will be sent to the Estonian Embassy in New Delhi on the next working day.

Concerning your visa application status, the Embassy kindly requests to contact VFS Global visa centre. Please do not send inquire e-mails to the Embassy.

Important notice: Some Schengen member states require that they be consulted on visa applications submitted to other Schengen member states by citizens of certain countries. The consultation process may take up to seven calendar days and it is carried out by the Embassy, no additional actions from the applicant are required.

Such consultation is currently required for nationals of the countries listed here.

 

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS WHEN TRAVELLING ON A SCHENGEN VISA?

Mere possession of a visa does not confer an automatic right of entry. The holders of visa are requested to present proof that they fulfil the entry conditions at the external border, as provided in the Schengen Border Code. Border guards, for instance, may ask to present return tickets, hotel reservation or the information of the invitee, travel insurance, proof of sufficient means of subsistence.

For more information, see also questions about crossing the border on the webpage of the Police and Border Guard Board and on the webpage of European Commission.

COMPLAINTS

Schengen visa applicants may submit complaints about the conduct of the Embassy staff, the external service provider (VFS Global) or the visa application process.

A complaint can be submitted to the consular department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia by e-mail: [email protected].

Important notice: It is not possible to lodge appeal against refusal, annulment or revocation of a visa to this e-mail.

Please see The right to appeal the decision on refusal, annulment or revocation of a visa

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT SCHENGEN VISA

General information about applying for a visa to the Schengen area on the website of Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code).

Common list of supporting documents for applicants from India.

Short-stay calculator on the webpage of European Commission.

Visa Information System (VIS) on the webpage of European Commission.

Your data in the VIS – request to international database.

Last updated:  19 September 2023