The Rule: Apply to Your Main Destination
You must apply to the embassy of the country where you'll spend the MOST nights. If spending equal time in multiple countries, apply to the country of FIRST entry. This is the official Schengen rule — you cannot simply choose whichever embassy has the shortest queue.
Fastest Processing Countries
Germany: 2-5 working days (fastest!)
Spain: 7-15 working days
France: 15 calendar days
Italy: 15 working days (longer in summer)
Netherlands: 15 working days
Switzerland: 15 working days
Germany is consistently the fastest for processing Schengen visas for Indians.
Easiest to Get Appointments
VFS centers for different countries have different wait times for appointments. France and Italy tend to have longer appointment waits (2-4 weeks) during peak season (May-August). Germany and Spain tend to have better availability. Check VFS Global website for current appointment availability.
Approval Rates by Country
While official data varies, Germany, France, and Spain tend to have higher approval rates for well-documented Indian applicants. Key factors are: complete documentation, strong financial proof, realistic itinerary, and genuine travel purpose. Previous Schengen visas significantly boost approval chances for any country.
Pro Tips for Indians
1. Apply 4-6 weeks before travel (up to 6 months in advance allowed).
2. Your itinerary should logically support your chosen embassy.
3. Don't fake your itinerary to game the system — embassies check.
4. Hotel bookings should match your stated itinerary.
5. Get travel insurance that covers ALL Schengen countries.
6. First-time applicants may get single-entry; repeat applicants often get multi-entry.
7. Germany is the best first choice: fast processing, good approval rate.