When planning your first Europe trip from India, the country you choose can lead to either a great or terrible trip due to how European visa systems operate. While many travelers fixate on the popular tourist locations, a more intelligent option is to choose less well-known tourist locations. This is especially true for locations where your visa approval odds are comparatively more favorable.
This guide is all about the Best European Countries to Visit from India, which combines good travel experiences with great ease of visa approval for Indians. Once you have the information, traveling to Europe becomes a much less stressful experience.
France is the most popular option for travel among Indians, and understandably so. France is a great option for visa approval because of their high volume of visa applications.
France is certainly among the Best Europe Countries to Visit because of the approval you will most likely receive given that you provide the necessary documents, and especially if you will be traveling to Europe for the first time.
Unlike the other expense-related claims about Switzerland, visa applications are simple and straightforward. They are primarily concerned about the finances and planning.
If you have your bank statements, bookings and travel insurance in order, Switzerland is certainly among the Best European Countries for a simple approval process. And on top of that, the experience is phenomenal.
Italy masters the blend of geography, food, and rich history. Rome has captivating ancient architecture, and Venice has beautiful canals. Traveling between the two places is not overwhelming. Accommodation is also not difficult. For Indian tourists, the country presents few difficulties, and processing the visa is much simpler, especially when the documents are well organized.
Italy is known for issuing tourism visas. Having a well defined plan, with all hotel bookings and mode of transport identified, improves chances of visa approval greatly. A well defined itinerary is easy to assess. The high approval rates make Italy a must-visit European country.
Spain has been an emerging favorite for Indian travellers and one of the main reasons is its quicker processing times and much more reasonable acceptance rates.
If what you want is Best Europe Countries to Visit and a seamless process, then Spain is the country for you.
A country with a big YES or NO based on documentation is the Netherlands. Appropriate documentation is a tell-all to positive results.
For travelers who prefer structure, the Netherlands is among the Best European Countries to Visit, as they deliver desired results due to good documentation.
If you want to travel to Europe and you are on a tight budget, Greece is a fantastic option. Greece has beautiful, relaxing islands as well as cities with a slower lifestyle. Compared to other European countries, Greece has a more lenient visa policy, especially when travel documents are well-organized.
A decreased level of travel demand during the low seasons results in a large drop in price. Greece is particularly affordable between off-peak seasons, and coupled with ease of visa processing, Greece easily becomes one of the Best Europe Countries to Visit for Indian travelers.
Because of fewer applications than other countries, like France and Germany, the chances of getting your visa application accepted in Portugal are greater.
As more and more people are travelling in Europe, they are looking for countries to visit that have less tourists. Thus, Portugal is one of the New Preferred European Destinations.
Austria is known for its visa process is systematic and organized. Of course, there is no country in the world that is completely undemanding, and in Austria they expect and require proper documentation.
However, the systematic and organized way that they run their country is a breath of fresh air for those looking to visit Europe.
Germany is one of those countries that is known for its rigidity. It is even stricter than many of its European counterparts. But the strictness is balanced out by fairness. In order for visa applications to be approved, travellers need to be precise with the travel documents and just as disciplined. Not ideal for applicants with weak documentation.
However, for those travellers who are the opposite of that, Germany is one of the Best European countries to travel to.
For many people, Europe is the destination in their travel wishlist. While many destinations are expensive and out of budget, Hungary is one of the more affordable options. It is also less commercial and overhyped and more easy to travel and manage.
Therefore, for Indian travellers who are looking to set a budget and save money, Hungary is one of the Best European Countries to Visit. It is ideal for people on a budget as you get a great experience and save money.
Use the following as a quick guide for making a decision:
|
Country |
Visa Ease |
Budget Level |
Best For |
|
France |
High |
Medium |
First-time travelers |
|
Switzerland |
Medium-High |
High |
Luxury & nature |
|
Italy |
High |
Medium |
Culture & food |
|
Spain |
High |
Medium |
Cities & nightlife |
|
Greece |
High |
Low |
Budget trips |
|
Portugal |
High |
Low-Medium |
Easy travel |
|
Austria |
Medium-High |
Medium |
Scenic beauty |
|
Germany |
Medium |
Medium |
Guided travel |
|
Hungary |
High |
Low |
Budget travel |
Deciding a travel destination that is the most suited for you is important to help you plan well:
Low budget: Hungary, Greece, Portugal
First-time travelers: France, Spain, Italy
Luxury travel: Switzerland, Austria
Strong financial profile: Germany, Netherlands
Proper decision making is endorsed in both improving your travel experience and giving you the opportunity to acquire a visa to the country.
Many small mistakes lead to big rejections. Here are a few to look out for:
Submitting documents that are incomplete
Having unclear or zero travel plans
Your bank balance should be stable for 3-6 months
Your plans should be aligned with you visa application
Timing: apply for the visa at the right moment
Writing a clear cover letter explaining your travel purpose and plan
Even a few tweaks can substantially improve your chances of success.
1. Which is the best country to apply for a visa?
For first time travelers in Europe, France and Spain are ideal. They have a pretty direct system, and as long as your documents are in order, the process should move on smoothly.
2. Are all visa applications at risk of rejection?
Not really. Most rejection seem to be huge in impact, but in reality they usually stem from small issues, compromising documents, unclear plans, or no bank balance. If your application is in good form, your chances improve significantly.
3. What is the ideal bank balance?
There is no fixed amount, but for brief travel the average ideal balance is around ₹1.5–3 lakhs per person for short trips (varies by duration and itinerary), and the more stable the transactions are in your bank account the better.
4. Is it possible to visit several countries on one trip?
Certainly. That’s one of the many perks of applying for a Schengen visa; you can visit numerous countries. Just ensure the one you apply for corresponds to your main stay or initial entry.
5. Is it possible to organize a trip to Europe on a budget?
Of course. Unlike the other European countries, Greece, Hungary, and Portugal are relatively affordable. Europe can be budget friendly with meticulous planning.
6. When’s the best time to submit a visa application?
You’d want to submit your application a month in advance. Not too far, and not last minute. That’s usually the better part of the window.
7. Is travel insurance a necessity?
It is actually a requirement. Travel insurance is one of the criteria for a successful visa application in the first place.
It is important to keep your chances of visa approval in mind when choosing the Best Europe Countries to Visit. It becomes a lot more straightforward when you choose the destination based on the visa approval strategy.
Expert advice becomes invaluable when you are looking to avoid mistakes and save time and money. Golden Future is here to help you with the right process so your plans for Europe can turn into reality.