Surge in Schengen Visa Applications by Indians in 2025 Reflects Growing Interest in Europe

Indian travellers are showing a major increase in interest in Europe this year, with Schengen visa applications rising by 29% compared to 2024, according to data shown in Schengen news.

This rise isn’t limited to big cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, and Bengaluru. Smaller cities like Pune, Ahmedabad, and Chandigarh have also seen a 17.8% increase in applications, highlighting how international travel is expanding across India.

Millennials, aged 29 to 44, are leading this trend with a 23.5% rise in visa applications. Popular destinations among Indian tourists include Portugal, Greece, Spain, and Italy. For those seeking luxury vacations, France, Switzerland, and Italy top the list, while Austria, Slovenia, and Spain are preferred by adventure seekers.

Indians are now among the top applicants for Schengen visas, with Switzerland receiving the highest number of requests. Germany is also seeing a strong rise, with a 20% jump in visa applications in just the first three months of 2025. In 2024, Indians spent 897,841 overnight stays in Germany—an 8.6% increase, supported by improved flight connectivity.