As borders reopen and travel bans gradually ease, many countries have started accepting applications in a phased manner. This mailer comes to you with information on specific categories of Schengen Applications that are being accepted by the missions now in all our visa application centres in South India. Please find the mission wise category of applications being accepted given in the table below.

The following table is the latest update of Schengen visa update in South India.

MissonCategories being AcceptedRemarks
FranceLong term: Spouse of French Citizen/Dependents, Talent passport holders/applicants who are eligible for Talent passport and their dependents, Study permit and Return visa.
Short Term: Students
Applicable for Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad & Kochi
GermanyLong Term: Student and Employment & their dependents, D-Visa stamping and prolongation of expired D-Visa.
Short Term: Transit, Seafarer, Emergency family visit, Spouse of EU/German national.
To check your eligibility on the above mentioned categories please visit the following link:https://visa.vfsglobal.com/sitecore/content/vfs_global/germany/countries/india/home/news/d-visa-and-limited-c-visa
 
For Long Term application appointments are managed by VFS Helpline only.
 
Short Term: Business visa. Only if an applicant holds the ZAV pre-approval for a short term assignment or an additional confirmation letter from the host company in Germany To check your eligibility on this category, please visit the following link:https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/deu/news/short-term-business-visa
Below category is not applicable for Bengaluru & Kochi
ItalyLong Term: Re-Entry, Seafarers, Family reunion, Employment and Student.
Short Term: Student and Seamen
Applicable for Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad & Kochi
NetherlandsBlue carpet, Long Distance Relationship and Re-EntryNot applicable for Kochi
DenmarkLong Term: applications with approval from the Embassy and appointment only through the VFS Call CentreApplicable for Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad & Kochi
LuxembourgLong Term: All applications with Authorization to stay (original) and/or letter issued by the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Luxembourg (Mandatory).
 
Short Term: As per the eligibility mentioned in the Mission website:https://guichet.public.lu/en/actualites/2020/septembre/15-modalites-visites-court-sejour.html
Applicable for Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad & Kochi
PolandLong Term: Students and Employment
For Employment category, applicants are requested to contact VFS Helpline for booking an appointment.
Applicable for Bengaluru, Chennai & Kochi
BelgiumLong Term:
·         Traveling to Belgium for studies (D visa);
·         Single permit holders (annexure 46) but only if code B29 is mentioned + spouse and children (D visa);
·         Family reunification (D visa)
·         Return visa for those whose residence permit has expired “F-card” Residence Permit
Short Term:
·         Seamen who have to board a ship in Belgium (C visa)
·         C visa applications by close family members of a EU citizen or of a citizen of a Schengen state that is not part of the EU. Close family members means: spouse and children under 21 years old. A complete visa application file (tourism, business, family visit, …) has to be handed in, with proof of the close family relationship with the EU or Schengen citizen.
·         C visa applications by close family members of a resident of the EU with a valid residence permit. Close family members means: spouse and children under 21 years old. A complete visa application file (tourism, business, family visit, …) has to be handed in, with proof of the close family relationship with the holder of the EU residence permit
Applicable for Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad & Kochi
LithuaniaLong Term: Student applicationsNot applicable for Kochi
NorwayLong Term: Stamping applications, Students, Work Permit and Family ReunificationApplicable for Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad & Kochi
LatviaLong Term: Student applications. Appointments are handled through VFS helpline only.Applicable for Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad & Kochi
SwitzerlandLong Term: Only stamping applicationsApplicable for Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad & Kochi
PortugalLong Term: Only E6 and D6 categories.
To check your eligibility criteria for the above mentioned categories please refer the following website News section: https://pt.vfsglobal.co.in/
Not applicable for Hyderabad
Czech RepublicCzech and EU family members
Entry in the interest of the Czech Republic
International transport workers
Diplomats and officials of international organisations
seasonal workers
for employment in health and social services only
in urgent emergencies
for employment –  food production workers only
 for employment – qualified workers only (if the conditions of these Programs “The High qualified worker” and “The Key and scientific workers” are met)
Not applicable for Hyderabad and Kochi
Estoniaapplicants who are employees of a foreign diplomatic mission in Estonia and their family members;
applicants who has humanitarian reasons to travel (death or illness of close relative (parent, child);
applicants who need a visa for transporting goods or raw material to Estonia (truck-drivers);
applicants who are directly involved in the international carriage of goods and passengers;
applicants whose arrival in Estonia is related to the maintenance of equipment or repair, warranty or information and communication technology work of a company operating in Estonia;
applicants who need visa for providing medical services or other services related to the emergency situation in Estonia;
applicants who need visa for visiting close relatives (parent, child), who is Estonian citizen or holder of the resident permit;
for the purpose of working or studying in an educational institution registered in Estonia
Applicable for Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad & Kochi

The following table is for the VFS office in Bangalore.

SL NoMissionCategories being Accepted
1Austria
Long Term: applications with approval from the Embassy and appointment only through the VFS Call Centre

2BelgiumLong Term: 
1.Traveling to Belgium for studies (D visa);
2.Single permit holders (annexure 46) but only if code B29 is mentioned + spouse and children (D visa);
3.Family reunification (D visa)
4.Return visa for those whose residence permit has expired “F-card” Residence Permit
Short Term:
5. Seamen who have to board a ship in Belgium (C visa)
6. C visa applications by close family members of a EU citizen or of a citizen of a Schengen state that is not part of the EU. Close family members means: spouse and children under 21 years old. A complete visa application file (tourism, business, family visit, …) has to be handed in, with proof of the close family relationship with the EU or Schengen citizen.
7. C visa applications by close family members of a resident of the EU with a valid residence permit. Close family members means: spouse and children under 21 years old. A complete visa application file (tourism, business, family visit, …) has to be handed in, with proof of the close family relationship with the holder of the EU residence permit.
3Croatiaamily members of Croatian nationals.
2. Family members of EEA (European Economic Area), Swiss Confederation, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
3.Healthcare professionals, healthcare researchers and collaborators.
4.Goods carriers and other transport personnel, to the extent necessary           5. Diplomats, police officers in the performance of their duties, civil protection services and teams, international organizations staff and international military personnel in carrying out their functions.
6. Passengers in transit, provided that they prove the possibility to enter the country of destination. 
7. Seafarer in transit, and seafarers who come to Croatia for embarkation/disembarkation.
8. Persons who are travelling for education.
9. Persons traveling for urgent personal reasons, such as: 
– Death of a family member – attendance to funeral,
– Serious and urgent health reasons provided that medical documentation and a hospital invitation is presented,
– Ownership of a real estate, they should present the documents as a proof of ownership of the real estate.
– Ownership of a vessel including lease with the proof of ownership or lease.
4
Czech Republic
Czech and EU family members 
2.Entry in the interest of the Czech Republic 
3.International transport workers 
4.Diplomats and officials of international organisations 
seasonal workers 
5.for employment in health and social services only 
in urgent emergencies 
6.for employment –  food production workers only 
7.for employment – qualified workers only (if the conditions of these programs “The High qualified worker” and “The Key and scientific workers” are met)
5DenmarkLong Term: All applications handed online and Stamping post approval
Short Term: Seamen applications and other applications with approval from Embassy.
6EstoniaApplicants who are employees of a foreign diplomatic mission in Estonia and their family members;
2.Applicants who has humanitarian reasons to travel (death or illness of close relative (parent, child);
3.Applicants who need a visa for transporting goods or raw material to Estonia (truck-drivers);
4.Applicants who are directly involved in the international carriage of goods and passengers;
5.Applicants whose arrival in Estonia is related to the maintenance of equipment or repair, warranty or information and communication technology work of a company operating in Estonia;
6.Applicants who need visa for providing medical services or other services related to the emergency situation in Estonia;
7.Applicants who need visa for visiting close relatives (parent, child), who is Estonian citizen or holder of the resident permit;
8.For the purpose of working or studying in an educational institution registered in Estonia
7FranceLong term: Spouse of French Citizen/Dependents, Talent passport holders/applicants who are eligible for Talent passport and their dependents, Study permit and Return visa.
Short Term: Students
8GermanyNational (long term) visa at VFS 

1. Students with a German scholarship
2. PhD students (also when employed at a German university/research institution)
3. Post Doc studies
4. Guest scientists
5. Master students with an unconditional acceptance letter from a German university, BA students with school leaving certificate of 90% or better
6.Employment with pre-approval letter from the German Labor Agency
7. Blue Card

C Visa categories
1. Transit 
2. Seafarers
3. Business trips which are essential and cannot be postponed 
4.Family visits of spouses or long term partners of German nationals, EU nationals or Third Country nationals with permanent residence in Germany
5. Visit of 1st or 2nd degree family member for compelling reason like birth, death, wedding or severe illness
9ItalyLong Term: Re-Entry, Seafarers, Family reunion, Employment and Student.
Short Term: Student and Seamen
10LatviaLong Term: Student applications. Appointments are handled through VFS helpline only.
11LithuaniaLong Term: Student applications
12LuxembourgLong Term: All applications with Authorization to stay (original) and/or letter issued by the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Luxembourg (Mandatory).

Short Term: As per the eligibility mentioned in the Mission website: https://guichet.public.lu/en/actualites/2020/septembre/15-modalites-visites-court-sejour.html
13NorwayLong Term: Stamping applications, Students, Work Permit and Family Reunification
14PolandLong Term: Students and Employment
For Employment category, applicants are requested to contact VFS Helpline for booking an appointment.
15PortugalLong Term: Only E6 and D6 categories. 
To check your eligibility criteria for the above mentioned categories please refer the following website News section: https://pt.vfsglobal.co.in/
16SwitzerlandLong Term: Only stamping applications
17NetherlandsBlue carpet, Long Distance Relationship and Re-Entry