Indians are submitting hundreds of pages for a Schengen Visa — and it has nothing to do with new rules
Indian travelers are facing visa application challenges due to extensive bank statements filled with numerous UPI transactions. Despite no official changes, applicants submit hundreds of pages to prove financial stability for Schengen visas. This surge in paperwork highlights the need for clearer guidelines as digital payments become increasingly common, creating an uneven experience for applicants.
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A growing number of Indian travelers applying for a Schengen visa are finding themselves overwhelmed—not by new visa rules, but by their own bank statements. Despite no official changes in the Schengen visa requirements, many applicants now submit applications running into hundreds of pages. The reason: UPI.The Schengen visa allows entry into 29 European countries for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. To apply, travelers must submit standard documents, including travel plans, insurance, and financial proof. However, for many Indians, what used to be a manageable process has turned into a paperwork marathon, especially when it comes to proving financial capacity.Kapil Dhama, founder and CEO of Options 360, recently shared a photo on social media showing a tall stack of A4 sheets—his visa application file. 'I applied for a Schengen visa through VFS,' he posted on X, referring to the intermediary agency that handles visa submissions for many European embassies. His post gained over 3 lakh views and sparked a debate among travelers.'Everyone who shows these bundles won't tell you 90-95% of these are just bank statements of last 6 months (useless activity). Thanks to UPI, everyone has a very large number of transactions,' one X user, Ayush, responded.Other users joined in, sharing similar sentiments. One wrote, 'Applied and received multiple 5-year Schengens — Netherlands online application and supporting documents were of exactly 10 pages, Austria Physical Application Form and supporting documents total 25 pages. 400 is a sham!' Another commented, 'Cap. Half of that is definitely your bank statements. I've applied for a Schengen visa multiple times, tourist, visitor — everything and never have I had to submit so many documents.'Even users who agreed the paperwork has increased still found Dhama's example excessive. 'I filled out a 10-page form last year and got a 30-day tourist visa in 5 days (via French embassy). Maybe 390 pages have been added in the form in the last few months,' joked another traveler.The common factor: UPI-based transactions. With widespread adoption of digital payments, applicants now average hundreds of transactions each month. Each one appears in their bank statement. Embassies ask for financial history to verify economic stability, and many travelers end up submitting every page of their six-month statement—sometimes over 200 pages—just to be thorough.There is no official requirement to include all transaction pages. However, out of caution, many applicants submit entire bank statements to avoid ambiguity and possible rejection. Visa officers may or may not scrutinize every line, but for the applicant, the risk is not worth taking.The result is an uneven experience. While some applicants breeze through with slim files, others, especially those with active digital wallets and high transaction volumes, carry applications that resemble printed novels.This episode highlights the need for more clarity and standardization in the visa documentation process , especially as digital finance becomes the norm. Until then, Indian travelers might continue to carry not just their passports—but binders of their payment history—on their path to Europe.
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