Visa Requirements for Indian Citizens

Indian citizens can visit 62 countries visa-free or with visa-on-arrival in 2025. Popular visa-free destinations include Thailand (30 days), Indonesia (30 days), Maldives (30 days), Sri Lanka (ETA required), Nepal (no visa needed), Bhutan (permit required), Mauritius (60 days), Seychelles (30 days), Fiji (120 days), and Jamaica (30 days). UAE, Malaysia, and Singapore offer convenient e-visa or visa-on-arrival options.

The US B1/B2 tourist and business visa costs $185 (approximately ₹15,400) for Indian applicants. This is a non-refundable application fee paid before scheduling your visa interview at the US Embassy in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, or Hyderabad.

The UK Standard Visitor Visa costs £127 (approximately ₹13,500) for Indian citizens applying for stays up to 6 months. VFS Global charges an additional service fee of around ₹1,800. Priority processing is available for £500 extra (5 working days) or £1,000 for Super Priority (next working day).

Schengen visa processing for Indian applicants typically takes 15 to 30 calendar days from the date of application. During peak travel season (April to August), processing can extend to 45 days. The Schengen visa fee is €80 (approximately ₹7,200) and allows travel to all 29 Schengen member countries.

Standard visa requirements for Indians include: valid passport with 6+ months validity and 2 blank pages, recent passport-size photographs (specifications vary by country), bank statements for the last 3 to 6 months showing sufficient funds, employment letter or business registration, confirmed flight itinerary and hotel bookings, travel insurance (mandatory for Schengen), and cover letter explaining travel purpose.

The US B1/B2 visa approval rate for Indian applicants is approximately 76% to 80% based on recent fiscal year data. Approval rates are higher for applicants with strong ties to India, previous international travel history, and clear documentation of funds and employment.

Yes, Indian citizens can obtain a visa on arrival in Dubai (UAE) for stays up to 14 days, extendable to 30 days. The visa-on-arrival costs approximately AED 350 (₹8,000). Alternatively, Indians can apply for a 30-day or 90-day UAE tourist visa in advance through airlines, travel agents, or the ICP Smart Services portal.

Indian applicants face higher rejection rates for Schengen visas from certain countries, particularly France (rejection rate around 18%), Italy (16%), and Germany (14%). Common rejection reasons include insufficient financial documentation, unclear travel purpose, weak ties to India, and incomplete applications. The UK has a rejection rate of approximately 15% for Indian tourist visa applications.

To maximize visa approval chances: apply at least 4 to 8 weeks before travel, provide 6 months of bank statements showing consistent income, include ITR (Income Tax Returns) for the past 2 to 3 years, show property ownership or other assets in India, document previous international travel stamps, provide a detailed day-by-day travel itinerary, and ensure all documents are properly attested or notarized where required.