Schengen Area (via France) tourist visa for Nepali citizens
Short-stay Schengen visa — EUR 80 standard fee (EU-wide), apply through the consulate of your main destination country via VFS Global Kathmandu.
A single Schengen visa lets you travel across all 29 Schengen countries on one application. The application fee (EUR 80 for adults, EUR 40 for children 6-12) is set at EU level and is the same regardless of which Schengen country you apply through. The key rule to understand: you apply through the consulate of your 'main destination' — the country where you'll spend the most nights, or if that's evenly split, your first point of entry. Most Nepal-based applicants go through VFS Global Kathmandu, which represents several Schengen countries' consulates (exact list changes periodically, so confirm the current one for your specific destination country before applying).
Fee: EUR 90 for adults, EUR 45 for children aged 6-12 (EU-wide standard Schengen fee, effective since the June 2024 increase). Visa centre service fees are charged separately on top of this.
Processing: Up to 15 calendar days standard, but can extend to 30-45 days for individual cases — apply well ahead of travel
Stay: Up to 90 days within any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area
Steps
Identify your main destination country — This determines which country's consulate handles your application — it isn't a free choice. If you're visiting several Schengen countries, it's the one where you'll spend the most nights.
Check which visa centre handles that country from Nepal — Most, but not all, Schengen countries process Nepal applications through VFS Global Kathmandu. A few handle applications differently — check the specific embassy's current arrangement before assuming.
Book an appointment and complete the application — Submit the Schengen application form, photos, and biometrics (fingerprints are reused if given within the past 5 years for a prior Schengen visa).
Pay the fee and wait for a decision — Standard processing is up to 15 calendar days, though it can extend to 30-45 days in individual cases.
Documents
Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen area, with at least 2 blank pages
Completed and signed Schengen visa application form
One recent ICAO-compliant passport photo (white background, taken within 6 months)
Copy of your Nepali citizenship certificate/ID and all used passport pages
Confirmed round-trip flight reservation and a day-by-day travel itinerary
Accommodation proof for every night of the trip (hotel booking, rental confirmation, or a signed invitation letter from your host)
Travel/medical insurance valid across the whole Schengen area, covering at least EUR 30,000, including emergency medical treatment and repatriation
Original bank statement covering the last 3-6 months (requirement varies by country — 6 months is the safer default), stamped and signed by the bank on every page
If employed: employer letter confirming your position, salary and approved leave, plus your last 3 months' salary slips
If self-employed: PAN/business registration and 6 months' business bank statements
If retired: pension statements or other proof of income covering the last 3 months
Income tax return (ITR) for the last 1-2 years, requested by some Schengen countries (e.g. Austria asks for 2 years)
Property ownership documents (lalpurja) and property tax clearance, as supporting evidence of ties to Nepal — not mandatory everywhere, but explicitly requested by some missions (e.g. the Czech checklist for Nepal names this directly)
Certified English translation for any submitted document that isn't already in English, French, German or Spanish
Can I choose which Schengen country to apply through?
No — you must apply through your main destination country's consulate. Applying through a different country than your actual main destination can lead to refusal.
Does the fee change depending on which Schengen country I'm visiting?
No — EUR 80 is set at EU level and is the same everywhere, though the visa centre's separate service fee can vary slightly by provider.