A family Schengen application is four (or three, or five) individual applications submitted together. Every family member needs their own form, their own visa, and their own fee, including a six-month-old baby. What differs from a solo file is the documents that tie the family together: birth certificates, marriage certificate, consent letters when a child travels without both parents, and a sponsorship structure where one parent’s finances support everyone.
This guide covers the document list per family member, the fee schedule by age, a full cost estimate for a family of four, and how to submit all the files together without a mismatch.
Key facts
- Everyone applies. Children of any age need their own visa. There is no family visa and no exemption for infants.
- Fees by age: €90 for anyone 12 and over, €45 for children aged 6 to 11, free for children under 6. Centre service charges usually apply to every applicant regardless of age.
- Both parents sign a child’s application form. If one parent is not travelling, a notarised consent letter from that parent is required.
- One appointment. Families can book a single appointment slot for all members at most centres; children attend for photos, and fingerprints are taken from age 12.
- One decision per person. A child’s visa can be refused if the parents’ file is weak, and vice versa. Files are linked in practice, separate in law.
- Christmas in Europe: when to apply
Documents by family member
| Family member | Their own documents | Family documents in their file |
|---|---|---|
| Earning parent(s) | Passport, form, photos, bank statements (3 to 6 months), ITR, salary slips or business proof, employer letter with leave, insurance, bookings, cover letter | Marriage certificate, children’s birth certificates |
| Non-earning parent | Passport, form, photos, own bank statement if any, insurance, bookings | Marriage certificate, spouse’s statements and income proof, spouse’s sponsorship declaration |
| Child (any age) | Passport, form signed by both parents, photos, school letter (leave sanctioned, or vacation confirmation), insurance, bookings | Birth certificate, both parents’ passports, parents’ financial documents, consent letter if a parent is not travelling |
The school letter matters more than parents expect: it confirms the child is enrolled (a tie) and that the dates are holiday or approved leave. Our minors guide covers the consent letter for every scenario, including grandparents travelling with grandchildren.
Fees and the full cost for a family of four
Assume two adults and two children aged 6 to 11, a 10-day trip, applying through VFS in a metro:
| Item | Per person | Family of four |
|---|---|---|
| Visa fee, adult (€90) | about ₹8,500 | ₹17,000 |
| Visa fee, child 6 to 11 (€45) | about ₹4,250 | ₹8,500 |
| Centre service charge | ₹1,500 to ₹2,500 | ₹6,000 to ₹10,000 |
| Travel insurance, 10 days | ₹1,200 to ₹2,000 | ₹5,000 to ₹8,000 |
| Photos, courier, copies | ₹300 to ₹700 | ₹1,500 to ₹3,000 |
| Visa-side total | ₹38,000 to ₹46,000 |
Children under 6 remove the visa fee but not the service charge or insurance. Euro figures convert at the consulate’s fixed rate for the month, so the rupee amounts move slightly. The full cost breakdown covers the adult figures and hidden extras.
Funds for a family: what the consulate expects
The per-day amount applies per person, including children (some consulates halve it for minors, most do not publish a reduction). For a family of four on a 10-day trip to Italy at roughly €60 a day, that is about €2,400 for subsistence alone, before flights and hotels. The earning parent’s statements should show a closing balance that covers the whole family’s trip with a reserve, and each non-earning member’s file should carry that parent’s statements plus a sponsorship declaration. Read the proof of funds guide for the per-country figures.
Consent letters: when a child travels without both parents
- Both parents travelling: no consent letter; both sign the child’s form.
- One parent travelling: notarised consent from the non-travelling parent, with a copy of their passport or ID.
- Neither parent travelling (grandparents, school trip, relatives): notarised consent from both parents naming the accompanying adult, plus that adult’s documents.
- Single parent with sole custody: the custody order or the other parent’s death certificate in place of consent.
Booking and submitting together
Do
Book one family appointment and submit all files at once. Use identical itineraries, bookings and insurance dates across every file. Put the same cover letter (adapted per person) in each, listing all travellers. Bring originals of birth and marriage certificates.
Don’t
Submit the children’s files on a different day. Leave a child’s form signed by one parent only. Let a non-earning parent’s file go in without the sponsor’s documents. Book a family room for three when four are travelling.
If one family member is refused
It is usually the non-earning spouse or a child, and the reason is usually a missing sponsorship link or consent document rather than the family’s finances. Read the ticked box with our refusal letter guide, fix that file and reapply; the approved members’ visas remain valid, though dates may need to shift.
Travelling with parents or grandparents
Three-generation trips are common. Grandparents apply on their own files with their own funds or as sponsored applicants; our parents and seniors guide covers insurance and funds for over-60s, and the senior insurance guide covers what policies are accepted at higher ages.
Family trip to Europe? We file every member together
One appointment, matching itineraries, consent letters and sponsorship declarations in the right files. Starting at ₹20,000 / $200 (GST included) per applicant.
Frequently asked questions
Does a baby need a Schengen visa?
Yes. Every traveller needs their own visa regardless of age. Children under 6 pay no visa fee, but the application, form and insurance are still required.
How much does a Schengen visa cost for a family of four from India?
Visa fees are €90 per person aged 12 and over and €45 for ages 6 to 11, free under 6. With centre charges, insurance and extras, a family of four typically spends ₹38,000 to ₹46,000 on the visa side before flights and hotels.
Can a family book one appointment?
Yes. Most centres allow a single family booking. All members attend; children give photos and, from age 12, fingerprints.
Do both parents need to sign a child’s application?
Yes. If one parent is not travelling, a notarised consent letter from that parent is required in addition.
Whose bank statement do the children’s files use?
The earning parent’s, with a sponsorship declaration. Each child’s file should include the parent’s statements, income proof and the declaration.
Can a child’s visa be refused if the parents are approved?
Yes, decisions are individual, though in practice a child is refused almost only for a missing consent or sponsorship document. Fix the file and reapply.