Schengen Visa for Indonesians: Requirements, Fees, and How to Apply in 2026

Last updated: May 7, 2026

Indonesian passport holders need a Schengen visa to enter any of the 29 countries in the Schengen Area.

The visa allows stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period across the entire zone on a single permit. Applications in Indonesia are processed through VFS Global centres in Jakarta, Bali, and Surabaya.

Table of Contents

Do Indonesians Need a Schengen Visa in 2026?

Yes. Indonesian passport holders are on the EU’s “visa-required” list and must obtain a Schengen visa before travelling to any country in the Schengen Area for tourism, business, family visits, study, or short medical stays.

A short-stay Schengen visa lets you stay up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period, and the clock counts every day you spend inside any Schengen country combined — not 90 days per country. If you plan to stay longer, work, or study for an extended period, you need a national long-stay visa from the specific country instead.

Types of Schengen Visa Available to Indonesian Citizens

Indonesian applicants can apply for several short-stay visa categories depending on the purpose of travel and how often they need to enter the Schengen Area.

Uniform Schengen Visa (Type C)

This is the standard short-stay visa for tourism, business, family visits, conferences, or short medical treatment. It comes in three formats:

Single-entry: Lets you enter the Schengen Area once. Once you leave, the visa is used up, even if days remain.
Double-entry: Allows two separate entries within the visa’s validity.
Multiple-entry: Permits unlimited entries during the validity period, subject to the 90/180-day rule. Frequent travellers with a clean visa history may be granted long-validity multi-entry visas of up to 5 years.

Airport Transit Visa (Type A)

An Airport Transit Visa allows you to pass through the international transit area of a Schengen airport without entering the country.

Indonesian citizens are not generally required to hold an airport transit visa, but the requirement can vary by member state, so check the specific embassy’s rules if you have a long layover at a hub like Paris, Amsterdam, or Frankfurt.

Limited Territorial Validity Visa (LTV)

An LTV visa is issued in exceptional cases and allows entry only to the specific Schengen country (or countries) named on the visa.

It is issued only when an applicant cannot meet all standard conditions but humanitarian or international obligation reasons justify entry.

How to Apply

Schengen visa applications in Indonesia are processed through VFS Global on behalf of most Schengen embassies. A few embassies use other partners (TLScontact, BLS), so check your destination embassy’s official website first.

There is no fully online Schengen visa — you must complete the form online but submit documents and biometrics in person.

Always apply to the embassy of the country that is your main destination — usually the country where you will spend the most time. If you split your trip equally, apply to whichever country you enter first.

Form and Appointment

The first stage of the application is completed online before you visit a VFS centre.

Fill in the harmonised Schengen visa application form on the website of the relevant embassy or VFS Global. The form generates a unique reference code that you bring to the appointment.
Upload supporting documents where the embassy’s online portal allows pre-submission (some embassies, such as Germany and the Netherlands, use online questionnaires).
Book your appointment through the VFS Global website for your chosen country. Appointments can be booked up to 6 months in advance, and you must apply at least 15 days before your departure.
Pay any online service fees if required by the chosen embassy or VFS centre.

During peak season (May to August and December), appointment slots fill up quickly, so book as early as possible.

In-Person Submission at VFS Global

The second stage must be completed in person at a VFS Global Schengen visa centre. Indonesia has three locations:

Jakarta — handles most embassies and the largest volume of applications.
Bali (Denpasar) — convenient for residents of Bali, Lombok, and eastern Indonesia.
Surabaya — serves East Java and surrounding regions.

Every applicant, including infants and children, must appear in person. At the appointment you will:

Hand in your printed application form, passport, and full set of supporting documents.
Provide biometric data (fingerprints and a digital photograph) if you are 12 or older and have not given biometrics for a Schengen visa in the last 59 months.
Pay the visa fee and the VFS service charge in Indonesian rupiah.
Receive a tracking reference number.

Once a decision is made, you can collect your passport from the VFS centre or arrange courier delivery for an extra fee. Track the status of your application online using your reference number.

Important: Never book non-refundable flights and hotels before your visa is approved. A confirmed booking is required for the application, but airlines and hotels typically allow holds or refundable bookings — use those instead until your visa is in your hand.

Required Documents, Fees, and Processing Time

The exact checklist varies slightly by embassy and visa type, but the core documents required for an Indonesian Schengen visa applicant are largely standardised under EU rules.

Core Documents Required

Valid passport: Issued within the last 10 years, valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen Area, with at least 2 blank pages.
Completed visa application form: Signed and dated.
Recent biometric photograph: 35mm x 45mm, light background, taken within the last 6 months.
Travel medical insurance: Minimum coverage of EUR 30,000, valid in all Schengen countries, covering emergency care, hospitalisation, and repatriation.
Proof of accommodation: Hotel bookings, an invitation letter from a host, or a tenancy agreement for the entire duration of stay.
Confirmed return flight booking: Round-trip itinerary covering all Schengen countries you plan to visit.
Proof of financial means: Personal bank statements for the last 3 months. Some embassies expect a minimum balance equivalent to roughly EUR 50–100 per day of stay.
Cover letter: Stating the purpose of travel, itinerary, and who is funding the trip.
Proof of ties to Indonesia: Employment letter, NPWP (tax ID), Kartu Keluarga (family card), or property documents to show you intend to return.

Additional Documents by Purpose

Employees: Letter from employer stating your position, salary, leave dates, and passport number.
Self-employed: Business licence (SIUP), NPWP, and recent business bank statements.
Students: Enrolment letter from your school or university and a no-objection letter for the trip.
Minors travelling without both parents: Notarised parental consent letter, birth certificate, and copies of both parents’ passports.

Fees

The Schengen visa fee is set by the EU and is the same across all member states. It is paid in Indonesian rupiah at the prevailing exchange rate, in addition to the VFS service charge.

Applicant	Visa Fee (EUR)	Approximate IDR
Adults and children 12+	EUR 90	~ IDR 1,600,000
Children aged 6 to 11	EUR 45	~ IDR 800,000
Children under 6	Free	—

VFS Global also charges a service fee on top of the visa fee, which differs by city and embassy. Confirm the latest amount on the VFS website for your destination country before your appointment.

Processing Time

According to the European Commission, the standard processing time is 15 calendar days from the date of submission. In practice:

Most straightforward applications are decided in 15 to 21 days.
Complex cases or further document requests can extend processing up to a maximum of 45 calendar days, in line with the EU Visa Code.
Submissions in Bali and Surabaya may take slightly longer than Jakarta because documents are forwarded to the embassy in the capital.

Apply as early as possible — ideally 4 to 8 weeks before your trip — to avoid disruption to flights and bookings.

EES and ETIAS: What Indonesian Travellers Should Know

The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) became fully operational on 10 April 2026 (after a phased rollout that began on 12 October 2025) and replaces passport stamping with biometric checks at Schengen borders. Your Schengen visa is still required — EES is just a tracking system. ETIAS does not apply to Indonesians, since you already need a visa.

For more details, see Wego’s EES guide and EES vs ETIAS explainer. While you wait for your decision, browse hotels in Europe or compare flights to Rome, Madrid, or Vienna on Wego.

Frequently Asked Questions

How early can I apply for a Schengen visa from Indonesia?

You can apply up to 6 months before your intended date of travel and no later than 15 calendar days before departure. For peak season trips, applying 6 to 8 weeks ahead is the safest window.

Can I apply for a Schengen visa without a confirmed flight booking?

No. You need a confirmed return flight reservation as part of the application. Use a refundable booking or a flight reservation service rather than purchasing a non-refundable ticket before your visa is approved.

Which Schengen country is easiest for Indonesians to get a visa from?

There is no official “easiest” country — every Schengen embassy follows the same EU rules. You must apply to the embassy of your main destination, not the one you think will approve you faster. Applying to the wrong embassy is a common cause of refusal.

Will my Schengen visa let me enter the UK or Ireland?

No. The United Kingdom and Ireland are not part of the Schengen Area. You need a separate UK visitor visa or an Irish short-stay visa to travel to those countries.

What happens if my Schengen visa application is refused?

You will receive a written refusal stating the reason. You have the right to appeal to the issuing embassy within the timeframe specified in the refusal letter, or you can submit a new application after addressing the issues raised.

Do I need a Schengen visa to transit through a European airport?

In most cases, Indonesian citizens do not need an airport transit visa to connect through Schengen airports as long as you remain in the international transit area. Check the specific embassy’s rules if you are routing through France, Germany, or Spain, where some additional restrictions may apply.

Sources

Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.