Czech Republic Student Visa from India: Documents, Fees, Timeline

Getting that split right is the first decision, because the two routes differ in where you apply, what you pay and how long it takes. Details below come from the Embassy of the Czech Republic in New Delhi and VFS Global; fees and processing times are as published on those official sources, checked on 10 October 2026. For tourist and business visas, start with our Czech Republic visa guide for Indians.

Degree programme or short course: which visa you need

If your course is longer than 90 days, do not book a VFS appointment. Long-term visa applications are not accepted there.

The long-term student route, step by step

1. Win an Embassy appointment. Study appointments are allocated only through e-mail registration on dates the Embassy announces: one e-mail per applicant to newdelhi.visa@mzv.gov.cz, with only your passport number in the subject line and PDF scans of your passport data page and admission letter. Slots are assigned by a randomised system, and the Embassy replies within 7 days if you get a date. It accepts 1,200 study applications from Indian citizens in 2026.
2. Download the long-stay checklist from mzv.cz. The document list for long-term visas is published on the Embassy's long-stay pages; we have not reproduced it here because it was not part of the official pages we collected, and a partial list is worse than none.
3. Prepare the fee. The long-term visa fee, except for business purposes, is 2 500 CZK / 11 100 INR. The Embassy updates its INR fees every month according to the exchange rate, so check the amount close to your appointment.
4. Attend in person with originals and copies as the checklist asks.

Note that higher fees apply to other long-stay purposes: employment card, Blue card, intra-company transfer and long-term business visas cost 5000 CZK / 22300 INR. That is not the student rate, so do not let an agent quote it to you for a study visa.

Short courses and research visits up to 90 days

The Embassy lists "Study or scientific research" among its Schengen visa purposes, so a short programme goes through VFS like any other Schengen application. You can apply at any of 15 centres: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai and Pune.

Student-specific items on the Schengen checklist are proof of enrolment and a copy of your student ID card. Everything else follows the standard list, including:

• A passport issued within the last 10 years, valid three months beyond your return, with at least two empty pages.
• A signed cover letter stating the purpose, duration, transport and accommodation details.
• Proof of lodging, such as a hotel, holiday home or campus residence booking.
• Travel medical insurance valid for all Schengen countries, minimum 30,000 EUR, covering the whole trip.
• Two recent colour photos with a white background and the face covering at least 80% of the frame.
• For minors: notarised consent of the non-travelling parent(s) and copies of the parents' passports.

Showing who pays: parents and sponsors

If your parents or another sponsor are paying, the Schengen checklist has a clear way to show it. You submit the original bank statement for the last three months, stamped and signed by the bank, for yourself and for the sponsor, plus the sponsor's Indian income tax return acknowledgment for the last two assessment years. The person sponsoring the trip also gives notarised written consent.

Fees at a glance

Timeline: working back from your course start date

For a Schengen study stay, applications can go in six months at the earliest and 15 days at the latest before the trip, and the Embassy strongly recommends at least 3 weeks. New VFS slots are released every second Monday of a month for appointments in the following month. A decision normally takes up to 15 calendar days after the file reaches the Embassy, not from your VFS visit, and can be extended to 45 calendar days. Files from centres outside Delhi are forwarded within 2 working days.

For a long-term visa or residence permit for study, the Embassy states that the Ministry of the Interior has 60 days from filing to decide, and any suspension of the proceedings extends that. Appointments come only through the registration windows (in 2026 the last one was on 7 October, for October to December), so register in the first window after your admission is confirmed. Do not buy non-refundable flights before the decision; a verifiable flight reservation covers any travel-plan requirement in the meantime.

For short study trips, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters for visa files, from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for the full set. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or write to us through our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I submit a Czech long-term student visa at a VFS centre?

No. Long-term visa applications for stays over 90 days must be submitted personally at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in New Delhi, by appointment. VFS centres handle short-term Schengen applications only.

What photo do I need for a Czech visa?

Two recent colour photos, not more than 6 months old, with a white or off-white background and the face covering at least 80% of the frame. They should be printed on normal photographic paper, and one is stuck on the application form. The official pages we checked do not state a size in millimetres.

Does a family member of an EU citizen pay the Czech visa fee?

Family members of EU or Czech nationals are exempted from the visa fee if the relevant documents are provided at submission, but the VFS service charge is still payable. They may also apply directly at the Embassy by appointment.

Who decides Czech visa applications filed in India?

The Consular Section of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in New Delhi decides all short-term applications, wherever in India you lodge them. VFS only receives and forwards files.