17% of the 9,673 Schengen applications made to Poland from India in 2025 were refused — moderate by Schengen standards.
Poland surprises every visitor — lovingly rebuilt medieval squares, a moving and important history, deep forests, and remarkable value. Kraków and Gdańsk charm, while sites like Auschwitz and the Wieliczka salt mine leave a lasting mark.
Applying from India · the real numbers
Moderate- 9,673
- Applications
- 82.9%
- Approved
- 17%
- Refused
Handled by VFS Global. Consulates in Mumbai, New Delhi.
2025 figures · European Commission DG HOME (applications made in India). Across all applicants — not a forecast for your file.
Don't-miss places
- Wawel Castle & Main SquareKrakow
- Old Town & Royal CastleWarsaw
- Auschwitz-Birkenau MemorialOswiecim
- Wieliczka Salt Minenear Krakow
- Gdansk old town & Baltic coastGdansk
- Tatra Mountains & ZakopaneSouthern Poland
Things to do
- Explore Kraków's Wawel Castle and Main Square
- Pay respects at Auschwitz-Birkenau
- Descend the Wieliczka Salt Mine
- Wander Gdańsk's Baltic old town
What to eat
- Pierogi
- Bigos (hunter's stew)
- Żurek (sour rye soup)
- Placki (potato pancakes)
- Pączki doughnuts
The culture
Pierogi, hearty soups, and vodka toasts. Poles are hospitable, family-oriented, and proud of a hard-won history. The old towns you see are lovingly rebuilt after wartime destruction.
When to go
May–Sep for warm weather and outdoor life; December for atmospheric Christmas markets.
Good to know
- Capital
- Warsaw
- Language
- Polish
- Currency
- Polish zloty (PLN)
- Flight from India
- ~9-11 hrs (1 stop typical)
- Ideal trip length
- 5-7 days
Did you know? Krakow's Main Square is one of the largest medieval town squares in Europe.
Poland delivers big on a modest budget, which makes it a smart first Schengen trip. Check your file early to keep it stress-free.
Photo: Krakow - Wawel from Vistula - 4 · Ingo Mehling · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons