‘Indian passport no longer adds value to my life’: Techie describes Schengen struggles

An Indian software developer has expressed frustration with the lack of mobility offered his Indian passport — noting how every international trip requires extensive paperwork. In a post shared on the social media platform X, Kunal Kushwaha said that an Indian passport “no longer adds value” to his life. A techie vented his frustration with the lack of mobility offered an Indian passport.(File) (Also read: Travel vlogger’s rant on Indian passport goes viral: ‘Har jagah entry denied’) The problem with an Indian passportKushwaha spoke about his personal experience of having his mobility being restricted due to his passport. The London-based techie said that he could not travel to Ireland for his best friend’s birthday. “My best friend lives in Ireland. His birthday was recently. A normal thing would be to book a ticket and surprise him. Instead, I opened visa websites,” he claimed. (Also read: India slips to 85th spot on Henley Passport Index, visa-free access shrinks to 57 countries) The reason for his inability to travel to Ireland was because a recent trip to Germany reduced the number of days he’s allowed under Schengen rules. “I was already in Berlin a few days ago. That single detail meant I couldn’t join my friends in Dublin for Chrmas, not because of money, not because of time, but because I didn’t have enough days left to apply for another visa,” Kushwaha said. ‘Schengen applications feel like a full-time job’The techie echoed the sentiments of thousands of other Indians when he reflected about the amount of paperwork a Schengen visa requires. “I’ve stood in long airport queues watching others breeze through while I pull out folders of documents I’ve already submitted multiple times,” he said. “Schengen applications feel like a full-time job: bank statements, cover letters, bookings, explanations for doing… normal human travel.” From that, he segued into other problems with the country — like the deprecating value of the rupee and the deteriorating air quality. (Also read: Founder refuses to give up India passport despite 9 years in Germany: ‘I am Indian’) Kushwaha also called the banking system of India antiquated. “Banking and KYC back home still feel stuck in another decade. Endless paperwork. Delays. Follow-ups. Visits. Re-submissions,” he said. The London-based professional concluded saying that his post is not about patriotism but about “friction”. “It’s about friction. About how much harder life becomes when you work globally but carry a passport that limits time, and mental bandwidth,” he wrote. “National pride is not a substitute for global mobility.”