Germany Visa From India – How to Apply for German Schengen Visa Application Requirements Guide

Germany is a great Schengen country to visit if you are thinking of traveling to Europe. There are lots of places to explore, like Berlin, with shopping, museums and lovely places to eat. Head to Munich to experience Ocktoberfest or travel to the Alps for plenty of outdoor activities like skiing or hiking. In this article, learn more about how to apply for a Germany visa in India, Germany visa appointment booking, processing time at the Germany visa application center, flight itinerary for Germany visa, hotel bookings for a Germany visa, Schengen travel insurance for a Germany visa application, and Germany visa application process at the visa office in India.

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Germany Schengen Visas

These were the visa statistics for 2021:

Statistics for individual embassies/consulates:

Applying for a Germany Schengen Visa from India

Indian nationals and nationals of other countries legally residing in India can apply for a visa to go to Germany in India.

Applications will be submitted to VFS Global who has offices located across India. The Indian Embassy makes the decision as to whether to approve visa applications. Your application will be sent to the embassy in whose jurisdiction your place of residence lies:

Visa applications should be handed in at least 15 days ahead of your desired travel time. It is possible to apply for your Schengen visa up to 6 months in advance of your journey.

The processing time for short-term visa applications will usually take about 15 days. It is your responsibility to apply well in advance of your trip, so you have time to get the visa.

Types of Schengen visas offered at the Embassy Of Germany in India

The type of visa you will apply for will depend on why you wish to go to Germany. There are 3 types of visas available:

1. Schengen “C” visa (short-stay) – for a holiday or business trip etc for up to 90 days
2. National “D” visa (long-stay) – to attend university, work or join a family in Germany etc for over 90 days. Please visit VFS Global’s website for more information about this type of visa
3. Airport Transit “A” visa –  if you are transiting through a German airport on the way to another country

How Can I Apply for a Schengen Visa from VFS Global in India

Embassies in India have outsourced the receipt of visa applications to VFS Global. There are 7 steps to follow if you want to apply for a visa for Germany:

1. Step 1 – Identify your visa type
2. Step 2 – Begin your application
3. Step 3 – Book an appointment
4. Step 4 – Pay your fees
5. Step 5 – Visit a Visa Application Center
6. Step 6 – Track your application
7. Step 7 – Collect your passport

Step 1 – Identify your visa type

Go to VFS Global’s website and click on “start now”

You will be directed to the step-by-step guide. Find your location and click on the relevant link:

From the drop-down box, select the visa you are applying for:

You will then be able to find out all the information you need to apply for your visa. For example, visa fees, documents required etc:

Step 2 – Begin your application

Return to the step-by-step guide and under “step 2” click on the link for the visa application form:

You will be directed to the VIDEX system where you can complete your application form:

Once completed, print off the following documents:

1. Visa application form
2. Barcode page
3. Additional information form

Step 3 – Book an appointment

Making appointments with the embassy, consulate or visa application centre is generally free and can be done yourself. However, if you are running short of time or not sure which consulate to apply to or have no idea on how to get this done yourself then not to worry, we will make the appointment for you for a small service fee!

Booking a visa appointment using our services is pretty simple! All you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the link to schedule the visa appointment
2. Submit the appointment details, the visa you are applying for, consulate you need the appointment for, the country you need the appointment IN and make the payment
3. Receive appointment confirmation in email

You can also make an appointment on your own by following the steps below.

1. Go to VFS Global’s website and click on the link to book an appointment
2. On the next page, click on “book now”
3. You will need to create an account if you have not done this already
4. Sign in to make your appointment

Please note, the above method for booking appointments is for Schengen visas only. If you are applying for a national visa, contact VFS Global directly for an appointment.

Step 4 – Pay your fees

Fees are paid in Indian Rupees and can change due to currency fluctuations.

Along with the visa fees, there is a service charge per visa application. You should check with VFS Global which fees apply at which office:

1. VFS Logistics INR 1602/- (short-term visas)
2. VFS Logistics INR 848/- (long-term visas – Bangalore)
3. VFS Logistics INR 1224/- (If fingerprints have been given within the last 59 months)
4. Service charge of INR 997/- (D-Visa Stamping – Bangalore)
   
5. Optional Service Courier INR 502/-
6. Optional Service SMS INR 107/-
7. Optional Service Premium Lounge INR 2374/- (New Delhi) / INR 2261/-(Kolkata)

(All VFS’s service charges are inclusive of Goods & Service Tax –SGST @ 9% and CGST@ 9%)

Method of payment:

1. Cash
2. Demand Draft (in favor of VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd)
3. Visa, Master Card and Rupay

You should check the acceptable methods of payment with the VFS office you are dealing with.

Step 5 – Visit a Visa Application Center

On the day of your appointment:

1. Arrive early
2. Dress smartly
3. Take your ID, visa application form and supporting documents

The visa officer will check your application and documents and take your fingerprints and photograph (biometrics).

They may ask you questions about your application. All you have to do is answer the questions honestly.

Typical questions include:

1. What do you know about Germany?
2. Do you have a planned itinerary?
3. Who are you going with?
4. What do you do in India?

Don’t jeopardize your Schengen visa interview at the last minute. Use this comprehensive and thorough visa interview guide to crack the visa interview!

Step 6 – Track your application

Once your application has been submitted to VFS Global, you can track its progress. Go to “step 6 – track your application” under VFS Global’s step-by-step guide:

Key in your reference number and last name:

Step 7 – Collect your passport

The decision will be either:

1. Approved – your visa will be inside your passport
2. Rejected – this would have been for a specific reason. You can submit a new application or appeal the decision within 1 month. See the embassy website for more information

Common rejection reasons include:

1. Passport not valid for 3 months after trip – your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after your trip. If not, you need to get a new one before applying for your visa
2. You do not have a legal right to live in India – to apply for a visa for Germany, you must be either a citizen or have the legal right to live in India
3. Travel insurance insufficient – your travel insurance must cover at least 30,000 Euros (see below for full details)
4. Pay slips not submitted – if you are employed, you need to prove this by providing your pay slips

Supporting documents

You can find what supporting documents are required on the embassy’s website. There are checklists for you to refer to. Make sure you know what the requirements are for the visa you are applying for because they are different for each type of visa.

You should also prepare photocopies as well as providing the original documents, so don’t forget to do that too!

Documents include:

1. Valid passport (issued within the last 10 years and with at least 3 months validity after the scheduled return; passports with observations regarding the front data page cannot be accepted) with at least two empty pages
2. Application form & declarations duly signed
3. Personal covering letter with entire travel plan (itinerary)
4. Minors: – If travelling unaccompanied by parent(s), consent letter signed by both parents & applicant; form signed by both parents; Copy of the parent(s)’ passports data page
5. Leave letter of your company (if employed); No-objection certificate of school or university (if student);
6. Round trip flight reservation, rail tickets, etc.
7. Proof of accommodation such as a confirmed hotel reservation for your entire stay in the Schengen area
8. Travel health insurance  – to cover any expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment or death. The insurance shall be valid throughout the territory of the Schengen States and cover the entire period of the person’s intended stay or transit. The minimum coverage shall be EUR 30,000
9. 1 copy of your passport’s data page (A4 size copy)
10. Proof of financial status: If employed: Payslips of the past three months / employment contract; If self-employed: Certificate of Proprietorship or other proof of ownership (proof of land title, proof of income from agriculture (sales form) etc.)
11. Personal original bank statement of the past three months as proof of sufficient funds; Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Form 16 (Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary)
12. Proof of civil status: Marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, death certificate of spouse, ration card (if applicable)
13. 2 passport photographs according to biometric specifications, not older than 6 months
14. Invitation letter from the business partner in Germany in English or German

If you’re planning to obtain your flight reservation for visa without paying for the ticket, all you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
2.  Submit the travel details and make the payment online
3. Receive flight itinerary in email

COVID REGULATIONS

As of Saturday, June 11, 2022, all COVID-19 entry restrictions to Germany will be provisionally lifted. From this date, entries to Germany will again be permitted for all travel purposes (including tourism and visiting trips). For entry into Germany, proof of vaccination, proof of convalescence or proof of testing is no longer required.

Always check for up-to-date entry requirements before you travel on the embassy’s website.

Contact Details of VFS Global in India

Helpline

Contact VFS Global regarding the visa process on 022 67866013, between 08:00 to 17:00, from Monday to Friday.

For queries related to visa applications, to schedule National visa appointments and to get in touch with VFS Global via email, please go to their website.

To apply for a Germany Schengen visa from India, follow these simple steps:

1. Step 1 – Identify your visa type
2. Step 2 – Begin your application
3. Step 3 – Book an appointment
4. Step 4 – Pay your fees
5. Step 5 – Visit a Visa Application Center
6. Step 6 – Track your application
7. Step 7 – Collect your passport