German Visa For Indians
A German Visa is a permit issued by the German Embassy in India, authorizing the applicant to travel to Germany for a specific purpose. A German visa is mandatory for Indian citizens who are not eligible for entering Germany without a visa. But, it should be noticed that if you have a valid Schengen Visa, Indian citizens can travel freely in the Schengen countries with or without a visa.Indian citizens can easily obtain a visa for Germany, which is one of the most desired nations on earth. Given below are the different types of German Visas available to Indian Citizens, with their applications and requirements.
India and Germany, both nations have much in common. They are not alone because they are popular tourist destinations. However, they are renowned for their respective contributions to art, science, and the economy.
German Visa For Indians
How to Apply for a German Visa in India
Indian citizens remain among the most frequent visitors of the Schengen Area, and German visas remain highly required by them. The South Asian country is home to 1.324 billion, around 1 million of which visited Europe only in 2017. Out of them, 153,961 applied for German visas, as Germany was the first or the only country in Europe they planned to visit.
However, Indian nationals often encounter difficulties obtaining the right information on how to obtain a German visa, the application process and required documents that one has to collect.
This guideline will explain clearly and in a simplified way which are the steps that one has to follow in order to obtain a Germany Visa in India.
Germany Visa Types
Indian nationals are among the most frequent visitors in Germany, however many of the applicants require visas not only to visit Germany but also to study or work there, require medical treatment or to do business. Depending on one’s purpose to enter and remain in Germany during a specific period of time, the German visas are categorized as below.
- Tourist/Visit to Family & Friends – for Indians who wish to visit their friends or relatives in Germany or want to go in Germany for vacations, to sightsee and learn more about the country and its culture.
- Language Course Visa (Visa for Language Learning) – is the perfect option for Indians that want or need to learn the German language in Germany.
- Student Applicant Visa (Visum Zur Studienbewerbung) – for Indian students who want to study in Germany, but are still trying to find the right program or still haven’t got the confirmation letter from the University
- Student Visa (Visum Zu Studienzwecken) – for students from India who have already been accepted to a German university.
- Job Seeker Visa – for Indians who wish to enter Germany under the purpose of getting a job
- Business Visa – for Indians who want to enter the country to do business
- Airport Transit Visa – for Indian travellers will change flights to their destination country in one of the German airports
- Working Visa – for Indians who wish to come to Germany to work
- Guest Scientist Visa – for Indian scientists/scholars who have been invited by a credible institution to carry a research
- Training/Internship Visa – for Indian citizens who will be travelling to Germany to be part of a training or do an internship in their field in Germany
- Medical Treatment Visa – for Indian patients who come to Germany to seek medical treatment, which they do not have in their country
- Trade Fair & Exhibitions Visa – for Indians who come to take part in a trade fair or exhibition in their field of profession or business
Depending on the German visa status under which an Indian citizen remains in the territory of Germany or Schengen, he or she will be allowed to remain under a specific period of time in Germany and work or not, depending on the visa status.
Germany Visa Requirements for Indian Citizens
Indian citizens should submit the following list of documents when applying for a German visa:
- Application Form. – Complete the form with honest and correct information that complies with the other information in the other required documents.
- Valid passport. – which must fulfil some specific criteria, as having a validity of at least three months beyond your planned stay in Germany, and having at least one blank page in order to be able to affix a visa.
- Two photos. – according to the standards as set by the ICAO
- Proof of accommodation. – that shows you where you will be staying during your time in Germany, That could be a hotel booking, a renting contract or an invitation letter by your friend or relative that shows you will stay over at their place
- Return Ticket. – this should be a purchased travel ticket with the date you enter and leave Germany
- Travel Health insurance. – which covers the whole period of your planned stay in the whole territory of Germany. In this article, you can learn more details about choosing the right German Health Insurance company while still being in India.
- Travel Itinerary – that is a detailed plan of what you will be doing in Germany
- Invitation Letter.
- Proof of Financial Means. A document, that shows you have enough money to financially support yourself during your stay in Germany, as well as:
- If employed:
- Employment contract
- Current bank statement, of latest 6 months (Online Bank statements are not acceptable).
- Leave permission from your employer
- Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary
- If self-employed:
- A copy of your business license in India
- Company bank statement of the latest 6 months
- Income Tax Return (ITR)
- If a student:
- Proof of enrollment
- No-objection certificate from school or university
- If retired:
- Pension statement of the latest 6 months
Germany Visa Application Process for Indian Residents
To finalize the application process towards obtaining the visa you will have to submit your application, which you have to do following the steps below:
- Make an appointment online to the embassy, consulate or application centre (Learn How to Book a Germany Visa Appointment in India).
- Show up on time on the day of the appointment.
- Attend the appointment, having all of the required documents with you.
- Submit your biometrics, fingerprints and a digital image of yours.
- Wait for a response.
- Collect your visa/Receive visa rejection.
Germany Visa Fees for Indian Passport Holders
Since February 2020, the German visa fee for Indians is 80 Euro (7,087 rupees) for all kinds of German Schengen visas. A Schengen visa costs the same for all of the Schengen Area members states. However, there are some categories that are exempt from paying the fee, as listed below:
- kids under six years old.
- school pupils, undergraduates, postgraduates and accompanying teaching staff who undertake trips for the purpose of study or educational training.
- representatives of non-profit organizations aged 25 years or less participating in seminars, conferences or other sports, cultural or educational events organized by non-profit organizations.
- researchers from third countries travelling within the European Community for the purpose of carrying out scientific research.
| German Visa Category | Fee in EUR | Fee in Rupees* |
| Adult | 80€ | 7087₹ |
| Children between 6-12 years of age | 40€ | 3543₹ |
| Children younger than 6 years of age | Free | Free |
| Indians, holding diplomatic, official or service passports travelling for official purposes | Free | Free |
| A family member of an EU/EEA national | Free | Free |
| Indian pupils, students and accompanying teachers during a school trip | Free | Free |
| Indian researchers travelling to perform scientific research | Free | Free |
* The applicable German visa fee in Indian Rupees (₹) is as per the current exchange rate. It is subject to change without notice.
Germany Visa Application Processing Time in India
In general, a German visa application takes about 10 to 15 working days to be processed by the German embassy in New Delhi India, which is the only competent body to assess the applications. There may be delays depending on the number of applications, or in some cases depending on the specific situation of the applicant.
Where to apply for a Germany Visa in India?
Before starting the application process, the first thing one has to do is to find out where to apply for a German visa. In India, there is one German Embassy in the country’s capital and four consulates spread across the country, as follows.
- German Embassy in New Delhi
- German Consulate in Bengaluru
- German Consulate Chennai
- German Consulate Kolkata
- German Consulate Mumbai
Jurisdiction Area of German Embassy and Consulates in India
The applicants are strongly advised to apply at the embassy if they live in the capital, or at the consulate, that is the closest to their home. Depending on the area of jurisdiction under the embassy or consulate, as following:
- German Embassy in New Delhi – the area of jurisdiction of which comprises the states of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand as well as the Union Territories of Chandigarh, NCT of Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep including Minicoy and Amini.*
- German Consulate in Bengaluru – Karnataka and Kerala.
- German Consulate Kolkata – West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura
- German Consulate Chennai – Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Pondicherry.
- German Consulate Mumbai – Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Daman and Diu
*The German embassy in New Delhi also offers its visa services to the nationals of Bhutan and third-country nationals residing in Bhutan who can submit their visa applications at the Etho Metho Visa Application Centre in Thimphu, Bhutan
VFS Global Germany Visa Application Centers in India
There are also 16 VFS Application Centers spread across India and one in Bhutan, therefore you will probably find one of them closer to your home, rather than the consulate. Find listed below the cities where these VFS global visa application centres in India are located, as well as their addresses:
Germany Visa Application Center in New Delhi, India
VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd,
Shivaji Stadium Metro Station, Mezzanine Level
Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Connaught Place
New Delhi- 110001
VFS Global Germany Visa Application Center in Jalandhar, India
VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd,
3rd floor, Aman Plaza, Plot No 310, Lajpat Nagar, Mahavir Marg,
Nakodar Chowk, (opposite to lovely autos), Jalandhar, Punjab – 144001
VFS Global Germany Visa Application Center in Chandigarh, India
VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd,
Elante Offices, Entry from Gate No. 3, Unit no. B 209, Second Floor,
Office Block B, Plot no. 178- 178A, Industrial & Business Park, Phase – I,
Chandigarh (U T) 160002
VFS Global Germany Visa Application Center in Gurgaon, India
VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd,
ILD Trade Centre,
4th Floor, Sector 47
Sohna Road, Gurgaon – 122001
VFS Global Germany Visa Application Center in Jaipur, India
VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd,
Manglam Ambition Tower
1st Floor, Agrasen Circle (Malan ka Chauraha), Subhash Marg, C Scheme
Jaipur, 302001
Germany Visa Application Center in Kolkata, India
VFS Global Services Pvt Ltd
5th Floor, Rene Tower, Plot No. AA-I
1842 Rajdanga Main Road, Kasba
Kolkata- 700107
Germany Visa Application Center in Mumbai, India
3rd Floor, Urmi Axis Building, Behind Famous Studio, Mahalaxmi (West), Mumbai – 400 011.
Germany Visa Application Center in Ahmedabad, India
First Floor, Emerald House,
Near Parimal Garden Cross Road,
Off C G Road, Ahmedabad 380006
Germany Visa Application Center in Pune, India
4th Floor, F Core Marvel Edge, Near Bajaj Finserv,
Viman Nagar, Pune 411014
Germany Visa Application Center in Goa, India
Gera Imperium I, Patto, Panaji, Goa.
Germany Visa Application Center in Bengaluru, India
Global Tech Park, No 11 First Floor O’ Shaughnessy Road,
Langford Town, Bangalore 560025
Germany Visa Application Center in Kochi, India
1st Floor Coastal Chambers,
M G Road Ravipuram,
Cochin 682015, Kerala
Germany Visa Application Center in Trivandrum, India
First Floor – Asiatic Business Centre.
T c 2/2408-3, Attipra Village, Kazhakuttom, Trivandrum-695583
Germany Visa Application Center in Chennai, India
VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd
Fagun Towers, Third Floor,
No 74, Ethiraj Salai, Egmore,
Chennai – 600 008
Germany Visa Application Center in Hyderabad, India
VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd –
8-2-700, 3rd Floor, Srida Anushka Pride
Road No. 12, Banjara Hills,
Hyderabad – 500 034.