# Germany Business Visa from India: Requirements Explained > What German Missions in India ask for in a Schengen business visa file, how to apply at VFS, the urgent business appointment, multiple-entry requests and what to do after a refusal. _Published: 2026-11-05 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1129_ ## TL;DR A Germany business visa for Indians is a Schengen (C) visa lodged at any VFS Global centre in India and decided by the German Consulate General in Mumbai. You need a German partner's invitation, a covering letter from your Indian company, company registration and GST papers plus the standard Schengen documents; the fee is EUR 90 (INR 9,900). ## Key takeaways - Business visas are Schengen C visas, lodged at any VFS centre and decided by the Consulate General in Mumbai. - Core business documents: German partner's invitation, Indian company covering letter, Certificate of Incorporation and GST registration. - Fee EUR 90 / INR 9,900 per the German Missions page dated 01.10.2026; VFS service fee INR 1933 is pre-paid. - Processing: 15 working days from arrival at the visa section, plus up to six working days in transfer. - European Commission data: 10.5% refusal rate for Schengen applications at German consulates in India in 2025. **Indians apply for a Germany business visa as a Schengen (C) visa at any VFS Global centre in India. According to German Missions in India, you need an invitation from the German business partner, a covering letter from your Indian company, company registration and GST papers, and the standard Schengen documents. The fee is EUR 90 (INR 9,900).** ## Article The requirements below come from German Missions in India and VFS Global, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. Every Schengen file in India, wherever it is lodged, is decided by the German Consulate General in Mumbai. For national visas and other categories, see our Germany visa guide for Indian applicants. ### Is a business visa the right category for your trip? German Missions in India run separate Schengen categories for related trips, and the booked category must fit your purpose: - Business: business meetings, training and conferences on a short stay of up to 90 days. - Trade Fair: exhibitors and visitors at a fair, with an exhibitor or visitor pass. - Guest Scientist and Internship + Training: research visits and placements, which have their own checklists. Work is different from business. For international staff exchange or contracts for work and services, the business checklist asks for approval from the Federal Employment Agency. A job in Germany needs a national (D) visa instead, such as the EU Blue Card, whose minimum gross salary from 1 January 2026 is EUR 50,700 a year for most professions. ### Which documents prove the business purpose? DocumentWhat German Missions specifyCovering letter from your Indian companyOriginal, signed, on company letterhead, with your name, passport number, purpose, duration and itineraryCompany papersCertificate of Incorporation, GST registration and proof of company registrationInvitation from the German business partnerIn German or English, describing the planned activities and the business relationshipMeeting scheduleA detailed schedule of business meetings, only for stays over 30 daysOther Schengen partnersInvitation letters from other Schengen business partners, if applicableFederal Employment Agency approvalOnly for international staff exchange or contracts for work and services ### Which personal documents complete the file? The business papers sit on top of the standard Schengen checklist. German Missions ask every applicant for: - The VIDEX application form, printed with all pages and barcodes, signed, plus signed declarations of true and complete information and of travel with valid medical insurance. - A passport issued within the last 10 years, valid 3 months after return, with two empty pages; handwritten passports are not accepted. - One biometric photo, 35x45 mm, white background, not older than six months. - Proof of accommodation and a flight reservation. - Economic status: pay slips for 3 months, employment contract, leave sanction letter, bank statements for 3 months stamped by the bank, and ITR acknowledgement for the last two assessment years or Form 16. Self-employed applicants add company registration including the GST number. - Travel medical insurance valid across Schengen, with at least EUR 30,000 cover, from the approved list of Indian insurers. Your name and address must appear on the bank statements, and passbook copies are not accepted. ### How do you apply for a Germany business visa, step by step? - Complete the VIDEX form online and print every page with the barcodes. - Book a VFS appointment in the business category and pre-pay the VFS service fee of INR 1933. You can book at any VFS centre in India, regardless of where you live. - Use the urgent category if needed. The 'Urgent business' category is for short-notice trips when no normal slot is free; your journey must start within four weeks of the appointment, and there is no extra charge. - Attend VFS in person for fingerprints and a photo. Children under 12 are exempt from fingerprinting. - Pay the visa fee at the appointment: EUR 90, collected as INR 9,900 per the German Missions page dated 01.10.2026. - Track and collect through the VFS application tracking; passports are returned only via VFS. An urgent appointment is not fast-track processing: German Missions say average processing is still up to 15 days. ### How long does it take, and can you get a multiple-entry visa? Processing takes 15 working days from the day the file arrives at the visa section, excluding the day of submission. Transfer from VFS to the Consulate can take up to six working days. Apply no earlier than six months and no later than 15 working days before travel; German Missions recommend at least three weeks. Frequent business travellers can ask for longer validity. Indian nationals living in India who have lawfully used 2 Schengen visas within the past 3 years are issued a two-year multiple-entry visa (C2), and a five-year visa (C5) can follow. State your request on the form, for example 'MULT' entries, and show the need for multiple trips in the invitation or assignment letter. There is no entitlement, and you may still stay a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. ### What if your business visa is refused? European Commission data show a refusal rate of 10.5% for short-stay Schengen applications lodged at German consulates in India in 2025: 16,126 visas not issued; 153,179 applications lodged. German Missions say most rejections result from incomplete or unverifiable documentation. After a refusal you have two options. You can reapply at any time, with no cooling period. Or you can file a lawsuit at the Administrative Court in Berlin within one month of receiving the refusal; the court fee is currently EUR 483 and the plaintiff pays it regardless of outcome. The free remonstration procedure was abolished in India from 1 January 2024, and the visa fee is not refunded. German Missions also say an agent is not necessary, and warn that an agent's misconduct is the applicant's responsibility. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for business files. Packages run from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel booking, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page. ### Frequently asked questions #### Do trade fair exhibitors pay the Germany visa fee? Exhibitors are exempt only if the individual exhibitor pass is submitted with the application, and there is no later refund. Visitor-pass holders pay the regular fee, and the fair date does not give priority processing. #### Do Indians need a transit visa for a layover in Germany? No, not since 3 June 2026. German Missions in India announced that Indian nationals no longer need an airport transit visa for a layover at a German airport when travelling on to another country. #### Can a representative submit my Germany business visa? Only if your fingerprints were collected within the previous 59 months and can be copied. In that case a representative with your signed authorisation letter and a copy of their passport may submit the file. #### Why does the INR fee differ between VFS and the Embassy? The German Missions page dated 01.10.2026 lists EUR 90 / INR 9,900, while the older VFS one-pager lists INR 9100. The rupee amount follows the Consulate General Mumbai exchange rate, so check it on the day of your appointment. ## Steps 1. **Complete the VIDEX form** — Fill the Schengen application online and print all pages with barcodes. 2. **Book a VFS business appointment** — Book at any VFS centre in India and pre-pay the INR 1933 service fee; use 'Urgent business' if travel starts within four weeks. 3. **Collect business documents** — Get the German partner's invitation, your company's covering letter on letterhead, Certificate of Incorporation, GST registration and company registration proof. 4. **Add personal documents** — Include passport, photo, accommodation, flight reservation, 3 months of pay slips and stamped bank statements, ITR or Form 16 and EUR 30,000 insurance. 5. **Attend the appointment** — Give biometrics at VFS and pay the EUR 90 (INR 9,900) visa fee. 6. **Track and collect** — Follow the file on VFS tracking; the Consulate General in Mumbai decides in about 15 working days and the passport returns via VFS. ## FAQ ### Do trade fair exhibitors pay the Germany visa fee? Exhibitors are exempt only if the individual exhibitor pass is submitted with the application, and there is no later refund. Visitor-pass holders pay the regular fee, and the fair date does not give priority processing. ### Do Indians need a transit visa for a layover in Germany? No, not since 3 June 2026. German Missions in India announced that Indian nationals no longer need an airport transit visa for a layover at a German airport when travelling on to another country. ### Can a representative submit my Germany business visa? Only if your fingerprints were collected within the previous 59 months and can be copied. In that case a representative with your signed authorisation letter and a copy of their passport may submit the file. ### Why does the INR fee differ between VFS and the Embassy? The German Missions page dated 01.10.2026 lists EUR 90 / INR 9,900, while the older VFS one-pager lists INR 9100. The rupee amount follows the Consulate General Mumbai exchange rate, so check it on the day of your appointment. ## Sources 1. [VFS/German Mission - Checklist for a Schengen visa for Business](https://www.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/germany/india/new-delhi/english/pdf/business.pdf) — German Missions in India / VFS Global 2. [German Missions in India - Visa fees for Schengen Visa](https://india.diplo.de/in-en/service/1984596-1984596) — German Missions in India 3. [German Missions in India - Schengen Visa FAQs (cascade, multiple-entry, biometrics)](https://india.diplo.de/in-en/service/schengen-visa-faq-2610538) — German Missions in India 4. [German Missions in India - My visa application got rejected. What can I do?](https://india.diplo.de/in-en/service/2680032-2680032) — German Missions in India