# Germany Tourist Visa Processing Time from India (2026) > German Missions in India decide Schengen tourist visas within 15 working days of the file reaching Mumbai. How VFS transfer, urgent slots and tracking affect the clock. _Published: 2026-10-26 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1087_ ## TL;DR German Missions in India process a Schengen tourist visa within 15 working days from the day the file reaches the visa section, excluding the day of submission at VFS. Every file goes to the Consulate General in Mumbai, and the transfer from VFS can take up to six working days, so the Consulate recommends applying at least three weeks before travel. ## Key takeaways - German Missions process Schengen visas within 15 working days from the file's arrival at the visa section. - All Schengen files from India are decided in Mumbai; transfer from other VFS centres adds 2 to 3 days, up to six working days. - Apply no earlier than six months and no later than 15 working days before travel; three weeks ahead is recommended. - Urgent appointment categories are for business and trade fairs only and give an appointment, not faster processing. - Written inquiries are answered only after the 15-day period; passports come back only through VFS. **According to German Missions in India, a Germany tourist (Schengen) visa is processed within 15 working days from the day the file reaches the visa section, not counting the day you submit at VFS. Moving the file from VFS to the Consulate General in Mumbai can add up to six working days, so apply at least three weeks before travel.** ## Article Timelines below are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026: German Missions in India, the German Consulate General Mumbai's Schengen FAQ and the VFS Global one-pagers for Germany. Every Germany tourist visa filed in India is decided in Mumbai, wherever you submit it, which is why your VFS city affects the clock. For fees and the document checklist, see our Germany visa guide for Indians. ### How long does each stage of a Germany tourist visa take? StageTypical timeOfficial basisFile transfer from VFS to the Consulate General MumbaiNext day from VFS Mumbai; allow 2 to 3 extra days from other centres; up to six working daysConsulate General Mumbai FAQ; German MissionsDecision by the visa section15 working days from arrival at the visa sectionGerman Missions in IndiaIndividual cases needing more checksExtendable up to 45 daysEU Visa Code standard, cited by the ConsulatePassport returnOnly via VFS (collection, or courier at INR 686)German Missions; VFS one-pagersThe Consulate General Mumbai also describes the standard in calendar terms: complete applications are usually decided within 15 calendar days of receipt at the visa office. The Embassy's general guidance says it can take up to two weeks, and even longer in individual cases. For planning, use 15 working days plus transfer time. ### Does your VFS city change the processing time? Yes, by a few days. You can submit a Schengen application at any VFS centre in India regardless of where you live, and all files are forwarded to the German Consulate General in Mumbai for a decision. Files lodged at VFS Mumbai reach the Consulate the next day; from other centres, allow 2 to 3 extra days for transport. The VFS centres for Germany are New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Goa, Bengaluru, Kochi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Thimphu (Bhutan). Submitting at VFS Mumbai saves only the transport days; the 15 working days start when the file reaches the visa section, wherever it came from. ### When is the earliest and latest you can apply? - Earliest: six months before travel. - Latest: 15 working days before travel, according to German Missions. - Recommended: at least three weeks before travel, according to the Consulate General Mumbai. Leave more than the minimum. If your travel date falls within 15 calendar days of the file reaching the visa section, the Consulate may return the passport unprocessed and refund the fee. The VFS service fee of INR 1933 is pre-paid when you book, so book the slot only once your dates and documents are ready. ### Can you speed up a Germany tourist visa? Not for a holiday. German Missions run two urgent appointment categories, and neither is for tourism: - Urgent business: short-notice business trips (business meeting, training, conference, guest scientist, work, paper presentation) when no normal business slot is available. - Urgent trade fair: exclusively for trade fair exhibitors. In both, the journey must start within four weeks of the appointment, and there is no extra charge. A spouse travelling for tourism on the same dates may be booked along; other purposes booked in these categories are rejected by VFS. Even then, the category gives an appointment, not fast-track processing, with an average of up to 15 days. Outside these categories, special appointments are only for compelling, unplanned medical or humanitarian reasons, requested through the German Missions' contact form. ### How do you track the application, and when can you chase it? Use the application tracking on the VFS website with your reference number. German Missions answer written inquiries only after the 15-day regular processing period has passed, so emails sent in the first two weeks will not get a reply. Your passport comes back only through VFS: collect it at the centre or choose the INR 686 courier option when you submit. In individual cases the visa section may request additional documents or call you for an interview. If that happens, expect the decision to take longer than 15 working days. ### What stretches the timeline, and what if you are refused? - Incomplete or unverifiable documents, which German Missions name as the most common reason for rejection. - Bank statements that do not show your name and address, or passbook copies, which are not accepted. - A passport with observations on the data page, or a handwritten passport. - Requests for more documents or an interview. European Commission statistics give a 10.5% refusal rate for Schengen applications lodged at German consulates in India in 2025 (16,126 visas not issued; 153,179 applications lodged), compared with 11.1% in 2024. These figures describe past outcomes, not your chances. If you are refused, you can reapply at any time with no cooling period, or file a lawsuit at the Administrative Court in Berlin within one month (court fee currently EUR 483). The free remonstration procedure was abolished in India from 1 January 2024, and the visa fee of 90 EUR / 9,900 INR is not refunded. If your trip is planned at short notice, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares verifiable flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters for the file. Packages run from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for all four. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us. ### Frequently asked questions #### How much is the Germany tourist visa fee from India? German Missions in India list 90 EUR / 9,900 INR for adults (page dated 1 October 2026), 45 EUR / 5,000 INR for children aged 6 to 12 and no fee under 6. The VFS service fee of INR 1933 is added and pre-paid when you book the appointment. #### Do I have to give fingerprints again for a new Germany visa? Not always. Fingerprints collected within the previous 59 months can be copied, in which case a representative with an authorisation letter may submit for you. Children under 12 are exempt from fingerprinting. #### Can I apply for a Germany Schengen visa in Delhi if I live in Kerala? Yes. German Missions say Schengen applications can be submitted at any VFS centre in India regardless of residence, and all are forwarded to the Consulate General in Mumbai. National (long-stay) visas are different and go to the mission responsible for your place of residence. #### Will my Germany visa be multiple-entry? It depends on your history. Indian nationals living in India get a two-year multiple-entry visa if they have lawfully used 2 Schengen visas within the past 3 years, but there is no entitlement and the visa section may still issue a single-trip visa. ## FAQ ### How much is the Germany tourist visa fee from India? German Missions in India list 90 EUR / 9,900 INR for adults (page dated 1 October 2026), 45 EUR / 5,000 INR for children aged 6 to 12 and no fee under 6. The VFS service fee of INR 1933 is added and pre-paid when you book the appointment. ### Do I have to give fingerprints again for a new Germany visa? Not always. Fingerprints collected within the previous 59 months can be copied, in which case a representative with an authorisation letter may submit for you. Children under 12 are exempt from fingerprinting. ### Can I apply for a Germany Schengen visa in Delhi if I live in Kerala? Yes. German Missions say Schengen applications can be submitted at any VFS centre in India regardless of residence, and all are forwarded to the Consulate General in Mumbai. National (long-stay) visas are different and go to the mission responsible for your place of residence. ### Will my Germany visa be multiple-entry? It depends on your history. Indian nationals living in India get a two-year multiple-entry visa if they have lawfully used 2 Schengen visas within the past 3 years, but there is no entitlement and the visa section may still issue a single-trip visa. ## Sources 1. [German Missions in India - Schengen Visa](https://india.diplo.de/in-en/service/2633538-2633538) — German Missions in India 2. [German Missions in India - Schengen Visa FAQs](https://india.diplo.de/in-en/service/schengen-visa-faq-2610538) — German Missions in India 3. [German Missions in India - Submission of Schengen visa application at a VAC](https://india.diplo.de/in-en/service/1908750-1908750) — German Missions in India 4. [European Commission - Schengen visa statistics by consulate (2025)](https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/document/download/56816949-e59f-442b-9091-5d03360bf860_en) — European Commission