Germany VFS Appointment from India: Slots, Fees and Tips

That flexibility on location is the most useful fact for anyone hunting for a slot, and it applies only to short-stay Schengen visas. Fees and processing times as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-10. For documents, visa types and everything beyond the appointment, see our Germany visa guide for Indian travellers.

Schengen or national visa: which appointment you need

One appointment you may not need at all: since June 2026, Indian nationals no longer need an airport transit visa for a layover at a German airport.

Picking a VFS centre when slots are tight

Germany's VFS centres in India include New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Goa, Bengaluru, Kochi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata, with Thimphu in Bhutan served under the New Delhi set-up. Because a Schengen application can be lodged at any of these regardless of where you live, a centre in another city is a legitimate option if your nearest one has no dates. Weigh the travel cost against the wait, and remember that your passport may need to come back to you by courier if you do not want to return in person.

This list is compiled from VFS city pages, so check the full, current centre list on VFS before you travel to a city you have not used before.

The booking window, and why the deadline is not a target

German missions say to apply not earlier than six months and not later than 15 working days before your trip. Inside that window, earlier is safer, for two reasons:

• Processing takes 15 working days from the day your file arrives at the visa section, not counting the day you submit at VFS.
• The transfer from the VFS centre to the Consulate General can itself take up to six working days.

Put together, the latest permitted date is not a safe one. The embassy's own guidance adds that processing can take up to two weeks and even longer in individual cases. If your trip is fixed, book as soon as you have your documents in order.

What you pay at booking, and what you pay on the day

The VFS one-pager still shows EUR 90 / INR 9100 for adults and INR 4600 for children, from fees effective 9 July 2025. The embassy's fee page is newer, and the rupee amount follows the Consulate General Mumbai exchange rate, so carry enough to cover the higher figure. The visa fee is not refunded if the visa is refused.

What to carry to the appointment

• The VIDEX application form, completed, signed and printed, with every page including the barcodes.
• Signed declarations of true and complete information and of travel with valid medical insurance.
• Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months after your return, with at least two empty pages, plus a copy of the biometric and address page.
• At least one biometric photo, 35x45 mm on a white background with 70%-80% face coverage, not older than six months. Photos can also be taken at the centres.
• Travel medical insurance valid across Schengen for the whole trip, minimum EUR 30,000, from the approved list of Indian insurers.
• Covering letter, flight reservation, itinerary and hotel bookings.
• Proof of status: for employees, pay slips for three months, employment contract, leave sanction letter, bank statements for 3 months stamped by the bank, and ITR acknowledgment for two assessment years or Form 16.

Visiting family or friends? Add the original signed invitation letter from your host in Germany, with their address and contact details, evidence of their legal residence, the intended period of stay and your passport number. For business, add a covering letter from your Indian company on letterhead and the invitation from your German business partner. The full list differs by purpose; the German Missions' page on submitting at a VAC links the checklists.

What VFS will not accept

• Passports with observations regarding the front data page, and handwritten passports.
• Passbook copies in place of bank statements. Your name and address must appear on the statements.
• Insurance from a company outside the approved list of Indian travel insurers.
• A file handed in by someone else without a signed authorisation letter and a copy of that person's passport.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for Schengen files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact our team.

Frequently asked questions

Can I give my Germany visa biometrics in a different state from where I live?

For a Schengen visa, yes. Applications can be submitted at any VFS centre in India regardless of residence, and all are forwarded to the German Consulate General in Mumbai. National (D) visas are different: you submit to the German mission responsible for your place of residence.

Is the Germany Schengen visa fee refunded if I am refused?

No. The visa fee is not refundable even if the visa is rejected. The VFS service fee is pre-paid at booking.

Do I need a Germany transit visa for a layover?

Since June 2026, Indian nationals no longer need an airport transit visa for a layover at a German airport, so no VFS appointment is needed for that alone. Where a visa is still needed, VFS notes that travel medical insurance is required even in transit cases.

How much is the Germany national visa fee?

The German missions list 75 EUR / 8300 INR for applicants over 18, payable in INR at the exchange rate on the day of the on-site appointment. It is a processing fee and is not reimbursed if the application is refused.