Germany Visa FAQs for Indians: 25 Questions Answered

The 25 answers below come from German Missions in India and VFS Global, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For the full process in one place, read our Germany visa guide for Indians.

Do Indians need a German visa, and which one?

1. Do Indian passport holders need a visa for Germany?

Yes. German Missions in India state that Indian citizens require a visa. Only holders of Indian diplomatic passports are exempt, under a bilateral agreement. Everyone else applies for a Schengen (C) visa for up to 90 days, or a national (D) visa for longer stays.

2. Schengen visa or national visa: which do I need?

A Schengen visa covers tourism, business, trade fairs, family visits, medical treatment and similar stays of up to 90 days. A national visa covers study, work (EU Blue Card, skilled worker, Opportunity Card), vocational training and family reunion. National visas are usually issued for 90 days up to one year, then you apply for a residence permit in Germany.

3. Is there a German eVisa or visa on arrival?

No. Schengen applicants fill in the VIDEX form online but lodge it at a VFS Global centre and give biometrics in person. Most national visas start online in the Consular Services Portal but still end with an on-site appointment.

4. Do I need a transit visa to change flights in Germany?

Not any more. Since 3 June 2026, Indian nationals need no airport transit visa for a layover at a German airport when travelling on to another country, following an announcement in the Federal Law Gazette on 2 June 2026.

5. I have a residence permit from another Schengen country. Do I need a German visa?

Not for short stays. Indians holding a long-stay visa or residence permit issued by another Schengen state can stay in Germany for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a separate visa.

What does it cost, and where do you apply?

6. How much is the Germany Schengen visa fee?

EUR 90 for adults, shown as INR 9,900 on the German Missions' page dated 01.10.2026 and subject to change. Children aged 6 to 12 pay EUR 45 (INR 5,000); under-6s pay nothing. The VFS one-pager still shows INR 9100, but the Embassy figure is newer. The fee is not refunded if the visa is rejected.

7. What is the VFS service fee, and when is it paid?

INR 1,933 including GST, pre-paid when you book the Schengen appointment. The visa fee is paid at the appointment. Optional extras include courier (INR 686), SMS (INR 147) and the Premium Lounge (INR 3,088).

8. Can I apply at any VFS centre, or only in my state?

For a Schengen visa, any VFS centre in India, wherever you live: New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Goa, Bengaluru, Kochi, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata. All files go to the Consulate General in Mumbai for a decision. National visas are different: you attend the mission responsible for your place of residence.

9. Do I need a visa agent?

No. German Missions say an agent is not necessary and all forms and information are free. The Consulate warns that misconduct by an agent is the applicant's responsibility and may invalidate bookings or lead to refusal.

Which documents trip up Indian applicants?

10. What format must my bank statements follow?

Statements for the last 3 months, stamped by the bank, showing your name and address. Passbook copies are not accepted. If someone sponsors you, add their letter, passport copy and their own stamped statements for the last 3 months.

11. Is Form 16 accepted, or do I need ITR?

Either. Employed applicants submit ITR acknowledgments for the last two assessment years or Form 16, plus three months' pay slips, the employment contract and a leave sanction letter. Self-employed applicants add company registration including the GST number.

12. What travel insurance does Germany accept?

Travel medical insurance valid across Schengen for the whole trip, with at least EUR 30,000 cover, from the German Missions' approved list of Indian insurers, which includes Acko, Bajaj Allianz, HDFC ERGO, ICICI Lombard, New India Assurance and Tata-AIG. Some insurers have age limits.

13. What photo and biometrics are needed?

A 35 x 45 mm biometric photo on a white background, with 70 to 80% face coverage, not older than six months. Everyone gives fingerprints and a photo at VFS unless fingerprints were collected in the last 59 months. Children under 12 are exempt from fingerprinting.

14. Do I need a paid flight ticket and hotel?

No paid ticket. The checklist asks for a flight reservation, proof of accommodation such as hotel reservations or a host's sponsorship, and a covering letter with your itinerary. If you visit several Schengen states, show accommodation for each.

How long does it take, and can it be faster?

15. How long does a German Schengen visa take?

15 working days from the day the file reaches the visa section, excluding the day you submit at VFS. Transfer from VFS to the Consulate can take up to six working days. The Consulate General in Mumbai says it usually decides complete files within 15 calendar days of receipt, extendable to 45 days in individual cases.

16. When should I apply?

Not earlier than six months and not later than 15 working days before travel; the Missions recommend at least three weeks. If travel falls within 15 calendar days of the file reaching the visa section, the passport may be returned unprocessed with the fee refunded.

17. Is there an urgent appointment option?

For business travellers and trade-fair exhibitors only. The 'urgent business' and 'urgent trade fair' categories apply when no normal slot is available and the journey starts within four weeks of the appointment, at no extra charge. They give an appointment, not faster processing.

18. How do I track my application?

Schengen files can be tracked on the VFS website; written inquiries are answered only after the 15-day regular period, and passports come back only via VFS. National visas have no online tracking, and inquiries are not answered within the first three months.

What about refusals and repeat trips?

19. How many Indian applications does Germany refuse?

European Commission data shows a refusal rate of 10.5% for Schengen applications lodged at German consulates in India in 2025 (16,126 visas not issued; 153,179 applications lodged), against 11.1% in 2024. These figures describe all applicants, not your individual chances.

20. What can I do after a refusal?

Reapply at any time, with no cooling period, or file a lawsuit at the Administrative Court in Berlin within one month; the court fee is currently EUR 483, payable regardless of outcome. The free remonstration procedure was abolished in India from 1 January 2024. German Missions say most rejections result from incomplete or unverifiable documents.

21. Is the visa fee refunded if I am refused?

No. The Schengen fee is not refunded after a rejection, and the national visa fee is a processing fee that is not reimbursed if the visa is refused.

22. Can I get a multi-year German visa?

Yes, through the cascade. Indian nationals living in India who have lawfully used two Schengen visas in the past three years are issued a two-year multiple-entry visa, and a five-year visa can follow. There is no entitlement, and your passport must remain valid three months beyond the visa's expiry.

What do students and skilled workers ask?

23. What does a national (D) visa cost, and how long does it take?

EUR 75 (INR 8300) for applicants over 18 and INR 4,200 for those under 18, payable in INR on the appointment day. At VFS, add a service fee of INR 1024 and a D-visa logistic fee of INR 1420. No fixed processing time is published; it may take several months.

24. How much money does a German student visa need?

A blocked account of EUR 11,904 for the first year, with withdrawals capped at EUR 992 a month, or a formal obligation letter from a sponsor in Germany, or a German or EU scholarship. Almost all applicants with Indian certificates also need an APS certificate.

25. What salary does an EU Blue Card need in 2026?

From 1 January 2026, at least EUR 50,700 a year for most professions, or EUR 45,934.20 for shortage professions such as engineers, doctors and IT professionals. Applicants aged 45 or older earning below EUR 55,770 must show adequate pension provision.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters for Schengen visa files. Packages run from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for a reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Which German mission handles my state for a national visa?

The Embassy in New Delhi covers states such as Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh; Mumbai covers Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh; Bengaluru covers Karnataka and Kerala; Chennai covers Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Puducherry; Kolkata covers West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Assam and most north-eastern states.

Do I have to attend a German national visa appointment in person?

Yes. There is one appointment per applicant, and minors including babies must be present. Relatives may accompany you only to the gate of the visa section, and refusing to appear for an interview may result in rejection.

What do I do after arriving in Germany on a national visa?

Register with the residents' registration office immediately after entering, then book an appointment with the foreigners' authority to apply for your residence permit.

Can I apply for a German visa in India if I live in Dubai?

For a Schengen visa, only if you are lawfully present in India and can justify not applying in your country of residence; scheduling problems are usually not enough. For a national visa, choose your country of residence in the Consular Services Portal, not your citizenship.