Informational use only. This page is a travel-preparation reference for Indian passport holders, not legal or immigration advice.
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Visa rules change without notice. Always verify current requirements, fees, and processing times on the official source linked on this page before you apply, pay any fee, or book any appointment.
Indian passport holders need a Schengen Short-Stay visa (Type C) to visit Germany for tourism or business — Germany is part of the Schengen Area, so this same visa also lets you travel across the other Schengen countries during your trip. There is no visa-free or visa-on-arrival option. Applications are submitted online through the Federal Foreign Office's own VIDEX system, then finalised with a biometric appointment at VFS Global, the official partner of the German Missions in India.
Germany is one of 29 countries in the Schengen Area, which allows a Schengen Type C visa to cover travel across all member states for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period (calculated across the whole area, not per country). If you're new to Schengen travel, see our France visa guide for the full explanation of the Schengen Area, member countries, and the 90/180-day rule — we don't repeat it here to avoid duplication.
The Schengen Short-Stay (Type C) visa covers tourism, visiting family or friends, and short business activities (meetings, conferences, trade fairs) — specify your purpose during the VIDEX application, which affects the specific document checklist you're given.
A visa is required for every visit to Germany, regardless of length or purpose, since India has no visa-waiver arrangement with the Schengen Area.
iamravi.com is not affiliated with the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, any German Consulate, or VFS Global. All application, payment, and biometric steps happen on official German government and VFS Global platforms — never here.
Your passport should be issued within the last 10 years, valid for at least 3 months after your intended return date, and have at least 2 blank pages. Per common Schengen practice, you should lodge your application no earlier than 6 months and generally no later than about 15 working days before travel — VIDEX will confirm the exact window for your case.
The VIDEX online application is the core form — print all pages, including barcodes, and sign where required before your appointment.
Typical requirements per VFS Global's own guidance: your VIDEX application (signed, all pages with barcodes), a passport-style biometric photo (35×45mm, white background, taken within the last 6 months), your passport (issued within the last 10 years, valid 3+ months beyond return, 2+ blank pages) plus a photocopy of its data and address pages, signed declarations of accurate information and valid travel medical insurance, a cover letter with your itinerary, a round-trip flight reservation, accommodation proof for your full stay, and travel medical insurance valid across all Schengen states for at least €30,000 coverage. Proof of finances varies by your situation — salaried applicants typically provide payslips, an employment contract, a leave letter, and bank statements; self-employed applicants provide business registration and financial records; students provide enrolment proof; sponsored trips need the sponsor's documents.
A biometric-standard passport photo (35×45mm, white background, not older than 6 months) is required with your application. Fingerprints and a photo are captured in person at your VFS Global appointment.
The Schengen short-stay visa fee is set at EU level (the same fee framework noted on our France guide) and is charged in INR at the prevailing rate through VFS Global — we did not independently confirm the exact current EUR/INR figure from a primary Federal Foreign Office source during this review. Confirm the current fee directly on the Consular Services Portal or at your VFS Global appointment before paying, since fees are non-refundable regardless of outcome.
Book your VFS Global biometric appointment after completing your VIDEX application — thanks to Schengen processing centralisation at the German Consulate General Mumbai, you can choose any VFS Global centre in India for this appointment, not just one tied to your home state.
Processing times vary by case and application volume; some categories require additional checks with other German authorities that can extend the timeline. Apply within the recommended window rather than assuming a fixed number of days.
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