Germany, located in central Europe, is the fourth largest economy in the world and is a hub of commerce and industry.
As an Indian seeking to visit Germany, some of the requirements to get a Visa to include a passport, proof of financial means, proof of health insurance, and an application form. Follow the step by step guide below on how to get a German Visa of your choice.
German Visa Types, Processing Time & Duration
| Visa Type | Processing time | Duration of stay |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist & Visitor Visa | 10 days | 3 months |
| Family Reunion Visa | 3 weeks – 2 months | 6 months or permanently |
| Job Seekers Visa | 3 weeks – 2 months | 6 months |
| Working Visa | 6 – 12 weeks | Determined by employment contract |
| Business Visa | 10 – 15 days | Determined by Immigration officials |
| Studying & Language Learning Visa | 6 – 12 weeks | Determined by course of study |
| Airport Transit Visa | 5 days | 48 hours |
| Guest Scientist Visa | 10 – 15 days | Determined by period of visit |
| Internship Visa | 10 – 15 days | 12 months |
| Medical treatment Visa | 10 – 15 days | Determined by stay at the hospital |
| Trade fair & Exhibition Visa | 10 – 15 days | Determined by Immigration officials |
General Requirements for a German Visa
- A properly filled German visa application form
- International travel passport with at least 6 months validity before the date of travel and at least 2 pages for stamping.
- Photo, which must be taken within three months to journey
- Health Insurance covering the number of days you will be spending in Germany
- Travel Itinerary (flights & hotel booking)
- Your bank statement within the last 3 months to show if you can pay for your trip.
German visa application
German Tourist and Visitor Visa Eligibility & Requirements for Indians
- It’s a visa for people who wish to enter Germany with the purpose of visiting friends and family or to just sightsee and experience the country and its culture.
- A Tourism visa to Germany is a visa established by the Schengen states, which gives the opportunity to its holder to visit not only Germany but also all of the 26 Schengen member states.
- It is issued in the form of a sticker affixed to the passport of the traveller.
- If you’re a citizen of one of the Schengen states, you do not need this Visa
- You can apply for this Visa at the German Embassy, the German Consulate or Visa Centre
- The cost of the Tourist/ Visitor Visa is €60
German Family Reunion Visa Eligibility & Requirements for Indians
- It is a visa for family members of German residents, who wish to join them in Germany.
- Third-country nationals who are legally residing in Germany can bring over their spouse or registered partner in Germany if they both fulfil some conditions.
- For you to obtain the family Reunion Visa, you have to be a relative of a resident in Germany, and this resident must be able to sponsor you financially.
- You also have to be over 18 and possess some knowledge of the German language
- A parent (or both parents) residing in Germany are permitted to apply to bring their children to live with them in Germany.
- You will have to pay a visa fee when you attend the interview in order for your application to be processed.
- Family reunion long-term visa costs 75 Euro for adults and for children up to 18 years 37.50 Euro.
- According to the German law every adult that comes to Germany on a Family Reunion visa and settles, should be permitted to work
German Job Seeker Visa Eligibility & Requirement for Indians
- This type of Visa gives to its holder the opportunity to come to Germany and seek a job.
- The job seeker Visa is a Long-Term Residency Permit, which allows you to stay in the country for six months and look for a job.
- If at the end of the six months you have found a place of employment, you will be given the Germany work visa or a Germany work permit and you will be allowed to work and live there.
- There are several criteria that you need to fulfil to be eligible to apply for the Germany job seeker visa, which includes:
- Holding a Bachelor of Master’s Degree from a German university or an equivalent foreign degree.
- Having a minimum of 5 years of experience in your related field of study
- Providing proof that you have sufficient funds to cover your stay during the time you are in Germany
- Have travel or medical insurance for your entire stay in Germany or until you get your Work Permit.
German Working & Employment Visa Eligibility & Requirements for Indians
- The Working Visa is for people who have gotten a job in Germany.
- It is an opportunity for qualified foreigners to settle in Germany and work in their field.
- It gives to its holder the chance to enter and work in Germany for up to two years, with the possibility of extending the visa, and later applying for an EU Blue Card, or other types of residence permits
- Citizens of the rest of third-world countries are required to obtain a visa for work purposes before travelling to Germany.
- Some of the categories eligible to apply for a German Employment Visa are as follows:
- Highly qualified foreigners, in particular:
- researchers with special technical knowledge.
- teaching personnel in prominent positions or scientific personnel in prominent positions.
- Intra-corporate transferees, in particular:
German Studying and Language Learning Visa Eligibility & Requirements for Indians
- This Visa is for foreigners who wish to enter the country with the sole purpose of attending a language course or to continue their studies at an educational institution in Germany.
- You will have to apply for the appropriate German Study Visa at the Embassy or Consulate of Germany in your country to enter and stay for the intended period in Germany
- In case you will need to remain in the territory of Germany for more than 90 Days, or 3 Months, you will need to get a Residence Permit early enough after your arrival in Germany.
- There are three types of theses visas meant for people intending to pursue educational activities in Germany:
- Language Course Visa – for educational activities lasting from 3 months up to 1 year, for the purpose of participating in short German language courses.
- Student Applicant Visa – if you want to study in Germany, but are still trying to find the right program or you still haven’t got a confirmation letter from your University.
- Student Visa – if you have already been accepted to a German university.
- The fee for Germany student visa application is 75 Euro
German Business Visa Eligibility & Requirements for Indians
- This visa is for business people that need to remain in Germany for a period longer than 90 days within 6 months, with the purpose of doing business
- Since a Germany Business Visa is a short-stay visa, your nationality is the main decisive factor whether you need to obtain this visa or not.
- Currently, there are 62 countries under the visa-waiver program, the citizens of which do not need to be in possession of this document in order to enter Germany and the Schengen area in general
- The application process for a Germany business visa is pretty much the same as for every other German visa. The earliest you can apply for a visa is three months prior to your trip and the latest, three weeks prior to the trip.
- The validity of a German Business Visa depends on the embassy that issued it.
- The fee for the German Business Visa is 60 Euros
German Airport Transit Visa Eligibility & Requirements for Indians
- This is a visa which is required for a few developing nations, that need to pass through one of the German airports in their way to their final destination.
- You will have to apply at the Germany visa application centre, embassy or consulate in your country of residence.
- The process for a Transit Visa lasts around five working days at most.
- The fee for a German Airport Transit Visa is 80 Euros
German Guest Scientist Visa Eligibility & Requirements for Indians
- This is a type of visa for scientists or researchers who have been invited by an institution to carry out a study or research.
- Getting this type of Visa requires the completion of a whole process, like finding an institution where you can participate in a research
- Researchers and scientists who are passport holders of one of the member countries of the European Union, the European Economic Area or the European Free Trade Area, are not obliged to obtain any visa to enter the country to participate in research.
- It is important that you provide proof of accommodation for your entire stay in the Schengen area – which can be a hotel booking or an invitation letter by a host, who is your friend or family member.
- It is recommended you apply for a visa at least 3 weeks before your travel date to meet any processing delays.
- A German Guest Scientist Visa fee is 75 Euros
German Training and Internship Visa Eligibility & Requirements for Indians
- This is a visa that gives the opportunity to attend a training or internship to nationals of third-world countries.
- The requirements for doing the internship depending on the company or institution offering it. Some of them may ask for fluent German, while others would be content if you are able to manage speaking basic German.
- It is a crucial condition for you to find an internship or training before your trip to Germany.
- There are certain requirements you must possess to be given this Visa:
- Bundesagentur für Arbeit – which is a permission to work in Germany and interns are obliged to have it in order for their engagement at any organization to be legal. It is upon the company where you will be engaging as an intern or trainee to obtain it for you. Some internships under EU-funded programmes (Leonardo, Socrates, Erasmus, etc.) do not require this document.
- Deputation or no-objection letter from your local employer or university you are studying at which confirms that the applicant is an employee or student at their organization.
- Approval letter from the German company confirming conditions of applicant’s stay in Germany, including payment.
- Proof of qualification (diploma, academic degree certificate or mark sheets).
- A German Internship Visa fee is 75 Euros
German Medical Treatment Visa Eligibility & Requirements for Indians
- This is a visa that allows foreigners with different illnesses and medical conditions to enter Germany and seek medical treatment.
- You should only proceed with your medical arrangements with the clinic or hospital where you will be receiving health condition treatment
- The fee you need to pay for a Medical visa to Germany depends on the period of time you need to remain in Germany to fully receive your treatment.
- You can extend your medical treatment visa only in case your health has not improved and you need to receive medical treatment further, which you cannot receive in your home country. In order to do so, you should obtain documents from the hospital where you receive this treatment and the doctors that treat you. These documents must confirm your need to remain in Germany longer than the validity of your Visa.
- It is advisable to apply for a Visa extension before the expiration of your current Visa
German Trade Fair and Exhibition Visa Eligibility & Requirements for Indians
- This is a type of Visa for people who are planning to participate in a trade fair or exhibition.
- In general, the requirements for a Trade Fair & Exhibitions Visa are the same in every German embassy around the world. However, there might be less or extra requirements depending on your nationality.
- You should apply for a Germany Trade Fair and Exhibitions Visa at your home country’s German Embassy or Consulate.
- The validity of your visa depends on the embassy that issued it.
- Your visa can be single entry, which means that you will be allowed to enter Germany only once and remain there for the number of days that are stated in your visa, i.e. 7 days.
- You may also be issued a multiple entry visa, which means you will be able to enter in Germany more than once, without exceeding the number of days given in your visa sticker.
- The German Trade Fair and Exhibition Visa fee is 60 Euros
German Visa Fees
| Visa Type | Category | Visa Fee (Eur) |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist & Visitor Visa | Short term stay | 60 |
| Family Reunion Visa | Long term stay | 75 – Adults 37.50 – Children |
| Job Seekers Visa | Short term stay | 60 |
| Working Visa | Long term stay | 80 |
| Business Visa | Short term stay | 60 |
| Studying & Language Learning Visa | Long term stay | 75 |
| Airport Transit Visa | Short term stay | 60 |
| Guest Scientist Visa | Long term stay | 75 |
| Internship Visa | Short term stay | 75 |
| Medical treatment Visa | Long term stay | 12 – Under age 12 35 – Stay of less than 3 Months 60 – Stay of more than 3 Months |
| Trade fair & Exhibition Visa | Short term stay | 60 |
German Visa Application Centres in India
| Location | Address | Phone number |
|---|---|---|
| New Delhi | 6, 50G, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, Delhi 110021, India | +91 11 4419 9199 |
| Kolkata | 1, Hastings Park Rd, Alipore, Kolkata, West Bengal 700027, India | +91 33 2479 1142 |
| Chennai | 9, Boat Club Rd, RA Puram, Raja Annamalai Puram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600028, India | +91 44 2430 1600 |
Commonly Asked Questions about German Visas
Do I need a Visa for Germany?
If you’re a citizen of the USA, Canada or the EU, you do not need a Visa to travel to Germany. However, citizens of non-EU countries require a Visa.
Where can I find an application form for a Visa?
If you go to the website of the German embassy, you’ll be able to download the application form online.
My Visa was issued by the German Consulate/ Embassy, can I use it to travel to other countries?
Yes, you can! According to the Schengen agreement, the visa of one member state is valid in other member states
When can I apply for a German visa?
You are free to apply 90 days before the date of your travel for a German visa. It is recommended that you apply 3-6 weeks in advance before you travel to avoid any visa processing delay issues which will interfere with your travel itinerary
When can I re-apply for a German visa if my application gets refused?
You are allowed to apply without any charge if your visa application is refused. On your refusal letter are the details on how you can appeal against your visa refusal.
