Quick answer
Indians need a Schengen visa for Germany, lodged through VFS Global and decided by one of five German missions in India. The fee is EUR 90 (about ₹9,200) plus VFS charges. Unusually, you can apply at any VFS centre in India. Processing averages 15 days after the file reaches the consulate, so allow about four weeks from appointment to passport.
At a glance
- Visa type
- Schengen short-stay visa (Type C) issued by Germany
- Stay allowed
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Fee
- EUR 90 (about ₹9,200) per adult, EUR 45 (about ₹4,600) for children aged 6–11, plus a VFS Global service charge of roughly ₹1,500–3,000
- Processing
- About 15 days once the file reaches the consulate, plus up to 6 working days in transit from VFS
- Validity
- As issued: trip dates on a first visa; 2-year after two used visas in three years, then up to 5 years
- Apply at
- Official portal
Documents checklist
- Schengen application form completed online, printed and signed
- Passport issued within 10 years, valid 3 months beyond the visa's end, plus old passports
- Two biometric photographs, 35 x 45 mm
- Cover letter and day-by-day itinerary showing Germany as the longest stay
- Bank statements for the last 3–6 months, stamped
- ITR acknowledgements for the last 2–3 years
- Leave letter and last 3 salary slips, or GST and business records
- Business trips: invitation from the German company and employer letter stating who pays
- Family visits: formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung) from the host, if available
- Travel insurance with at least EUR 30,000 medical cover for all Schengen states
- Refundable flight reservation and hotel bookings for every night
- Copies of previous Schengen visas, used for the cascade
Common mistakes that get Indians refused
- Travel dates within 15 calendar days of the file reaching the visa section: Germany returns the passport unprocessed with a fee refund.
- Ignoring transit time. Up to 6 working days between VFS and the consulate are not counted in the 15-day average.
- Waiting for documents before booking a slot; in peak months appointments disappear faster than paperwork can be gathered.
- Assuming the cascade is a right. Germany states clearly that applicants have no entitlement to a longer visa.
When should you apply to Germany?
Apply to Germany when it is your longest stay, or your first point of entry if nights are equal. Typical German-led trips are trade fairs in Frankfurt, Munich or Hannover, Christmas markets, family visits and Bavaria-focused holidays. The shared rules are on our Schengen visa guide.
How does Germany process visas in India?
Germany collects Schengen applications through VFS Global. Five German missions decide them: the Embassy in New Delhi and the Consulates General in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru.
One useful German exception: Schengen applications can be booked and lodged at any VFS centre in India, whatever your place of residence. If your nearest centre is full, take a slot in another city. This relaxation does not apply to national (D) visas such as student or work visas.
How long does it really take?
The German missions say Schengen processing averages about 15 days, counted from when the file reaches the consulate. Delivery from VFS can add up to six working days. If your travel date falls within 15 calendar days of the file reaching the visa section, the passport comes back unprocessed with a fee refund.
In practice, plan four weeks from appointment to passport, and longer before Oktoberfest (late September to early October) and the December markets. Urgent business travellers and trade-fair exhibitors can use Germany's special priority appointment categories.
How Germany applies the cascade
Germany spells out the India cascade plainly. Two Schengen visas lawfully used in the past three years can earn a two-year visa, after which you can qualify for a five-year visa under the normal cascade. Travellers considered especially reliable may occasionally receive longer validity straight away. Nobody is entitled to it, and a passport valid for less than three months beyond the visa's end date means a shorter visa.
Documents that decide the outcome
For tourism: three to six months of bank statements, ITRs for two to three years, salary slips, a leave letter, hotel bookings and a refundable flight reservation. For business: an invitation from the German company and a letter from your employer stating who pays. For family visits, a formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung) from your host in Germany strengthens the file.
Book the VFS slot first, then gather documents. In peak months, appointments vanish faster than paperwork can be assembled.
Insurance must give at least EUR 30,000 of medical cover for all Schengen states. Our visa assistance team prepares German files and cover letters, and we arrange compliant travel insurance. For costs and timing, see Germany trip cost and best time to visit Germany.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for a German Schengen visa at any VFS centre in India?
How long does a Germany Schengen visa take from India?
Will Germany give me a 2-year or 5-year visa?
Is there a faster route for urgent business travel to Germany?
How we checked this page
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Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
