Updated: 03 December 2010

Information regarding Schengen Visa

(different categories)
valid from 5th April 2010 onwards

A valid Schengen visa entitles the holder to travel through and stay in all countries of the
Schengen area (Germany, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands,
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden, Switzerland) for a maximum
of 90 days within 6 months.

An application may only be filed at the German Embassy New Delhi under the provision that the
applicant

• has permanent residence in the area of jurisdiction of the Embassy which includes the
states of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim,
Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Union Territories Chandigarh, Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar
Islands, Lakshadweep, Minicoy and Amini (please note that location of passport
issuance is not relevant for said determination)

and

• Germany represents the main destination of the intended travel considering the length of
stay. In case a main destination can not be ascertained the visa has to be applied for at
the Embassy representing the country of the first entry into the Schengen area.

WARNING: Should you try to enter your main destination Germany with a Schengen-Visa
issued by another Schengen-Embassy but Germany, you risk being refused entry (this does,
however, not apply to long-term business visas)

Prior to the submission of an application at the German Embassy, all applicants need to get an
appointment to submit the application at the German Embassy and to have said applications
cross verified at either of the following German Visa Application Centers:

Germany VFS Global Visa Application Center, Delhi

No. 1-26, Block E, 2nd Floor
International Trade Tower
Nehru Place, New Delhi – 110019
Tel: '0 - 120 - 6641070' for all national callers
'0091 - 120 - 6641070' if calling from outside India

or
Germany VFS Global Visa Application Center, Punjab
SCO 156-166
Sector 8 C, Madhya Marg
Chandigarh – 160 018
Punjab

For further details regarding opening hours of the Visa Application Centers and service charges
of VFS, please call up '0 - 120 - 6641070' for all national callers and '0091 - 120 - 6641070' if
calling from outside India, or else you can visit the website: www.vfs-germany.co.in

At the Visa Application Center each applicant will be booked for an appointment for personal
appearance at the German Embassy. Submission of the application at the Visa Application
Center and arranging the necessary appointment may be done by the applicant himself or any
authorized third person.

Admission to the Visa Section of the German Embassy will only be granted at the time of the
scheduled appointment. Being late will consequently result in scheduling a new appointment.

The personal appearance of the applicant is mandatory at the German Embassy New Delhi at
the time of submitting the application. Minors have to be accompanied by the legal guardians or
any authorized person carrying proof in form of a written authorization attested by a notary
public and a photo ID.

An exception to the rule of personal appearance at the German Embassy does only apply to
those applicants who either

• have been furnished with at least two Schengen visa within the last 24 months prior to
the date of application and have travelled on the visa and returned to India on or before
the date of expiry of the visa

or

• have been furnished with a visa with a validity of one, two or five years and have
travelled on this visa within the last 24 months according to the Schengen regulations
(max. stay in the Schengen area of 90 days per 6 months) prior to the date of application

However, if deemed necessary the personal appearance of the above mentioned persons may
also be asked for.

Applications for visa may only be submitted to and processed by the German Embassy under
the provision that the following original documents along with an attested translation in the
English language are submitted at the time of application (copies have to be provided in DIN-A
4 size only):

1. Schengen Visa Application Form (please make sure that the form is duly filled out and
signed) and Declaration on True and Complete Information

2. Two passport pictures according to biometric specifications (in case you can not click the
given link, please refer to our homepage)
3. Visa fee to be paid through Demand Draft made out to the “Embassy of the Federal
Republic of Germany” in New Delhi (in case you can not click the given link, please refer
to our homepage)

4. Valid travel document satisfying the following criteria (plus a photocopy of all printed
pages)
(a) its validity shall extend at least three months after the intended date of departure from
the territory of the Member States or, in the case of several visits, after the last intended
date of departure from the territory of the member States;
(b) it shall contain at least two blank pages;
(c) it shall have been issued within the previous 10 years.

5. Travel Insurance (plus a photocopy)

In cases of multiple entry one year visa, travel insurance will only be required for the first
trip. But an adequate travel medical insurance has to be had for any subsequent visits to
the territories of the Schengen Member States.

6. Proof of Financial Means to cover the costs of living for the entire trip and all travel
related expenses (e.g. bank statements, pay slips, tax income returns,
„Verpflichtungserklärung“) (plus a photocopy).

7. Depending on the purpose of the journey:

I. For business trips:

(a) an invitation from a firm or an authority to attend meetings, conferences or events

connected with trade, industry or work;

(b) other documents which show the existence of trade relations or for work purposes;

(c) documents proving the business activities of the company (e.g. registration certificate
of the company, proof of purchased or sold goods, bill of lading).

(d) documents proving the applicant’s employment status in the company (e.g. letter of
the employer) plus a photocopy of each document;

(e) for visitors of fairs and congresses: entry tickets, Hotel reservation, air ticket
reservation

II. For journeys undertaken for the purposes of tourism or for private reasons:

(a) Documents relating to accommodation: invitation from the host if staying with one
(e.g. „Verpflichtungserklärung“) document from the establishment providing
accommodation or any other appropriate document indicating the accommodation
envisaged;

(b) documents relating to the itinerary: proof of the booking of an organised trip or any
other appropriate document indicating the envisaged travel plans (e.g. ticket reservation)
in the case of transit: visa or other entry permit for the third country of destination; tickets
for onward journey
 plus a photocopy of each document;

III. For journeys undertaken for political, scientific, cultural, sports or religious
events or other reasons:
invitation, entry tickets, enrolments or programmes stating (wherever possible) the name
of the host organisation and the length of stay or any other appropriate document
indicating the purpose of the journey plus a photocopy of each document.

The German Embassy reserves the right to ask for additional documents!

Please note that in case of incomplete documents the application will not be accepted and
processed by the Embassy. Consequently a new appointment has to be scheduled!

Please be informed that the processing of a visa application will take at least three working days
from the day of application at the German Embassy.

Please click to download the following required forms for applying for your Schengen visa:
• Schengen Visa Application Form
• Declaration on True and Complete Information

The above given forms can also be downloaded from the homepage of the German Embassy at
www.new-delhi.diplo.de