Visa for Germany from India: price, documents and processing time 2026

Yes. For a tourist trip to Germany, Indian citizens must obtain a Schengen short-stay (Type C) visa before departure. This visa allows a stay of up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period and is valid throughout the Schengen Area. A key rule: you must apply to the country that is your main destination. If Germany is where you will spend the most nights (or your point of entry when the stays are equal), then Germany is where your application must go. Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen Area and contain at least two blank pages.

The published fee is the government charge alone. Two or three other lines are added before the visa is in the passport, and they are what makes the final bill.

• Government fee90 EUR

  Schengen scale: €90 for an adult, €45 for a child aged 6 to 11, free below 6. Some facilitation agreements set a lower rate, the consulate confirms which applies to you.

• Application centre feeCapped at €45

  The Visa Code caps an external provider’s service fee at half the visa fee. It is charged on top, and it is not refunded either.

• Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top

  Never compulsory. An intermediary fills the form for you, it does not change the decision or the processing time.

• ExtrasVariable

  Courier return, SMS tracking, compliant photo, insurance, sworn translation or legalisation, depending on what the post requires.

We only display amounts published by an official source. Confirm the total before paying anything.

The visa fee is €90 for an adult (payable in rupees at the applicable exchange rate, plus VFS service charges). Be ready to provide: a valid passport with two free pages; the signed application form; two recent biometric-format passport photos; travel insurance covering at least €30,000 in medical and repatriation costs and valid across the entire Schengen Area; proof of sufficient funds (recent bank statements); proof of accommodation (hotel booking or invitation letter); and a travel itinerary with a return flight reservation. Depending on your situation, an employer's letter, payslips, or proof of activity may also be requested. Always check the exact list on the official website, as requirements can change.

In India, Germany has appointed its official partner VFS Global to receive visa applications. You do not get your visa from VFS: this provider registers the file and collects your biometric data (fingerprints and photo), but the decision is made by the German consulate or embassy. The process: complete the application form, gather your supporting documents, book an appointment on the VFS Global Germany India website, then attend the VFS centre in person on your appointment day to submit the file and give your fingerprints. VFS centres operate in several major cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and others); choose the one that covers your place of residence.

• Your application goes to the state that is your main destination. If Germany is where you spend the longest, it handles the file, whatever the entry point.
• With no main destination, the competent state is the one you enter first.
• If Germany has no consulate in India, another Schengen state may act on its behalf under a representation arrangement, or the file goes to the post accredited for your country.

Then the application goes to the post accredited for India, often in a neighbouring capital, or to a state acting on its behalf. Confirm which post is competent with the official source before travelling to a third country to apply, a rejected file at the wrong counter costs the trip and the fee.

The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in India but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.

A Schengen visa application usually takes between 15 and 45 days to process, and this can stretch during peak season (summer, holidays) or if the consulate requests additional documents. You may submit your file at the earliest six months before travel, and it is advisable to apply at least three to four weeks before departure. Practical tips: book your VFS appointment very early, because slots fill up fast; make sure your documents are consistent with each other (itinerary, hotel and insurance dates must match); do not buy non-refundable tickets before the visa is granted, but do provide a confirmed reservation. Keep a full copy of your application.

The most common mistake is applying to the wrong country: if Germany is not your main destination (for example, you spend more nights in France or Italy), your application may be refused on the grounds that you should have applied at the other country's consulate. Other frequent pitfalls: leaving the appointment booking until the last minute when VFS slots are fully taken; buying insurance that does not cover the required €30,000 or the whole Schengen Area; presenting insufficient or inconsistent proof of funds; and using a passport whose validity does not extend three months beyond your Schengen exit. Finally, never submit fake documents: this leads to a refusal and can jeopardise your future applications.