Visa Update: Germany Eases Schengen Visa Requirement for Indians

The German Mission in India announced earlier this week that it has eased the visa application process for Indian tourists by centralising its short-term visa processing at its Mumbai facility.

As per an update on the official website of the German Mission, appointments and Schengen visa applications can now be booked and submitted at all VFS Global Visa Application Centres across the country, regardless of the applicant’s place of residence.

The German Consulate in India, in a statement, said;

“Appointments can be booked and Schengen visa applications can be submitted in all Visa Application Centres run by VFS Global all over India, regardless of your place of residence. If the Application Centre closest to your hometown is already fully booked, please feel free to check for available appointment slots in one of the other major Indian cities.”

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According to the Consulate, this relaxation does not apply to applications for national visas (D-visa category), such as student, employment, or family reunion visas.

Also Read: Germany Visa: VFS Global Issues Updates, New Visa Appointments Available Soon

German Visa Processing Time

The German Mission’s official website also stated the processing time and the potential delay in the visa application process.

It said, please keep in mind that the processing time for a Schengen visa starts only once the application reaches the Consulate. This might take up to SIX working days depending on the delivery conditions and public holidays. Therefore, please account for delays in visa processing time during the holiday season.

It further stated that due to the peak season, it currently takes an average time of 15 days to process your Schengen visa application. Please take this into account before filing your application.

If your travel date is within two weeks of the application date, please check to see if you can postpone your trip. Neither the German Mission nor the Service Provider can, in general, speed up the process.

Short-stay Schengen Visa

A Schengen visa for a short stay allows you to visit Germany and other Schengen countries for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period.

This visa is in the form of a sticker that is attached to the traveller’s passport.

It is worth noting that travellers can apply and submit a Schengen visa application three months before the intended travel date.

German Visa Fees

Recently, Germany Embassy has changed the visa fees for Indias, the updated fee of ₹6400 for an adult and ₹3200 for minors when applying for a Schengen Visa. While, when you applied for a National Visa, the fees were ₹6000 and ₹3000, respectively.

Children under the age of six are exempt from paying the visa fee.

For Schengen Visa:

• Current visa fees for a Schengen visa application of an adult amount to 6400 INR.
• The fee for a Schengen visa application for a minor amount to 3200 INR.

For National Visas:

• The updated visa fees for a national visa application of an adult amount to 6000 INR.
• The fees for a national visa application of a minor amount to 3000 INR.