Schengen area
Indian citizens need a Schengen visa for a holiday in Germany. Applications are submitted at VFS Global centres across India, and all of them are forwarded to the German Consulate General in Mumbai for a decision. The checklist is detailed: itinerary, flight reservation, accommodation in every member state, and bank-stamped statements with tax and employment proof.
Where to apply: Fill in the form on the VIDEX website, print all pages with barcodes, and submit at the VFS Global centre that serves your place of residence. Every Schengen application for Germany lodged in India is decided by the German Consulate General in Mumbai.
Completed on VIDEX, signed, with all pages including barcodes printed.
Declaration of true and complete information and declaration on travelling with valid medical insurance.
Issued within the last 10 years, valid at least three months after the planned return, two empty pages, no observations on the data page; add a copy of the biometric and address pages.
At least one biometric photo, 35 x 45 mm, white background, 70 to 80 percent face coverage, not older than six months.
Personal letter with proof of intended means of transport and the travel route.
Travel agency certificate for an organised trip or a detailed itinerary.
Hotel reservations or host confirmation for each member state.
Employees: three payslips, employment contract and leave sanction letter. Self-employed: company registration with GST number. Students: enrolment certificate and NOC.
Last three months, stamped by the bank; passbook copies are not accepted.
ITR acknowledgement for the last two assessment years or Form 16.
Marriage certificate, divorce or custody decree, children's birth certificates or spouse's death certificate, where applicable.
Reservation for the journey to and from the Schengen area.
Minimum EUR 30,000 from an approved Indian insurer, valid for the full trip.
If sponsored: sponsor letter, passport copy, stamped bank statements and proof of relationship, or a formal obligation letter from a sponsor in Germany.
Travel medical insurance: Travel medical insurance valid in all Schengen countries for the whole trip with at least EUR 30,000 medical cover is required; Indian policies are accepted only from approved insurers.
The tourism checklist has a separate line for a flight reservation, and also asks for a personal covering letter with proof of the intended means of transport and itinerary. A reservation is what is named, not a paid ticket.
Get it for ₹708Proof of accommodation is required: hotel reservations, a holiday home rental, or a host's signed confirmation with address proof and ID copy. Trips through several member states need proof for each.
Get it for ₹590Questions
Yes. Item 11 of the tourism checklist is a flight reservation, and item 5 asks for proof of intended means of transport and itinerary. The checklist names a reservation rather than a purchased ticket.
Yes. Proof of accommodation is required, such as hotel reservations or a host's confirmation, and for trips to several member states it is needed in each.
The VFS overview states 15 working days, not counting the submission day. Appointment waiting times are separate, so plan the booking well ahead.
All Schengen applications for Germany accepted at VFS centres in India are forwarded to the German Consulate General in Mumbai for a decision.
VFS Global overview supplied for India (fees effective 28 May 2026) and German 'Checklist for a Schengen visa for Tourism' dated February 2023. Last checked 2026-11. We are not a government body and this page is general information, not visa advice. Consulates change their lists without notice, so always confirm on the official page before you apply.
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