Do Indian citizens need a visa to enter Germany?
Yes, Indians must have a valid Schengen visa to travel to Germany. This country is part of the Schengen Area, so a type C visa is required for short-term stays for tourism purposes.
Tourist visa to Germany for Indians
A tourist visa to Germany allows you to stay in the country for tourism, recreation, visiting relatives or friends, as well as for participating in short-term cultural events. With this visa,Indian citizens can freely travel throughout all countries in the Schengen area. Its duration is up to 90 days within a 180-day period. The visa does not grant the right to work.
How can Indians obtain a tourist visa to Germany?
To obtain a tourist visa to Germany, Indian citizens must take the following steps:
- Select a German consulate or visa center.
- Gather the necessary documents. A very important part of the application process for a tourist visa to Germany is gathering the necessary documents. German visa officers will make a decision on your application based on these documents.
- Make an appointment to submit your documents and provide your biometric data. During your visit, you will need to provide your biometric data (fingerprints and photo) and submit all documents.
- Pay the visa fee. The fee for applying for a tourist visa to Germany is €90, while for children aged 6-12 you must pay €45, and for children aged 0-6 it is free.
- Wait for processing. The processing of a German tourist visa application by the relevant authorities takes up to 15 days. This period may be extended to 30 days if additional verification of the application is required.
What documents do Indian citizens need to obtain a visa to Germany?
- Completed visa application form
- Passport (valid for at least 6 months after return)
- Two recent passport-size photos
- Medical insurance covering the entire period of travel (minimum €30,000)
- Proof of financial solvency (bank statement, sponsorship letter, etc.)
- Accompanying letter. This personal letter should explain why you want to visit Germany, how long you plan to stay, and what you plan to do there.
- Proof of accommodation (hotel reservation, invitation)
- Proof of itinerary (airline tickets or reservations)
- Certificate from your employer or educational institution
- Consular fee (approx. 80 euros)
If you are visiting a relative or friend in Germany, you must also submit the following documents:
- Official letter of commitment. This document can be obtained from the Foreigners' Registration Office in Germany by a relative living in Germany. In this letter, the host commits to covering your living expenses.
- A document confirming the identity of the host (registration card).
- An invitation letter from the host. The letter must state the reason for the invitation, the degree of kinship with you, the duration of your stay, and the host's address in Germany.
- A document confirming your family relationship.
What should Indians do if their visa application is rejected?
If your application for a tourist visa to Germany is rejected, you will receive an explanation when you receive your passport. If you believe that the embassy has rejected your application unjustly, you can always appeal this decision.
To do this, write an appeal letter about the visa refusal and submit it to the embassy. The embassy will usually give you a specific period in which to appeal the visa refusal. If you do not appeal the decision within this period, you will no longer be able to do so after it expires.
How many times can Indian citizens enter Germany with a Schengen visa?
Schengen visas for Germany can have different types of admission, depending on the number of entries allowed:
1. Single-entry Schengen visa
- Allows one entry into Germany (and other Schengen countries).
- Once you leave the Schengen area, this visa becomes invalid — even if you have only stayed for a few days and the validity period has not yet expired.
2. Double-entry Schengen visa
- Allows two separate entries into the Schengen area.
- You can enter, leave, and re-enter within the visa's validity period and the 90-day stay limit within a 180-day period.
3. Multiple-entry Schengen visa
- Allows unlimited entries and exits within the visa's validity period.
- You must comply with the 90-day stay rule within each 180-day period.
- For example, you can come several times for short trips as long as you do not exceed the permitted limit.
4. Visa with limited territorial validity (LTV)
- Valid only in Germany, or sometimes in several other specified countries.
- Does not allow you to cross other Schengen countries.
- Issued in exceptional cases (humanitarian, urgent, when certain documents are missing, etc.).
Can Indians extend their German Schengen visa?
As a rule, a German Schengen visa cannot be extended. However, if there are serious reasons why you cannot leave Germany, namely:
- Force majeure (e.g., canceled flights, natural disasters)
- Humanitarian reasons (e.g., serious illness of a relative in Germany)
- Serious personal circumstances (e.g., urgent work event)
- Late entry into Germany if the visa has not been used up
PLEASE NOTE: Even in the above cases, an extension will not be granted if you do not apply for an extension within 90 days of your stay.
Is travel insurance mandatory for Germany for Indian citizens?
Yes, if you are applying for a Schengen visa to Germany, travel insurance is mandatory. Together with your visa application, you must provide proof of medical insurance.
Medical insurance requirements for travel to Germany for Indians
As Germany is part of the Schengen area, medical insurance that meets the requirements of the Schengen Agreement is mandatory for a tourist visa. A travel insurance policy for Germany must meet the following criteria:
- The minimum coverage amount must be at least €30,000 per person.
- The insurance must be valid not only in Germany but also in all Schengen countries.
- The policy must cover the entire period of your stay, including dates of entry, departure, and transit.
- The insurance must cover emergency medical care, hospitalization, emergency treatment, as well as repatriation of the body or return home for medical reasons.
You can quickly and conveniently purchase this medical insurance on our website.
The holder of a German transit visa can stay in the international transit zone of the airport for up to 24 hours. Leaving the international transit zone of the airport with this visa is strictly prohibited and illegal.
Do I need a transit visa to the German airport?
Whether you need a German airport transit visa depends on your nationality. The list of those who need a German airport visa is actually quite narrow.
Citizens of the following countries need a transit visa to the German airport:
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- India
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Lebanon
- Small
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Syria
- Turkey
*Visa holders from Australia, Israel or New Zealand are exempt from the German transit visa requirement. Furthermore, if your transit time does not exceed 12 hours, you will not need a German transit visa.
Note that if you only need to stop at one airport in the Schengen area, you will need to apply for a regular Schengen visa. Whereas, if your destination country is one of the Schengen countries to which you have a short-stay visa, you will not need a transit visa through a German airport.
Documents required to apply for a transit visa to the German airport
As with any other visa, you will need to submit some documents when you apply for a German transit visa.
In addition to the standard required documents, below is a list of documents required to apply for a transit visa to the German airport:
- Application form for a transit visa to Germany . The form of the transit visa is the same as for the German Schengen visa;
- A signed declaration of information reliability.
- Confirmation of further travel:
- Confirmed airline ticket to the final destination.
- A copy of a valid visa for the country of destination.
- Full travel itinerary .
- Confirmation of the purchased travel insurance.
Exemption from a transit visa to the German airport
However, if you are a citizen of any of the countries listed above, you will be exempt from the transit visa requirement if you:
- Holder of a valid US visa.
- Holder of a valid visa to a Schengen country, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Japan, Romania or the United Kingdom.
- Holder of a Turkish service or official Turkish passport.
- A Jordanian citizen who has a visa to Australia, Israel or New Zealand and your transit time in Germany does not exceed 12 hours.
- The partner (married, civil or same-sex) or child of an EU/EEA/EFTA citizen and you hold a UK "EEA Family Member Residence Card".
- Holder of diplomatic passports.
Pets of the species Dogs, Cats and Ferrets have the following health requirements:
- Each animal must be identified with a clear tattoo or microchip.
- Proof of valid rabies immunization must be provided on the veterinary certificate. The validity of the immunization is determined on the basis of information provided by the manufacturer. The primary vaccination must be given at least 21 days before crossing the border. The pet must be microchipped before being vaccinated against rabies.
- Entry is possible if the animal is accompanied. The accompanying person must provide a written statement that the animal is not being transported for the purpose of sale or change of ownership.
- The above conditions governing entry must be documented in a veterinary certificate issued by an officially authorized veterinarian. In addition, the traveler must carry supporting documents such as a vaccination certificate.
Current regulations and additional information can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture and on the EU website.
It is permitted to import into Germany from outside the European Union:
- tobacco products in the amount of up to 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars (cigars weighing up to 3 grams), or 50 cigars, or 250 grams of loose tobacco;
- alcoholic beverages in the amount of up to 1 liter in case of spirits with an alcohol content of more than 22%, or up to 2 liters if the alcohol content is less than 22%, or a proportional combination of these goods;
- 4 liters of non-sparkling wine and 16 liters of beer (alcohol, like tobacco, is allowed to be imported only by persons over the age of 17);
- medicines in the amount necessary for personal use - if the amount is significant, the need must be confirmed by medical documents;
- fuel in the volume of a full car tank, regardless of its capacity, plus 10 liters in a canister can be carried with you.
There are also limits on the import of coffee, perfume (50 ml) and eau de toilette (250 ml).
Goods prohibited and restricted for import
German law strictly regulates restrictions on the importation of certain goods through special sectoral laws. Based on their provisions, the law prohibits the importation of certain goods into Germany:
- Weapons and ammunition may be imported into Germany only if you have a permit to carry them issued by the competent German authorities and a document confirming your ownership. Otherwise, it is fraught with punishment for the passenger of up to 5, and in some cases up to 10 years.
- Medicines and drugs may be transported across the border only if they have a certificate signed by a doctor. In addition, it is prohibited to transport counterfeit medicines or drugs used as doping agents.
- Pyrotechnics: Pyrotechnics in Germany are divided into 4 classes - from F1 to F4. A permit is required to import pyrotechnics of class F3 and F4.
- Dangerous dogs: the law on the prohibition of the transportation and import of dogs prohibits the importation of dogs that are classified as dangerous. We are talking about such breeds as pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, bull terrier, and so on. Exceptions are disabled dogs, guide dogs, service dogs, and so on.
- Rough diamonds: transportation and sale of rough diamonds is allowed only with a Kimberley certificate. But even if it is available, transportation is allowed only for transit purposes.
- Certain food products: wild mushrooms, potatoes, sturgeon caviar, dietary supplements, food and feed of animal origin (meat and meat products, milk and dairy products).
- Animals, plants and products made from them.
- Textile products worth more than 1.5 thousand euros, or more than 1 thousand euros if they are not intended for personal use.
- Pirated counterfeit products, but only in the case of commercial activities - the restriction does not apply to personal use.
Restrictions on export from Germany
Certain restrictions may be imposed on specific categories of goods, for example, on:
- Medicines: German law does not prohibit the export of medicines from Germany, but if they contain narcotic substances or are otherwise restricted in circulation, the passenger must have a certificate with information on the unit and daily doses of the drug signed by a doctor.
- Weapons and ammunition: export from Germany requires a permit and an export license issued in accordance with EU Regulation No. 258/2012. Such a license is not required for hunters and sport shooters.
- Rough diamonds: as mentioned above, you will need a Kimberly certificate to export them.
- Certain species of animals and plants: their export is allowed only with a permit.
- Goods made from certain dead animals and plants: up to 125 grams of sturgeon caviar, up to 4 crocodile skin products, up to 3 giant mollusks, up to 4 dead sea skates, up to 1 kg of cod are allowed to be exported.
Amounts of currency to be declared
When entering Germany from a third country or leaving Germany for such a country, a person who owns an amount of EUR 10 thousand or more must declare these funds.
If the money is in the form of cash, it is subject to a written declaration. If it is a means of payment equivalent to this amount, it is subject to an oral declaration.
In the latter case, we mean traveler's checks, shares, bonds and other securities. Violation of this rule entails administrative liability, including a fine of up to EUR 1 million.
The rest of the rules of customs clearance in Germany can be found on the site.
Germany