Visa Information

Overview

Business travelers who conduct meetings or negotiations in Germany for an employer who is based in a location outside Germany (abroad), draw up contractual offers, conclude contracts or monitor the performance of a contractual agreement should apply for a business visa. Those who conduct market research, short-stay scientific research, in-company continuing education and training in the German part of the company, participate in conferences and workshops, attend job interviews or engage in any other professional business activity should also apply for a business visa.

• Please provide relevant details in the invitation and employment letter if your travel purpose is related to contracts for work and materials (Werklieferungsverträge), e.g. pre-acceptance of machines ordered by a supplier in Germany.
• Employees who are posted to Germany by their employer for after-sales services of machines or equipment delivered to Germany, approval by the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) must be provided with your application.
• Frequent business travelers are encouraged to apply for a multiple-entry visa valid for one to five years, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used previous visas in recent years. Applicants can enclose their request for a multi-year visa with an informal letter which can be added to the application documents.

Visa Fees

Documents Required

Information Leaflets:

Business Visit

Photo Specifications

Please submit two passport photos which should fulfil the following criteria ( conforming to ICAO standards).

The photos are part of the biometric data, mandatory for a Schengen visa application.

• Colour photo on a white background
• Size: 3.5 x 4.5cm
• Taken from the front with the subject looking directly at the camera
• The mouth must be closed, no teeth visible
• Without any shadow on the face
• Wearer of glasses: the eyes must not be covered by the frames of the glasses
• Sharp, not blurred, high pixel resolution (600 DPI)
• Face covers 70-80% of the photo
• Recent photo, not older than 6 months
• Photo should not be modified with Photoshop

The photo will be imprinted into the visa sticker and must fulfil the above criteria. The photo is stored in different databases (central register for foreigners, visa information system), so that a comparison can take place when entering the Schengen area. For more details, please refer to the photo template.

Photos that are older than 6 months are not accepted by the visa section and applications containing photographs that are older than 6 months will be rejected and not processed. To avoid this, we advise you to take new photos right before the visa application submission.

Processing Time

Normal processing times are within a few working days. However, processing times vary from application to application at the sole discretion of the German mission, and some applications may take longer than others to get processed due to their complexity. Please check that the visa application form is complete and accurate.

Please submit your visa application form and relevant supporting documents at least 15 days before the intended departure.

Download Forms

Schengen Visa Application Form

Please complete and print the following application form. Sign and submit it with your supporting visa application documents. For more information, read the user guide or click here to access the launch assistant directly.

The application form has to be signed personally by the applicant. For applicants under 18 years of age, the application form must be signed at least by one of the parents or a legal guardian.

Please make sure you have provided a valid e-mail address in the application form. All further information regarding your visa application (e.g., requests for additional documents/information) will be sent to your e-mail address mentioned in the application form.

According to the Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China and other applicable laws and regulations to protect your personal information, VFS Global must obtain the consent from you for the processing of your personal data and proceed with your visa application. Please download, print, fill, sign and submit the consent form along with your visa application form, without which we will not be able to proceed with the application lodgment. Click here

Overview

This category is applicable for business trips related to a trade fair in Germany.

Visa Fees

Documents Required

Information Leaflets:

Visitor of Fair/Exhibitor/Exhibition builder

Photo Specifications

Photo

Please submit two passport photos which should fulfil the following criteria (conforming to ICAO standards).

The photos are part of the biometric data, mandatory for a Schengen visa application.

• Colour photo on a white background
• Size: 3.5 x 4.5cm
• Taken from the front with the subject looking directly at the camera
• The mouth must be closed, no teeth visible
• Without any shadow on the face
• Wearer of glasses: the eyes must not be covered by the frames of the glasses
• Sharp, not blurred, high pixel resolution (600 DPI)
• Face covers 70-80% of the photo
• Recent photo, not older than 6 months
• Photo should not be modified with Photoshop

The photo will be imprinted into the visa sticker and must fulfil the above criteria. The photo is stored in different databases (central register for foreigners, visa information system), so that a comparison can take place when entering the Schengen area. For more details, please refer to the photo template. ..

Photos that are older than 6 months are not accepted by the visa section and applications containing photographs that are older than 6 months will be rejected and not processed. To avoid this, we advise you to take new photos right before the visa application submission.

Processing Time

Normal processing times are within a few working days. However, processing times vary from application to application at the sole discretion of the German mission, and some applications may take longer than others to get processed due to their complexity. Please check that the visa application form is complete and accurate.

Please submit your visa application form and relevant supporting documents at least 15 days before the intended departure.

Download Forms

Schengen visa application form

Please complete and print the following application form. Sign and submit it with your supporting visa application documents. For more information, read the user guide or click here to access the launch assistant directly.

The application form has to be signed personally by the applicant. For applicants under 18 years of age, the application form must be signed at least by one of the parents or a legal guardian.

Please make sure you have provided a valid e-mail address in the application form. All further information regarding your visa application (e.g., requests for additional documents/information) will be sent to your e-mail address mentioned in the application form.

According to the Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China and other applicable laws and regulations to protect your personal information, VFS Global must obtain the consent from you for the processing of your personal data and proceed with your visa application. Please download, print, fill, sign and submit the consent form along with your visa application form, without which we will not be able to proceed with the application lodgment. Click here

Overview

If you plan a sightseeing tour to Germany as a tourist, a Schengen visa is the correct visa type to apply for. Please submit all documents to prove tourism as the purpose of your travel. Please enclose information about the tour operator/travel agency who is organising the trip. If you are travelling with a group, family members, or friends, please state this information in the travel programme.

Those seeking to visit or exhibit in a trade fair should follow the document list for a trade fair to prepare their application.

This visa type also applies to spouses/children accompanying their spouse/parent who hold a valid business visa.

Do not apply for a tourism visa if you are travelling for business purposes or visit family/friends. Applying for the incorrect travel purpose and providing false or falsified documents may lead to the refusal of your application. You must submit an itinerary and proof of accommodation that is valid and corresponds to your travel plans.

• ADS-group travel is subject to a special application process. Please contact your tour operator for more information.

Visa Fees

Documents Required

Information Leaflets

Checklist for Tourism Visit

Photo Specifications

Please submit two passport photos which should fulfil the following criteria (conforming to ICAO standards).

The photos are part of the biometric data, mandatory for a Schengen visa application.

• Colour photo on a white background
• Size: 3.5 x 4.5cm
• Taken from the front with the subject looking directly at the camera
• The mouth must be closed, no teeth visible
• Without any shadow on the face
• Wearer of glasses: the eyes must not be covered by the frames of the glasses
• Sharp, not blurred, high pixel resolution (600 DPI)
• Face covers 70-80% of the photo
• Recent photo, not older than 6 months
• Photo should not be modified with Photoshop

The photo will be imprinted into the visa sticker and must fulfil the above criteria. The photo is stored in different databases (central register for foreigners, visa information system), so that a comparison can take place when entering the Schengen area. For more details, please refer to the photo template. ..

Photos that are older than 6 months are not accepted by the visa section and applications containing photographs that are older than 6 months will be rejected and not processed. To avoid this, we advise you to take new photos right before the visa application submission.

Processing Time

Normal processing times are within a few working days. However, processing times vary from application to application at the sole discretion of the German mission, and some applications may take longer than others to get processed due to their complexity. Please check that the visa application form is complete and accurate.

Please submit your visa application form and relevant supporting documents at least 15 days before the intended departure.

Download Forms

Schengen Visa Application Form

Please complete and print the following application form. Sign and submit it with your supporting visa application documents. For more information, read the user guide or click here to access the launch assistant directly.

The application form has to be signed personally by the applicant. For applicants under 18 years of age, the application form must be signed at least by one of the parents or a legal guardian.

Please make sure you have provided a valid e-mail address in the application form. All further information regarding your visa application (e.g., requests for additional documents/information) will be sent to your e-mail address mentioned in the application form.

According to the Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China and other applicable laws and regulations to protect your personal information, VFS Global must obtain the consent from you for the processing of your personal data and proceed with your visa application. Please download, print, fill, sign and submit the consent form along with your visa application form, without which we will not be able to proceed with the application lodgment. Click here

Overview

If you plan to visit family members or friends in Germany, the visitor visa is the correct visa type.

• For family visits, please submit a notary certificate of family relationship. Chinese documents have to be legalized by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Other foreign documents might need legalization or apostille. The original document will be returned with the passport and can be reused for future visa applications.
• If the invitation letter is signed by one of your in-law-relatives (e.g. son-in-law or daughter-in-law), please also provide relevant proof of family relationship and a copy of the passport and, if applicable, a copy of the German residence permit of your direct relative.
• Frequent travelers are encouraged to apply for a multiple-entry visitor visa valid for one to five years, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used previous visas in recent years. Applicants can enclose their request for a multi-year visa with an informal letter which can be added to the application documents.

Visa Fees

Documents Required

Information Leaflets:

Family / Friend Visit

Photo Specifications

Please submit two passport photos which should fulfil the following criteria (conforming to ICAO standards).

The photos are part of the biometric data, mandatory for a Schengen visa application.

• Colour photo on a white background
• Size: 3.5 x 4.5cm
• Taken from the front with the subject looking directly at the camera
• The mouth must be closed, no teeth visible
• Without any shadow on the face
• Wearer of glasses: the eyes must not be covered by the frames of the glasses
• Sharp, not blurred, high pixel resolution (600 DPI)
• Face covers 70-80% of the photo
• Recent photo, not older than 6 months
• Photo should not be modified with Photoshop

The photo will be imprinted into the visa sticker and must fulfil the above criteria. The photo is stored in different databases (central register for foreigners, visa information system), so that a comparison can take place when entering the Schengen area. For more details, please refer to the photo template.

Photos that are older than 6 months are not accepted by the visa section and applications containing photographs that are older than 6 months will be rejected and not processed. To avoid this, we advise you to take new photos right before the visa application submission.

Processing Time

Normal processing times are within a few working days. However, processing times vary from application to application at the sole discretion of the German mission, and some applications may take longer than others to get processed due to their complexity. Please check that the visa application form is complete and accurate.

Please submit your visa application form and relevant supporting documents at least 15 days before the intended departure.

Download Forms

Schengen Visa Application Form

Please complete and print the following application form. Sign and submit it with your supporting visa application documents. For more information, read the user guide or click here to access the launch assistant directly.

The application form has to be signed personally by the applicant. For applicants under 18 years of age, the application form must be signed at least by one of the parents or a legal guardian.

Please make sure you have provided a valid e-mail address in the application form. All further information regarding your visa application (e.g., requests for additional documents/information) will be sent to your e-mail address mentioned in the application form.

According to the Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China and other applicable laws and regulations to protect your personal information, VFS Global must obtain the consent from you for the processing of your personal data and proceed with your visa application. Please download, print, fill, sign and submit the consent form along with your visa application form, without which we will not be able to proceed with the application lodgment. Click here

Overview

If you are hired to work on a ship anchored at a German port for further sailing in international waters, please apply for your seaman visa covering the days you need to transfer onto the ship.

If you intend to be trained on a cruise ship before its sailing off, please apply your Schengen visa for the duration of your training, max. 90 days.

Important: Your documents must contain the name of the ship and the IMO-Number.

Visa Fees

Documents Required

Information Leaflets:

Seamen

Photo Specifications

Photo

Please submit two passport photos which should fulfil the following criteria (conforming to ICAO standards).

The photos are part of the biometric data, mandatory for a Schengen visa application.

• Colour photo on a white background
• Size: 3.5 x 4.5cm
• Taken from the front with the subject looking directly at the camera
• The mouth must be closed, no teeth visible
• Without any shadow on the face
• Wearer of glasses: the eyes must not be covered by the frames of the glasses
• Sharp, not blurred, high pixel resolution (600 DPI)
• Face covers 70-80% of the photo
• Recent photo, not older than 6 months
• Photo should not be modified with Photoshop

The photo will be imprinted into the visa sticker and must fulfil the above criteria. The photo is stored in different databases (central register for foreigners, visa information system), so that a comparison can take place when entering the Schengen area. For more details, please refer to the photo template.

Photos that are older than 6 months are not accepted by the visa section and applications containing photographs that are older than 6 months will be rejected and not processed. To avoid this, we advise you to take new photos right before the visa application submission.

Processing Time

Normal processing times are within a few working days. However, processing times vary from application to application at the sole discretion of the German mission, and some applications may take longer than others to get processed due to their complexity. Please check that the visa application form is complete and accurate.

Please submit your visa application form and relevant supporting documents at least 15 days before the intended departure.

Download Forms

Schengen visa application form

Please complete and print the following application form. Sign and submit it with your supporting visa application documents. For more information, read the user guide or click here to access the launch assistant directly.

The application form has to be signed personally by the applicant. For applicants under 18 years of age, the application form must be signed at least by one of the parents or a legal guardian.

Please make sure you have provided a valid e-mail address in the application form. All further information regarding your visa application (e.g., requests for additional documents/information) will be sent to your e-mail address mentioned in the application form.

According to the Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China and other applicable laws and regulations to protect your personal information, VFS Global must obtain the consent from you for the processing of your personal data and proceed with your visa application. Please download, print, fill, sign and submit the consent form along with your visa application form, without which we will not be able to proceed with the application lodgment. Click here

Overview

This visa category applies to professionals or students who received an invitation to participate in a cultural or sports event in Germany.

If you participate in individual cultural or sporting events as part of a mainly tourist youth and/or group travel, please apply for a tourism visa and submit additional documents about the event. Examples are child or youth camps followed by a tourism programme, participation at music competitions followed by a round-trip, etc. Please always attach detailed documents about the programme and the organiser of the cultural or sporting event. If the journey is organised by a Chinese or German intermediary company, this information should be mentioned in your documents.

Employment as an artist/musician/actor/acrobat or Taiji-trainer etc. can be allowed in Germany without a formal work permit if not exceeding 90 days within one year (for daily performances if not exceeding 15 days within one year). Please provide a copy of your signed contract and a detailed event schedule.

Visa Fees

Documents Required

Information Leaflets

Participation in cultural and sporting events

Photo Specifications

Please submit two passport photos which should fulfil the following criteria (conforming to ICAO standards).

The photos are part of the biometric data, mandatory for a Schengen visa application.

• Colour photo on a white background
• Size: 3.5 x 4.5cm
• Taken from the front with the subject looking directly at the camera
• The mouth must be closed, no teeth visible
• Without any shadow on the face
• Wearer of glasses: the eyes must not be covered by the frames of the glasses
• Sharp, not blurred, high pixel resolution (600 DPI)
• Face covers 70-80% of the photo
• Recent photo, not older than 6 months
• Photo should not be modified with Photoshop

The photo will be imprinted into the visa sticker and must fulfil the above criteria. The photo is stored in different databases (central register for foreigners, visa information system), so that a comparison can take place when entering the Schengen area. For more details, please refer to the photo template.

Photos that are older than 6 months are not accepted by the visa section and applications containing photographs that are older than 6 months will be rejected and not processed. To avoid this, we advise you to take new photos right before the visa application submission.

Processing Time

Normal processing times are within a few working days. However, processing times vary from application to application at the sole discretion of the German mission, and some applications may take longer than others to get processed due to their complexity. Please check that the visa application form is complete and accurate.

Please submit your visa application form and relevant supporting documents at least 15 days before the intended departure.

Download Forms

Schengen Visa Application Form

Please complete and print the following application form. Sign and submit it with your supporting visa application documents. For more information, read the user guide or click here to access the launch assistant directly.

The application form has to be signed personally by the applicant. For applicants under 18 years of age, the application form must be signed at least by one of the parents or a legal guardian.

Please make sure you have provided a valid e-mail address in the application form. All further information regarding your visa application (e.g., requests for additional documents/information) will be sent to your e-mail address mentioned in the application form.

According to the Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China and other applicable laws and regulations to protect your personal information, VFS Global must obtain the consent from you for the processing of your personal data and proceed with your visa application. Please download, print, fill, sign and submit the consent form along with your visa application form, without which we will not be able to proceed with the application lodgment. Click here

Overview

Skilled employees of an international company or enterprise who are traveling to Germany (a trainee or a trainer) do not require a work permit for a stay of a maximum of 90 days per year. Apply for your visa for internal training and provide the invitation letter from Germany according to § 17 BeschV, stating the training schedule in detail.

Foreign physicians who are temporarily staying in a German hospital within the scope of an advanced training programme/postgraduate medical education and are not practicing alternative medicine (“hands-off training”) do not require permission according to § 10 BÄO and are thus not exercising an occupation. Apply for your visa for a “hands-off training” and provide the invitation letter from the German clinic that invited you, specifying the training schedule in detail.

Internships might require a work permit issued by the “Bundesagentur für Arbeit” German Federal Employment Agency (BA). Before signing your intern contract, your German employer should contact the responsible local Bundesagentur für Arbeit for clarification.

Visa Fees

Documents Required

Information Leaflets:

Professional training/internship

Photo Specifications

Photo

Please submit two passport photos which should fulfil the following criteria (conforming to ICAO standards).

The photos are part of the biometric data, mandatory for a Schengen visa application.

• Colour photo on a white background
• Size: 3.5 x 4.5cm
• Taken from the front with the subject looking directly at the camera
• The mouth must be closed, no teeth visible
• Without any shadow on the face
• Wearer of glasses: the eyes must not be covered by the frames of the glasses
• Sharp, not blurred, high pixel resolution (600 DPI)
• Face covers 70-80% of the photo
• Recent photo, not older than 6 months
• Photo should not be modified with Photoshop

The photo will be imprinted into the visa sticker and must fulfil the above criteria. The photo is stored in different databases (central register for foreigners, visa information system), so that a comparison can take place when entering the Schengen area. For more details, please refer to the photo template.

Photos that are older than 6 months are not accepted by the visa section and applications containing photographs that are older than 6 months will be rejected and not processed. To avoid this, we advise you to take new photos right before the visa application submission.

Processing Time

Normal processing times are within a few working days. However, processing times vary from application to application at the sole discretion of the German mission, and some applications may take longer than others to get processed due to their complexity. Please check that the visa application form is complete and accurate.

Please submit your visa application form and relevant supporting documents at least 15 days before the intended departure.

Download Forms

Schengen visa application form

Please complete and print the following application form. Sign and submit it with your supporting visa application documents. For more information, read the user guide or click here to access the launch assistant directly.

The application form has to be signed personally by the applicant. For applicants under 18 years of age, the application form must be signed at least by one of the parents or a legal guardian.

Please make sure you have provided a valid e-mail address in the application form. All further information regarding your visa application (e.g., requests for additional documents/information) will be sent to your e-mail address mentioned in the application form.

According to the Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China and other applicable laws and regulations to protect your personal information, VFS Global must obtain the consent from you for the processing of your personal data and proceed with your visa application. Please download, print, fill, sign and submit the consent form along with your visa application form, without which we will not be able to proceed with the application lodgment. Click here

Overview

Travellers with confirmed clinical appointments in Germany can apply for a Schengen visa for medical treatment. Special provisions for your travel medical insurance might apply.

This visa category also applies to accompanying family members, who should provide proof of accommodation as well. It is important to submit a detailed letter issued by the hospital or the physician containing details about the planned period of your stay and estimated costs. You need to provide proof that all costs will be covered.

If the nature of your stay at a German clinic is mainly tourist sightseeing and SPA, please apply for a tourism visa.

Visa Fees

Documents Required

Information Leaflets:

Checklist for Medical Treatment

More please refer to the special instruction

Photo Specifications

Photo

Please submit two passport photos which should fulfil the following criteria (conforming to ICAO standards).

The photos are part of the biometric data, mandatory for a Schengen visa application.

• Colour photo on a white background
• Size: 3.5 x 4.5cm
• Taken from the front with the subject looking directly at the camera
• The mouth must be closed, no teeth visible
• Without any shadow on the face
• Wearer of glasses: the eyes must not be covered by the frames of the glasses
• Sharp, not blurred, high pixel resolution (600 DPI)
• Face covers 70-80% of the photo
• Recent photo, not older than 6 months
• Photo should not be modified with Photoshop

The photo will be imprinted into the visa sticker and must fulfil the above criteria. The photo is stored in different databases (central register for foreigners, visa information system), so that a comparison can take place when entering the Schengen area. For more details, please refer to the photo template.

Photos that are older than 6 months are not accepted by the visa section and applications containing photographs that are older than 6 months will be rejected and not processed. To avoid this, we advise you to take new photos right before the visa application submission.

Processing Time

Normal processing times are within a few working days. However, processing times vary from application to application at the sole discretion of the German mission, and some applications may take longer than others to get processed due to their complexity. Please check that the visa application form is complete and accurate.

Please submit your visa application form and relevant supporting documents at least 15 days before the intended departure.

Download Forms

Please complete and print the following application form. Sign and submit it with your supporting visa application documents. For more information, read the user guide or click here to access the launch assistant directly.

The application form has to be signed personally by the applicant. For applicants under 18 years of age, the application form must be signed at least by one of the parents or a legal guardian.

Please make sure you have provided a valid e-mail address in the application form. All further information regarding your visa application (e.g., requests for additional documents/information) will be sent to your e-mail address mentioned in the application form.

According to the Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China and other applicable laws and regulations to protect your personal information, VFS Global must obtain the consent from you for the processing of your personal data and proceed with your visa application. Please download, print, fill, sign and submit the consent form along with your visa application form, without which we will not be able to proceed with the application lodgment. Click here

Overview

Please note the following does not apply to family members of German citizens.

You can apply for this visa type if you are a spouse or partner in civil union, child, stepchild, grandchild under the age of 21 years of an EU/EEA citizen and, you are travelling together with an EU/EEA citizen.

If you intend to travel on your own at any time, you must apply for a regular visitor or tourist visa, and a regular visa fee will apply.

If you hold a Chinese passport and a passport of an EU/EEA country, you can directly enjoy the right of free movement and can enter Germany with your EU/EEA passport

Please note that a Schengen visa only allows you to stay in Germany for a maximum of 90 days within a period of 180 days. It is not possible to change a Schengen visa into a permanent residence permit upon arrival. If you are intending a permanent stay in Germany, please apply for a national visa at the respective German mission.

Visa Fees

Documents Required

Information Leaflets:

Family / Friend Visit –Spouse of EU/EEA or Swiss citizen

Photo Specifications

Photo

Please submit two passport photos which should fulfil the following criteria (conforming to ICAO standards).

The photos are part of the biometric data, mandatory for a Schengen visa application.

• Colour photo on a white background
• Size: 3.5 x 4.5cm
• Taken from the front with the subject looking directly at the camera
• The mouth must be closed, no teeth visible
• Without any shadow on the face
• Wearer of glasses: the eyes must not be covered by the frames of the glasses
• Sharp, not blurred, high pixel resolution (600 DPI)
• Face covers 70-80% of the photo
• Recent photo, not older than 6 months
• Photo should not be modified with Photoshop

The photo will be imprinted into the visa sticker and must fulfil the above criteria. The photo is stored in different databases (central register for foreigners, visa information system), so that a comparison can take place when entering the Schengen area. For more details, please refer to the photo template.

Photos that are older than 6 months are not accepted by the visa section and applications containing photographs that are older than 6 months will be rejected and not processed. To avoid this, we advise you to take new photos right before the visa application submission.

Processing Time

Normal processing times are within a few working days. However, processing times vary from application to application at the sole discretion of the German mission, and some applications may take longer than others to get processed due to their complexity. Please check that the visa application form is complete and accurate.

Please submit your visa application form and relevant supporting documents at least 15 days before the intended departure.

Download Forms

Schengen visa application form

Please complete and print the following application form. Sign and submit it with your supporting visa application documents. For more information, read the user guide or click here to access the launch assistant directly.

The application form has to be signed personally by the applicant. For applicants under 18 years of age, the application form must be signed at least by one of the parents or a legal guardian.

Please make sure you have provided a valid e-mail address in the application form. All further information regarding your visa application (e.g., requests for additional documents/information) will be sent to your e-mail address mentioned in the application form.

According to the Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China and other applicable laws and regulations to protect your personal information, VFS Global must obtain the consent from you for the processing of your personal data and proceed with your visa application. Please download, print, fill, sign and submit the consent form along with your visa application form, without which we will not be able to proceed with the application lodgment. Click here

Overview

You can apply for this visa type if you are:

• The spouse or partner in civil union of a German citizen.
• The parent of a child (under 18 years old) holding German nationality.

Please note that a Schengen visa only allows you to stay in Germany for a maximum of 90 days within a period of 180 days. It is not possible to change a Schengen visa into a permanent residence permit upon arrival. If you are intending a permanent stay in Germany, please apply for a national visa at the respective German mission.

Frequent travelers are encouraged to apply for a multiple-entry visitor visa valid for one to five years, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used previous visas in recent years. Applicants can enclose their request for a multi-year visa with an informal letter which can be added to the application documents.

Visa Fees

Documents Required

Information Leaflets:

Family Member of a German citizen

Photo Specifications

Please submit two passport photos which should fulfil the following criteria (conforming to ICAO standards).

The photos are part of the biometric data, mandatory for a Schengen visa application.

• Colour photo on a white background
• Size: 3.5 x 4.5cm
• Taken from the front with the subject looking directly at the camera
• The mouth must be closed, no teeth visible
• Without any shadow on the face
• Wearer of glasses: the eyes must not be covered by the frames of the glasses
• Sharp, not blurred, high pixel resolution (600 DPI)
• Face covers 70-80% of the photo
• Recent photo, not older than 6 months
• Photo should not be modified with Photoshop

The photo will be imprinted into the visa sticker and must fulfil the above criteria. The photo is stored in different databases (central register for foreigners, visa information system), so that a comparison can take place when entering the Schengen area. For more details, please refer to the photo template.

Photos that are older than 6 months are not accepted by the visa section and applications containing photographs that are older than 6 months will be rejected and not processed. To avoid this, we advise you to take new photos right before the visa application submission.

Processing Time

Normal processing times are within a few working days. However, processing times vary from application to application at the sole discretion of the German mission, and some applications may take longer than others to get processed due to their complexity. Please check that the visa application form is complete and accurate.

Please submit your visa application form and relevant supporting documents at least 15 days before the intended departure.

Download Forms

Schengen visa application form

Please complete and print the following application form. Sign and submit it with your supporting visa application documents. For more information, read the user guide or click here to access the launch assistant directly.

The application form has to be signed personally by the applicant. For applicants under 18 years of age, the application form must be signed at least by one of the parents or a legal guardian.

Please make sure you have provided a valid e-mail address in the application form. All further information regarding your visa application (e.g., requests for additional documents/information) will be sent to your e-mail address mentioned in the application form.

According to the Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China and other applicable laws and regulations to protect your personal information, VFS Global must obtain the consent from you for the processing of your personal data and proceed with your visa application. Please download, print, fill, sign and submit the consent form along with your visa application form, without which we will not be able to proceed with the application lodgment. Click here

Overview

This visa category is applicable to all student groups, with accompanying teachers, who are invited by a German partner school for cultural exchange and joint class attendance. It is advised that all group members submit their applications together.

If you visit several schools in the context of mainly tourist group travel, please apply for a tourism visa. If the journey is organized by a Chinese or German intermediary company, this information should be mentioned in your documents.

If underage children travel, special document proof is mandatory.

Visa Fees

Documents Required

Information Leaflets:

School student exchange

Photo Specifications

Photo

Please submit two passport photos which should fulfil the following criteria (conforming to ICAO standards).

The photos are part of the biometric data, mandatory for a Schengen visa application.

• Colour photo on a white background
• Size: 3.5 x 4.5cm
• Taken from the front with the subject looking directly at the camera
• The mouth must be closed, no teeth visible
• Without any shadow on the face
• Wearer of glasses: the eyes must not be covered by the frames of the glasses
• Sharp, not blurred, high pixel resolution (600 DPI)
• Face covers 70-80% of the photo
• Recent photo, not older than 6 months
• Photo should not be modified with Photoshop

The photo will be imprinted into the visa sticker and must fulfil the above criteria. The photo is stored in different databases (central register for foreigners, visa information system), so that a comparison can take place when entering the Schengen area. For more details, please refer to the photo template.

Photos that are older than 6 months are not accepted by the visa section and applications containing photographs that are older than 6 months will be rejected and not processed. To avoid this, we advise you to take new photos right before the visa application submission.

Processing Time

Normal processing times are within a few working days. However, processing times vary from application to application at the sole discretion of the German mission, and some applications may take longer than others to get processed due to their complexity. Please check that the visa application form is complete and accurate.

Please submit your visa application form and relevant supporting documents at least 15 days before the intended departure.

Download Forms

Schengen visa application form

Please complete and print the following application form. Sign and submit it with your supporting visa application documents. For more information, read the user guide or click here to access the launch assistant directly.

The application form has to be signed personally by the applicant. For applicants under 18 years of age, the application form must be signed at least by one of the parents or a legal guardian.

Please make sure you have provided a valid e-mail address in the application form. All further information regarding your visa application (e.g., requests for additional documents/information) will be sent to your e-mail address mentioned in the application form.

According to the Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China and other applicable laws and regulations to protect your personal information, VFS Global must obtain the consent from you for the processing of your personal data and proceed with your visa application. Please download, print, fill, sign and submit the consent form along with your visa application form, without which we will not be able to proceed with the application lodgment. Click here

Overview

This category is applicable if you are invited by a German school/college/university to attend classes in Germany and your intended stay will be less than 90 days. Please always provide proof of the course programme and further details. The invitation letter should confirm whether course fees have already been paid.

An extension of this Schengen visa will not be possible. If you plan to enroll in a German university, you should apply for a long-term national visa for study purposes, not a Schengen visa.

Music and Art students scheduled for university entrance tests in Germany should also apply for a national visa for study purposes at the respective German mission, instead of applying for a short study Schengen visa.

Visa Fees

Documents Required

Information Leaflets:

Short stay study/ Language courses

Photo Specifications

Photo

Please submit two passport photos which should fulfil the following criteria (conforming to ICAO standards).

The photos are part of the biometric data, mandatory for a Schengen visa application.

• Colour photo on a white background
• Size: 3.5 x 4.5cm
• Taken from the front with the subject looking directly at the camera
• The mouth must be closed, no teeth visible
• Without any shadow on the face
• Wearer of glasses: the eyes must not be covered by the frames of the glasses
• Sharp, not blurred, high pixel resolution (600 DPI)
• Face covers 70-80% of the photo
• Recent photo, not older than 6 months
• Photo should not be modified with Photoshop

The photo will be imprinted into the visa sticker and must fulfil the above criteria. The photo is stored in different databases (central register for foreigners, visa information system), so that a comparison can take place when entering the Schengen area. For more details, please refer to the photo template.

Photos that are older than 6 months are not accepted by the visa section and applications containing photographs that are older than 6 months will be rejected and not processed. To avoid this, we advise you to take new photos right before the visa application submission.

Processing Time

Normal processing times are within a few working days. However, processing times vary from application to application at the sole discretion of the German mission, and some applications may take longer than others to get processed due to their complexity. Please check that the visa application form is complete and accurate.

Please submit your visa application form and relevant supporting documents at least 15 days before the intended departure.

Download Forms

Schengen visa application form

Please complete and print the following application form. Sign and submit it with your supporting visa application documents. For more information, read the user guide or click here to access the launch assistant directly.

The application form has to be signed personally by the applicant. For applicants under 18 years of age, the application form must be signed at least by one of the parents or a legal guardian.

Please make sure you have provided a valid e-mail address in the application form. All further information regarding your visa application (e.g., requests for additional documents/information) will be sent to your e-mail address mentioned in the application form.

According to the Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China and other applicable laws and regulations to protect your personal information, VFS Global must obtain the consent from you for the processing of your personal data and proceed with your visa application. Please download, print, fill, sign and submit the consent form along with your visa application form, without which we will not be able to proceed with the application lodgment. Click here

Overview

Your final destination is outside of the Schengen area and you need to travel via a German airport in order to reach your final destination? Then apply for a short-stay Schengen visa or an airport transit visa. Please find the difference between a Schengen visa, a national visa and an airport transit visa in our FAQ list.

An airport transit visa is required depending upon the country of your citizenship and whether you have residence permits or visas of certain countries.

AIRPORT TRANSIT - Your final travel destination is outside Germany /the Schengen area and your flight booking involves a transit time at a German airport below 24 hours to connect to your final destination.

Chinese citizens do not need an airport transit visa for a stay in the international transit area of a German airport. Only if you leave the international transit area (example: change of terminals or departure airport, or connecting flight destination within the Schengen area) Chinese citizens enter the Schengen area by leaving the transit zone and thus need a short stay Schengen visa.

Depending on your citizenship you might need to apply for an airport transit visa for a stay in the international transit area of the airport.

For transit through a German airport, please check on the website of the European Commission (https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visas/visa-policy/apply_for_a_visa_en) if you need an airport transit visa. And check your travel itinerary and the circumstances of every airport with your travel agency or airline prior to your departure.

Visa Fees

Documents Required

Information Leaflets:

Airport transit (less than 24 hours in the airport transit area)

Photo Specifications

Photo

Please submit two passport photos which should fulfil the following criteria (conforming to ICAO standards).

The photos are part of the biometric data, mandatory for a Schengen visa application.

• Colour photo on a white background
• Size: 3.5 x 4.5cm
• Taken from the front with the subject looking directly at the camera
• The mouth must be closed, no teeth visible
• Without any shadow on the face
• Wearer of glasses: the eyes must not be covered by the frames of the glasses
• Sharp, not blurred, high pixel resolution (600 DPI)
• Face covers 70-80% of the photo
• Recent photo, not older than 6 months
• Photo should not be modified with Photoshop

The photo will be imprinted into the visa sticker and must fulfil the above criteria. The photo is stored in different databases (central register for foreigners, visa information system), so that a comparison can take place when entering the Schengen area. For more details, please refer to the photo template.

Photos that are older than 6 months are not accepted by the visa section and applications containing photographs that are older than 6 months will be rejected and not processed. To avoid this, we advise you to take new photos right before the visa application submission.

Processing Time

Normal processing times are within a few working days. However, processing times vary from application to application at the sole discretion of the German mission, and some applications may take longer than others to get processed due to their complexity. Please check that the visa application form is complete and accurate.

Please submit your visa application form and relevant supporting documents at least 15 days before the intended departure.

Download Forms

Schengen visa application form

Please complete and print the following application form. Sign and submit it with your supporting visa application documents. For more information, read the user guide or click here to access the launch assistant directly.

The application form has to be signed personally by the applicant. For applicants under 18 years of age, the application form must be signed at least by one of the parents or a legal guardian.

Please make sure you have provided a valid e-mail address in the application form. All further information regarding your visa application (e.g., requests for additional documents/information) will be sent to your e-mail address mentioned in the application form.

According to the Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China and other applicable laws and regulations to protect your personal information, VFS Global must obtain the consent from you for the processing of your personal data and proceed with your visa application. Please download, print, fill, sign and submit the consent form along with your visa application form, without which we will not be able to proceed with the application lodgment. Click here