Foreign nationals with the intention to enter Germany to stay for a short period of time not more than 90 days will first have to apply for a Germany Schengen visa.

In this article, we will be diving deep into the German Schengen visa and all the requirements needed to successfully apply for a German Schengen visa.

What is a German Schengen visa?

A German Schengen visa is a legal document in form of a sticker that allows foreigners enter Germany for the purpose of tourism, visit to family and friends, etc.

Classification

The type of German Schengen visa which allows foreigners stay in Germany for a short period of time is known as the short-stay Schengen visa (C Visa).

What am I permitted to do in Germany with my German Schengen visa?

With a German Schengen visa, you are permitted to engage in any of the following activities below;

• Tourism.

• Visit to family and friends.

• Sightseeing.

• Medical treatment.

• Attending conferences or meetings.

• Engage in short-term studies or training that are below 90 days period.

• Transit from one Schengen country to another Schengen country.

• Other leisure activities.

You can also read our article on: Spain visitor visa

What am I prohibited from doing with my German Schengen visa?

With your German Schengen visa, you are not permitted to engage in any of the following activities in Germany;

• Work  in Germany, whether paid or unpaid.

• Stay long-term

• Study long-term

If your real purpose of wanting to travel to Germany is for studies then you should apply for a German student visa instead.

Who is exempt from applying for a German Schengen visa?

Foreign nationals or permanent residents from the following countries or territories below are exempt from applying for a German Schengen visa;

• 27 European Schengen countries

• EU or EFTA member countries

• German Schengen visa free exempt countries like Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, UK, United States, Israel and 60 other countries.

Full list of German Schengen visa exempt countries

Here is the full list of the German Schengen visa exempt countries. Kindly go through this list to know if you would need a German Schengen visa to travel to Germany for a short stay.

What is the validity period of a German Schengen visa?

The German Schengen visa generally has a validity period of 90 days in a 180 days period. This simply means that if you are granted a German Schengen visa that is valid for 90 days, you can not stay more than 90 days.

If your German Schengen visa has multiple entries, you can enter Germany multiple times for a period of 180 days but can not stay more than a total of 90 days for all entries.

You can also read our post on: German student visa

What is the cost of a German Schengen visa?

The German Schengen visa application fee is €90 but applicants under the age of 12 years are required to pay a reduced fee of €45.

Required documents

In order to apply for a German Schengen visa, you must submit the following required documents;

• International passport: You must submit an international passport with a validity period of 3 months beyond your intended period of stay in Germany.

• Passport photographs: You must submit 2 recent passport photographs that meets with the German Schengen visa photo requirements.

• Proof of fund: You must prove that you have the financial capacity to support yourself during your stay in Germany by submitting your bank account statement.

• Travel medical insurance: You have to purchase a travel medical insurance which is used to cover any emergency medical treatment during your stay in Germany. The minimum amount is 30,000 Euro.

• Statement of purpose (SOP): You have to submit a statement of purpose with details about the specifics and purpose of your visit to Germany. You can include the dates you plan entering and leaving Germany, travel itinerary, details of hotel reservations, places you intend to visit in Germany, etc.

• Flight ticket receipt: It is not really advisable to purchase a flight ticket ahead of your visitor visa application and approval, although it gives you an edge. If you must buy a round trip flight ticket ahead of your visa application, then it must be a refundable flight ticket in case your visa application gets denied.

• Hotel booking receipt: We don’t recommend booking of hotels prior to visa application and approval, but it gives you an edge. If you must make a hotel reservation ahead, then we strongly recommend that you book hotels with cancellation features and refundable fees.

• Invitation letter: If you’re traveling to Germany to stay with a close friend or family member, you must get an invitation letter from the person that you are going to stay with in Germany.

Additional documents

• Employment offer letter if you are employed.

• Proof of enrolment to school if you are a student.

• Pension statement if you are retired.

• Letter of no-objection from your employer or school.

• Visa fee payment receipt.

• Business name registration certificate if you have a business.

• Letter of financial support if your host will be supporting you financially during your short stay in Germany.

Required documents for minor applicants

Below is a document checklist for minor applicants.

• Completed application form signed by both parents.

• Original birth certificate.

• Consent document by both parents (if traveling alone). If traveling with one of the parents, the other parent has to issue a document of consent to travel.

• Custody court order, in cases where only one parent has full custody over the child.

• Original copies of ID/Passport of both parents.

Germany Schengen visa application process

The Germany Schengen visa application process is very easy if you follow all the steps outlined below. If you feel the whole process is too stressful and you would love us to handle everything for you, kindly get in touch with us.

• Complete your application: The first step of the German Schengen visa application process is to complete the application form on the VIDEX platform. Ensure you print out the completed application form and sign on it.

• Gather the required documents: After completing your application and printing it out, the next thing to do is to gather all the required documents and arrange them in the order listed on the German Schengen visa document checklist.

• Schedule an appointment: After gathering the required documents, proceed by scheduling your visa appointment at the German consulate or Visa Application Centre (VAC) in your home country.

• Attend your visa appointment: On the the appoint date, you will will submit your Germany Schengen visa application form in person along with the required documents. You will also pay the visa application fee and submit your biometric information.

Is biometric submission mandatory for a German Schengen visa application?

Yes biometric submission is a crucial part of the German Schengen visa application process. Failure to submit your biometric to the German consulate or Visa Application Centre (VAC) can lead to your visa application been denied.

Are there exceptions to biometric submission?

Yes there are some exceptions to biometric submission for a German Schengen visa application. below are some of the exceptions;

• If you have already submitted your biometric for a previous German visa application within the last 59 months.

• children under the age of 12 years old.

• Individuals for whom fingerprinting is physically impossible.

What is the processing times for a German Schengen visa?

The processing times for a German Schengen visa application ranges from 15 to 60 days depending on several factors and complexity of the application.

The number of applications at the German embassy or Visa Application Centre (VAC) where your visa application is to be processed can also affect the processing times of your visa application.

When is the earliest time to apply for a German Schengen visa?

The earliest you can apply for a German visitor visa is 6 months before the scheduled date of your trip to Germany. You can also apply 1-3 months before the scheduled date of your trip to Germany.

Must I have a host in Germany to apply for a German Schengen visa?

No it is not mandatory to have a host in Germany before you can apply for a German Schengen visa. If you do not have a host in Germany, you can simply apply as a tourist but you must submit a statement of purpose with details of your travel itinerary and hotel reservations made.

Can I travel to other Schengen region with my German Schengen visa?

Yes with your German Schengen visa, you can travel or transit through other Schengen countries. But having a German Schengen visa does not automatically grant you access to other Schengen countries.

You still need to meet the entry requirements before the border authorities can grant you access.

You can also read our article on: Germany work visa

Possible reasons for a German Schengen visa application denial

Following below are the possible reasons for a German Schengen visa application denial;

• Incomplete or inconsistent application.

• Lack of financial means to support yourself during your short stay in Germany.

• Submitting fake or fraudulent documents.

• Lack of strong ties to your home country.

• Having a criminal record.

• Having a bad travel history i.e., overstaying your previous visas to Germany or other countries.

• Having a deadly and communicable disease.

• Not having a genuine visit intent.

• Not having valid travel medical insurance worth 30,000 Euros.

What should I do if my German Schengen visa application is denied?

If your German Schengen visa application is denied, you can either choose to reapply for a new visa or appeal the visa denial.

• If you are reapplying for a new German Schengen visa, you must sort out all the issues listed on your visa rejection letter, if not your new visa application will still be denied again.

• If you feel your German Schengen visa application was unfairly rejected, then you can make an appeal to the German government and it must be written in German language.

Here at Schmick Travel, we have expert consultants with years of experience in the travel industry. If you would love us to handle the whole application process for you, kindly get in touch with us and one of our consultants will be happy to assist you.