Germany Tourist Visa - Definitive Guide

Well, in order to enter Germany for tourism, an individual requires a Germany Schengen tourist visa. If you are not from a Schengen nation or from a visa-exempt nation, you will require a visa to enter. Germany finds its mention in the list of the Schengen countries. What is the Germany Schengen tourist Visa? 

• A Schengen visa is a type of visa that allows an individual to enter Schengen countries for tourism purposes, for up to 90 days in a maximum of a 180-day period depending upon the validity. 

• Schengen tourist visa not only enables the nationals to enter Germany but while holding this visa, one could travel to all the 26 Schengen countries. 

The tourist visa for Germany for Indian citizen could limit any nationals to just sightseeing or a tourism purpose. No study or work purpose will be allowed while holding this visa. Germany tourist visa, also known as the Germany Schengen tourist visa is categorized into three entries as, 

Note that even if you have a long validity and multiple entries, your cumulative stay of all the visits to the country must not be longer than 90 days in a 180-day period. 

The application form for the Germany tourist visa must be filled online. Offline forms are no longer accepted. However, the submission of the forms and documents has to be made offline at an outsourced Visa Application Center (VAC) or at a German mission as per the jurisdiction. The procedure can be described as follows -

 Obtain the necessary documents for the tourist category.

• Visit the German Missions website, and fill in the Schengen visa application form online. Take a print out of the form, as well as sign any required declarations. 
• Proceed to schedule your appointment at a VAC or Mission. You can do this online, or by contacting them via call. 
• You should then visit the appointment centre with the application form, fees, and the documents required. 
• You will be subjected to a biometric at the centre if you have not submitted a biometric for a Schengen in the past 5 years. Keep in mind that if your appointment is at a German Mission, you will have to pay the fees in the form of a demand draft. 

Ensure to fill in the right details, and submit the correct documents. Submitting fake documents can lead to visa rejection.

The below guidelines will help you in understanding the eligibility for the Schengen visa. 

• You must be present within India if you are applying from India. If you are an Indian resident in another country, you may be able to apply for the visa in that country itself. 
• You must possess an Indian passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel, 
• Your primary motive behind the visit must be to take part in tourism only. 
• You must possess sufficient funds to cover your stay in the country.
• You can apply for the permit if -
  1. Germany is your only travel destination, or
  2. Germany is one of your multiple Schengen destinations -  in which case you will be spending the majority of your travel period in Germany, or, Germany is your port of entry.

As per the Germany tourist visa requirements for Indian citizens, the documents required can be stated as below - 

• Original passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel
• 2 passport size photographs 
• Covering letter stating the details of the journey
• Proof of accommodation
• Confirmed flight tickets
• Travel medical insurance
• Leave letter or NOC from relevant authorities
• Proof of employment
• Proof of finance
  

The Germany visa photo specification is described below -

• Photograph size: 35mmx45mm
• Height from top to bottom of the face: 32- 36mm.
• The photograph should be centrally aligned. 
• The photo must be clearly visible. 
• No edits will be allowed. 
• The photograph must be recently clicked.
• The background of the photo must be light-coloured. 
• No shadow will be allowed in the picture. Also, any interference of the object in the picture will not be considered. 
• You must give a neutral reaction.

The total processing time required for the Germany tourist visa entirely depends on the number of entries, the validity, volume of applications at the embassy, as well as your previous travel history. 

• However, the estimated time to procure the Schengen tourist visa for Germany is at least 15 working days after submission.
• To avoid any delay in the visa processing, one must properly fill the application form without any major flaws. 

The total fees for the process include the biometric charges, service charges by the VAC, delivery charges, and so on. It can also vary depending upon the foreign exchange rates. As a result, it is suggested that you check the exact amount before starting the application.

While your tourist visa application is being processed, you may track the status by visiting the website of the VAC and entering your reference number and date of birth. Alternately, you may contact the visa agency you have applied through. You may also opt for SMS notification of your status provided by the VAC. 

Once you possess the tourist permit, you must keep in mind the following key points - 

• Ensure that you do not overstay after the expiry date as mentioned on the visa.
• You must travel to Germany within 6 months of your visa issue date, or as mentioned on the sticker. If you do not, your permit will become invalid and you will have to apply for a new one.
• Always carry a copy of your travel documents such as passport and visa while you are in the country.
• While you are on this permit, you are not allowed to work or take part in other work-related activities. 
• You are not allowed to extend the permit unless in extreme circumstances such as force majeure, unfavourable situations in the home country, and so on. 
• You must abide by the German rules and regulations while you are in the country.