All the requrements are listed below. Should you still like to Download the Checklist, you may do so.

Required documents
(if not otherwise noted, submittal of copies of the original document are sufficient. Please note that the Visa Section does not return original documents, if you do not provide a copy)

1. Completely filled out and signed Schengen visa application form. Please use the VIDEX website to fill out the application online. Please ensure to print and submit all pages of the application form including the barcodes.

2. Signed declaration of True and Complete Information

3. Signed declaration of travel with valid medical insurance

4. Passport
Valid passport (issued within the last 10 years and with at least 3 months' validity after the scheduled return); passports with observations regarding the front data page will not be accepted; passport must have at least two empty pages to affix visa

5. Copy of the biometric & address page of the passport as well as the last page (if Indian passport)
Min. 1 biometric passport picture (35x45mm white background, 70%-80% face coverage), not older than six months

6. Personal covering letter/ Proof of intended means of transport and itinerary

7. Original signed invitation letter from the family member/friend in Germany, including:
- their address and contact details and
- intended period and duration of stay and
- evidence of legal residence of family/friends visited: copy of passport/national ID card (first and last page if it’s an Indian passport) + copy of his/her residence permit (Inviter in Germany) if applicable and
- name of traveler and
- passport number of traveler and
- purpose of trip and itinerary of the visit in brief

8. If you visit your child, in addition to the mentioned above if child is not already the inviting person:
- evidence of legal residence of child to be visited
- copy of passport/national ID card (first and last page if it’s an Indian passport)
- copy of his/her residence permit

9. Proof of Relationship:
a) if you visit a German or EU/EEA or Swiss citizen:
- OCI Card
- passport copy or copy of ID card
- birth certificate
- marriage certificate (if applicable)

b) if you visit an Indian citizen residing in Germany
- birth certificate
- marriage certificate (if applicable)
- passport copy (first and last page)
- copy of valid residence permit (AT/Niederlassungserlaubnis)

10. Proof of Accommodation:
- Hotel reservations, rental of holiday home or campus residence reservation.
- If the applicant intends to stay with a family member or a friend, proof of sponsorship and/or private accommodation from the host, confirmation of the third person with signature, proof of address and copy of passport or German ID card
- If the applicant is travelling to several Member States, proof of accommodation in each of them.

11. Sponsor documentation - proof of financial means if trip is sponsored by a third party
a) if you are sponsored by an Indian resident
- Sponsor letter with a passport copy of the sponsor
- Sponsor’s bank statements for the last 3 months stamped by the bank (If the pages are in continuation, kindly separate the pages; passbook copies are not accepted.)
- If sponsor is your spouse - marriage certificate
- If sponsor is your parent - birth certificate
b) if you are sponsored by a German/EU resident
- Sponsor letter with a passport copy of the sponsor
- copy of the German residence permit (if sponsor is residing in Germany and not a German Citizen)
- If provided: Verpflichtungserklärung (formal obligation letter) of your sponsor
- If sponsor is your spouse - marriage certificate
- If sponsor is your parent - birth certificate
c) if you are sponsored by a company in India
in addition to point 7 & 8:
- Acknowledgement of the company's ITR Returns for the last three years (latest first, for example, 2024-2022)
d) if you are sponsored by a company in Germany
- Sponsor letter with a passport copy of the sponsor and copy of the German residence permit (if sponsor is residing in Germany and not a German Citizen)

12. Traveler documentation - proof of economic status of the applicant (also necessary if the trip is sponsored)
a) If you are employed:
Pay slips for the last three months
- employment contract
- employers’ statement on approval for holidays (Leave Sanction letter from applicant’s company)
- Applicant’s bank statements for the last 3 months stamped by the bank (If the pages are in continuation, kindly separate the pages; passbook copies are not accepted.)
- Indian income tax return (ITR) acknowledgment for the last two assessment years OR Form 16 (Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary)
b) If you are a company owner or self-employed:
- certificate of registration of the company, including its goods and services tax (GST) registration number for companies based in India
- Indian income tax return (ITR) acknowledgment for the last two assessment years OR Form 16 (Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary)
- Applicant’s bank statements for the last 3 months stamped by the bank (If the pages are in continuation, kindly separate the pages; passbook copies are not accepted.)
c) If you are retired:
- pension statements for the last three months and/or
- proof of regular income generated by ownership of property or busines
- Applicant’s bank statements for the last 3 months stamped by the bank (If the pages are in continuation, kindly separate the pages; passbook copies are not accepted.)
d) if you are a student:
- certificates of the establishment at which you are enrolled
- no objection certificate from School / University for university students
- Applicant’s bank statements for the last 3 months stamped by the bank (If the pages are in continuation, kindly separate the pages; passbook copies are not accepted.)
e) if you are unemployed
- Applicant’s bank statements for the last 3 months stamped by the bank (If the pages are in continuation, kindly separate the pages; passbook copies are not accepted.)

13. Proof of civil status:
- if single: nothing else required
- if applicable Marriage certificate
- if applicable Divorce decree/ custody decree
- if applicable Birth certificate of children
- if applicable Death certificate of spouse

14. Flight reservation

15. Overseas travel medical insurance that is valid for all Schengen countries and covers the entire duration of the Schengen trip as per your application, minimum coverage for medical expenses: EUR 30,000
Please note: German Missions accept Indian Travel Medical Insurances only from approved Indian Travel Insurance companies, you can find more information here: https://india.diplo.de/in-en/service/-/1984578

Additional Documents for Applications of Minor Applicant
- Application form and both declarations under 1)-3) have to be signed by both parents
- Birth certificate
- Passport copy (biometric and address page) of the applicant’s mother having custody/guardianship of the applicant
- Passport copy (biometric and address page) of the applicant’s father having custody/guardianship of the applicant
- If one or both parents are not submitting the visa application with the child: copy of the visa of that parent
- If only one parent submits the application:
- Proof of single custody of that parent either by submittal of the court ruling or submittal of the death certificate of the deceased parent
- Or (if both parents have shared custody) submittal of written and signed authorization letter of the parent non-present with passport copy (biometric and address page) – both certified by public notary
- If the minor travels alone (without parents), written consent, certified by public notary, of both parents or guardians having custody or guardianship of the minor;

Additional documents: If the Applicant would like to submit additional documents to make a better case for himself/herself, he/she is free to do so. Please note that VFS is not authorized to refuse acceptance of documents the applicant would like to submit even though the documents may not be mentioned in the checklist.

Information about biometric data:
Were the fingerprints of the applicant collected in the last 59 months for applying for a Schengen visa in India? If yes, please mention month and year of collection:
Please note that fingerprints will be taken if the applicant submits his application in person, even if the last submittal was within the last 59 months
Was the applicant excused from giving fingerprints for biometrics? If so, please specify why

Additional document if application is not submitted by the applicant directly
- Signed authorization letter for the travel agent or the representative
- Copy of passport of the person submitting the application

General remarks of the German mission for submittal of a Schengen visa application
The German Missions reserve the right to ask for additional documents.
- Submission of the above-mentioned documents does not guarantee that a visa is granted.
- Submission of incomplete documentation may result in the rejection of an application. The visa section is not obliged to ask for submittal of documents already mentioned on this list before denying an application.
- Applications have to be submitted not earlier than six months before and not later than 15 working days before the intended date of travel.
- Applications are usually processed within 15 working days from the day of arrival at the visa section. When submitting your application via VFS application center, please keep in mind that the visa application will need up to two working days to reach the visa section. Public holidays of the German missions as announced on our website will not count as working days.
- Please note that individual status inquiries cannot be answered within the standard processing time of 15 working days.
- A booked flight ticket does not result in a preferred processing of the application.
- All documents, forms and declarations have to be submitted either in German or English. All documents, forms and declarations not in German or English have to be submitted with proper German or English translation. Failing to provide proper translation will result in the document, form or declaration considered “missing”.

Special remarks of the German mission for submittal of a Schengen visa application in the respective category
- The start date of an exhibition / trade fair does not result in a preferred processing of the application.
- The regular Schengen visa fees apply. Exhibitors may be exempted from the visa fee only if the individual exhibitor pass is provided together with the application.
- Later submittal of the exhibitor pass will not result in a reimbursement of the visa fee.
- Holders of visitor passes are not exempted from the visa fees.

Declaration of the visa applicant (to be signed by the parent(s) submitting the application if applicant is a minor or by the representative at the VFS VAC on the day of submittal)

Confirmation of VFS on the day of submittal