Since June 8, 2020 relaxations of lockdown rules in areas outside the Containment Zones have been introduced. Inform yourself with the local Indian authorities and keep yourself updated via local media. As per current information the international commercial aviation traffic continues to be halted until further notice.

The following information on the situation for stranded German tourists and short-term travelers who are still in India is available:

Information on upcoming repatriation flights

The federal government's repatriation program has concluded. Here you will find information on any eventually planned repatriation flights by other European governments from India to Europe.
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As per our current information, regular repatriation flights with LUFTHANSA are planned from Delhi to Frankfurt, Mumbai to Frankfurt and Bengaluru to Frankfurt.

Provided there are capacities available, these flights are bookable directly on the Lufthansa Website.

More regular repatriation flights with Air France are planned from Delhi to Paris, Mumbai to Paris and Bangalore to Paris.

Provided there are capacities available, these flights are bookable directly on the Air France Website.

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More regular repatriation flights with KLM are planned from Delhi to Amsterdam.

Provided there are capacities available, these flights are bookable directly on the KLM Website.

Kindly contact the respective airline for status, availability and conditions.

We ask for your understanding that the German Embassy and the Consulates cannot answer any additional questions regarding these flights.

Information on international transit of non-EU citizens can be found here under “Airport Transit”.

Please find further information on immigration/quarantine in India below.
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The Indian government has announced a partial re-commencement of domestic flights from 25th May 2020 onwards. This could be a better option for travel to one of the main airports from which repatriation flights depart. Travelers are advised to check on detailed procedure with the respective airline as well as on quarantine measures or special regulations of the respective Indian States/Union territories in advance. It might be possible that at the beginning only a particular group of people (e.g. participants in repatriation program) are eligible for these flights. Current information can be found on the websites of the Delhi airport or of the Indian Ministry for Civil Aviation.

General Information on immigration and quarantine upon arrival:

Please note that the onward journey to Germany (flight ticket or train ticket) must already be booked before departure. Proof of this must be presented.

All travellers from Covid-19 risk countries, such as India, must register on www.einreiseanmeldung.de before entering Germany. A 10 day home quarantine is mandatory. To reduce quarantine time, a negative Covid-19 test, taken not earlier than on the 5th day after arrival, can be presented to the local Health Authority (Gesundheitsamt). Violation of registration and quarantine requirements can lead to a fine of up to 25.000 €.

Current information can be obtained from the website of the German Federal Ministry of the Interior.

Please also see our FAQs (in German), which contain information and answers to the most common questions related to the Corona crisis.

Information for German citizens:

In order to be informed directly by us about the current situation, we recommend German citizens to register in our crisis preparedness list at www.diplo.de/elefand.

Information for Indian citizens:

Kindly note that due to the ongoing battle against Covid-19 entry into Germany is still limited to travellers having a compelling reason for their trip, such as:

1. Being holder of a German Residence permit (for example “Aufenthaltserlaubnis” or “Niederlassungserlaubnis”)
2. Holding a Long-term (Category “D”) visa
3. Holding a Schengen-Visa issued by a German Mission after March 17th, 2020, including transit / airport transit visa (if necessary)
 
For more detailed information, also on how to prove a “compelling reason” during visa procedure, please check VFS and Embassy / Consulates‘ visa-related websites. Please note that some visa categories are currently not available (tourism, language course, job seeker).

The Indian Government has taken up international flights in a restricted manner on the basis of bilateral agreements. Flights within India have resumed from May 25th, 2020 onwards. Travelers are advised to check on detailed procedure with the respective airline as well as on quarantine measures or special regulations of the respective Indian States/Union territories in advance. Current information can be found on the websites of the airports or of the Indian Ministry for Civil Aviation.

Since 21 October 2020, entry to India by water or air with newly issued visas except for tourism is possible. Entry by water or air with visas that had stood suspended as of 13 March 2020 is also possible, provided the visa is still valid, except for electronic visa, tourist visa and medical visa.

Regular visa, e-visa or stay stipulation of all foreign nationals would be extended on 'GRATIS' basis after making online application by the foreigner to the concerned. Exit of such foreign nationals, if so requested by them during this period, will be granted without levy of overstay penalty. Prolongation has to be applied for with FRRO prior to expiry of the visa.

However, FRRO now tends to no longer prolong tourist visa but to issue an exit permit instead that requires the bearer to leave India within its validity.

Travel restrictions related to COVID-19 are subject to change. Please check with the Indian authorities for complete and updated information regarding travel restrictions in the region you are in at the moment.

Please see the continuously updated travel advisory for India on the Website of the Fedral Foreign Office (in German as well as the updates of the Indian Bureau of Immigration .

Now that our repatriation program is concluded, quite a number of Indian citizens with permanent residency, work permit, Blue Card or student visa for Germany have approached us to see if we could help them return to Germany.

As much as we understand these concerns and sympathize with you for the difficulties caused, it is also important to be realistic and transparent in what ‘Team India’ (Embassy and our 4 General Consulates) can do for you in this situation.

1. Please check the “upcoming repatriation flights” above for more information on the occasional special chartered repatriation flights by some European airlines, which can be booked online. But please be aware that due to their non-commercial nature, relief-flight restrictions by the airline or by Indian aviation authorities might apply on who can board such flights!
Additionally repatriation flights with Air India are bookable via the airline's website.

The Indian Embassy in Berlin as well as the Indian Consulates General in Hamburg, Frankfurt and Munich have opened up COVID-19 hotlines. The contact details can be found on the website of the Indian Embassy in Berlin. Please contact the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation or Air India directly with questions relating to repatriation of Indians.

2. In case you get on such a flight please be aware that once you fly to Germany all travellers from Covid-19 risk countries, such as India, must register on www.einreiseanmeldung.de before entering Germany. A 10 day home quarantine is mandatory. To reduce quarantine time, a negative Covid-19 test, taken not earlier than on the 5th day after arrival, can be presented to the local Health Authority (Gesundheitsamt). Violation of registration and quarantine requirements can lead to a fine of up to 25.000 €.

More details on the quarantine regulations you can be found on the website of the German Federal Ministry of the Interior or the German Federal Ministry of Health.

3. Germany has - following the EU recommendation - extended the entry ban beyond July 1st, 2020 for travelers from high-risk areas. India is one of them. Foreigners in Germany who have arrived on 17.03.2020 or later with a Schengen Visa are exempt from the requirement of a resident permit from the expiration date of their visa until 30.09.2020.
Competent for renewal after this date are the local aliens offices (Ausländerbehörden).

4. As for visa, work or student issues, it is advisable to contact your employer, university, landlord, etc., in order to see how to prepare for the days when commercial flights reopen again. This pandemic, in many aspects, has entered uncharted territory, so it requires flexibility and patience, but most of all, understanding that our main priority must be to fight the virus as efficiently as possible.

We ask for your understanding that the German Embassy cannot give a prognosis on when commercial flights will recommence.

Please keep yourself informed on the Indian government’s websites and on social media, as well as through the Federal Foreign Office’s travel advice for India via the smartphone app “Sicher Reisen”.

Exemptions from the entry ban can be made and a visa can be granted for a short-term visit:

-  if you and your partner have previously lived together in India or in another foreign country (please submit scan of corresponding visa of your partner)

-  or if you have already visited your partner in Germany (please submit a scan of your previous Schengen visa and entry stamps).

While the German Missions’ visa sections remain closed to the general public until further notice, it may be considered if an exceptional appointment can be conceded for short-term visits of long-distance relationship partners. You may submit the proof to the competent German Mission. If it is found that you might be eligible to apply, an appointment will be given to you.

On the day of the appointment, please submit the above-mentioned proof and the filled in declaration forms (to travel to Germany to see your partner or to travel to Germany along with your partner) in addition to the regular documents to be presented for a visitor visa. Please keep in mind that the following general criteria have to be met:
 
-  The visa category is short-term. Therefore, it has to be established whether you will be returning to India (after a maximum stay of 90 days). Proof can be NOC from your employer / university.
Please note that if you have already applied for a family reunion / intended marriage visa, this contradicts your willingness to return to India, as you obviously want to shift to Germany on a permanent basis.

-  Proof of financial stability as well as sufficient funds for the duration of your stay, including travel insurance, have to be presented.

Generally, you should submit a “Verpflichtungserklärung” / formal obligation letter (original only!) from your sponsor, usually your partner in Germany, duly attested by a German authority.
Only if you are a bona-fide traveller with sufficient regular income, the requirement of a formal obligation letter can be waived.

- Additional proof of your relationship should be made available regarding the duration of your relationship and when and where personal visits have taken place.
 
For additional information and application and declaration forms, please visit our website.

1. Indian passport holders with residence permit or national visa for the US or Canada (e.g. Green card) are exempted from the need of an Airport-Transit Visa. Therefore you could travel to the US/Canada via Frankfurt OR Munich if you don’t leave the international transit area and have your luggage checked through to the US/Canada. You have to prove to the airline that the American/Canadian authorities will let you enter the US/Canada. Proof of onward ticket is of course mandatory. Please also check with your airline if your luggage will be checked through and if you can stay in the international transit area while changing planes. Kindly note that a maximum stay in the international transit area is allowed for 24 hours only.

If you are planning to travel via Germany including a domestic flight (e.g. Delhi – Munich – Frankfurt – Canada) you will have to apply for a C-Transit visa which is possible at VFS Visa Application Center.

2. Third-country nationals with an existing long-term right of residence and domicile/residence in an EU or Schengen member state or the United Kingdom are allowed to enter Germany and are exempted from the entry ban.

3. D-Visa holders of other Schengen-countries are only allowed to enter Germany in order to travel to their  future country of residence. Proof of onward ticket must be presented. Please check with the respective authorities / Embassy of your country of residence if you are eligible to enter your country of residence. You might have to present proof that you are eligible to enter your country of residence.

4. Indians with resident permits or D-Visa of Non-Schengen countries generally need an Airport-Transit or Transit Visa to travel through Germany. Applications can be deposited at VFS Visa Application Centre.

Please check here if you will need a transit visa or if an exception applies.

You are only allowed to transit in Germany in order to travel to their country of residence if you don’t leave the international transit area and have their luggage checked through to the final destination. Proof of onward ticket must be presented. Please also check with your airline if your luggage will be checked through and if you can stay in the international transit area while changing planes. Kindly note that a maximum stay in the international transit area is allowed for 24 hours only.

Please check with the respective authorities / Embassy of your country of residence if you are eligible to enter your country of residence. You might have to present proof that you are eligible to enter your country of residence.