The Indian authorities are planning repatriation programs for Indian citizens stranded abroad, that might also be accessible for Indians who – being holder of valid foreign residence permits – want to return from India to their country of residence abroad. Please contact the MoCA (Ministry of Civil Aviation) or Air India directly with any questions relating to repatriation of Indians.

Repatriation flights with Air India are bookable via the airline's website: www.airindia.in

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.

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 31.08.2020.

Competent for renewal after this date are the local aliens offices (Ausländerbehörden). Since 10.04.2020 travelers entering Germany are subject to a mandatory home quarantine of 14 days. Exceptions may be made if a COVID-19 test, which is not older than 48 hours, is presented and other requirements are met. More details on the quarantine regulations you can be found on the website of the German Federal Ministry of the Interior.

This 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”.

Information for non-Germans with permanent residency in Germany

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 have a lot of sympathy for these concerns, and understand very well the difficult situation this is causing for many of you, 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. The target group for the one-time repatriation program was those most vulnerable in such a situation: tourists and short-time travelers (as well as people with serious illnesses), those dependent on (closing) hotels and restaurants, without a support network of family and friends in India. Hence all other Germans (or people with residence permit in Germany) residing in India or with family ties in India were not part of this target group. This also includes many Germans for whom this international travel ban has caused quite some economic, educational or personal losses. Negative repercussions of this global crisis are unprecedented and are hitting us all.

2. There is a countrywide lockdown in India (and many other countries) and the fight against the coronavirus necessitates that all of us to respect curfews and travel restrictions. In many cases, there will be no other option than preparing to stay safe and remain where you are until regular travel becomes possible again.

3. Please check the infobox 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!

4. In case you get on such a flight please be aware that once you fly to Germany you will have to undergo home quarantine for two weeks.

5. 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.

1. In wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak, Section 144 of CrPC is to be imposed in India with effect from March 22, 2020.

Therefore VFS Global and the Visa Section of the German Embassy and the Consulates will remain closed until further notice.

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.

German and EU-citizens with permanent residence in Germany are exempt from the entry ban, as well as all other foreigners with a valid residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis, Niederlassungserlaubnis), family reunion visa, Long-term (Category “D”) visa for employment (in health and health research sectors, for care of the elderly as well as specialists and highly qualified workers whose employment is economically necessary and whose work cannot be postponed or carried out abroad) and  Long-term (Category “D”) visa for study purposes (as long as the studies cannot be carried out completely from abroad) for Germany.

Health checks will be conducted at point of entry.

2. With immediate effect:

Visa Department:
Due to Lock-Down in India and necessary social distancing measures, Visa Section of German Embassy as well as of the Consulates and Visa Application Centres of VFS global remain closed until further notice.

Consular Section:
We remain open for emergencies of German citizens and for the application and collection of German passports (by individual appointment only). Unfortunately, no other services can currently be offered.