The most frequent visitors of Schengen, Germany remain to be Indians. During the year 2017, 1.3 million Indians visited Europe, and out of this number, approximately 156,900 applied for Germany visas and most wanted to visit Germany when they were interviewed.
Despite a large number of Indians visiting Germany, most of the Indian citizen does not know how or where to go and apply for a Germany visa. We have taken time to review on the process of how to apply for Germany Schengen visa when in India.
Table of Contents
What is a Schengen Visa?
A Schengen visa is a type of visa that allows its holder to be circulating in the Schengen area for a short time. The Schengen area covers up to 25 countries having border control through its international airports. The total days of Schengen visa are up to 90days.
The visa is not made for working, studying, or living in the Schengen countries, and you not allowed to stay more than 90days. If you are looking for studying or working there are visas that are made for that purpose, but Schengen visa is made for short visitation period.
Radvision World How to apply Schengen visa Germany
When you are traveling to Germany, the visa to apply will be determined by the purpose of travel you are having in Germany. For example, you cannot be traveling to Germany for studies and apply for a Schengen visa; you need to apply for a visa that will cover you for the time you will be studying in Germany. The steps listed below guide on how to apply for a Schengen visa when in India.
Passport application
If you love to travel to Germany for a short period and you are in India, you need to first apply for a passport from India. Period of passport completion may vary from four weeks to six weeks depending on traffic of passport application in India Immigration department. During peak time, the passport may take two to three months. Therefore, you need to plan yourself early so as to receive your passport at an appropriate time.
Radvision World Determine if you want Schengen visa
First, you need to know what kind of visa you want. You may seek recommendation from friends or immigration professionals at India. There are different kinds of visa serving a different purpose. For Germany Schengen visa serves those people who are staying in Germany for less than 90 days or they are visiting Germany for a short holiday. There are also different kinds of Schengen visa you can also apply for. If you want to be visiting other Schengen countries apart from Germany, then you can apply for multiple-entry Schengen visa. If your intention is only to stay in Germany, then you need to apply for single-entry Schengen visa.
Radvision World Determine the purpose of visit
Depending on the purpose of visitation to Germany you can apply you one of the following Schengen visas which fit your purpose best. The visa includes;
• Business
• Tourism
• Cultural
• Visiting friends or family
• Sports
• Medication reason
• Official visit
• Transit
• Studies
• Airport transit
• Decide what time to apply for the visa
Visa application in India takes up to three months, and the earlier you lodge your application, the better. Therefore, if your trip is in six months, it’s wise to start it now so you can be ready by then.
Radvision World Attend interview on the day of the appointment
When you are scheduled for an appointment, don’t miss or come in late. Attend interview on time and answer the questions asked truthfully and to the best of your knowledge.
• Complete visa forms and fill all the parts you are required to
• Pay visa fee
• Gather all document required and asked at Schengen embassy.
• Wait for the visa completion process
Schengen visa requirements
Applying for Schengen visa in India you will be required to produce some documents. These documents asked to be submitted are very important, and you need caution when collecting them by making sure they are original and comply with Schengen embassy standards. The following are the document you are required to submit;
• Downloaded and filled visa application form from Download the visa application form
• Two recent passport photos
• Valid Indian passport or other legal travel documents
• India residence evidence
• Insurance for travel to Schengen visa
• Cover later that stated the purpose of visiting Germany
• Accommodation proof at Germany visitation
• Civil status proof
• Financial means proof for the period of stay.
Schengen visa types
There are different Schengen visa types depending on the purpose of visitation. The following are types of Schengen visa types;
• Business
• Tourism
• Cultural
• Visiting friends or family
• Sports
• Medication reason
• Official visit
• Transit
• Studies
• Airport transit
Schengen visa rejection
There are reasons that can make your Schengen visa be rejected. You may provide all the required information correctly, and your Schengen visa gets rejected. There are also mistakes that can land your visa to be rejected. The following are reasons as to why most of Schengen visa get rejection.
1. Current or past criminal action
If you hold any current or past criminal activity, then your visa will be definitely be rejected. The criminal actions are considered a threat to internal security or a threat to public policy.
2. False documents of travel
The document you need to submit should be original and meet standard require by Schengen embassy.
3. Insufficient information
Inadequate or insufficient information on the reason of visitation to Germany on Schengen visa or inadequate circumstances of the plan to stay.
4. Damaged passport
The passport submitted should be original and not have any damages.
5. Invalid passport
Passport provided should be valid and original. In case of provision of an invalid passport will lead to an automatic Schengen visa rejection and jailed for fraud.
6. Invalid travel insurance
7. Lack of proof of accommodation
Conclusion
When applying for Germany Schengen visa, you need to know the reason for travel so as to apply for the correct Schengen visa type. Also, you need to know the process of application well so as not to lead your visa application being canceled or rejected.
About Vandana Gupta
Vandana Gupta is an executive administrator at Radvision World Consultancy Services LLP. Experienced executive administrator with a demonstrated history of working in the human resources industry. Skilled in Customer Service, Management, Business Development, Business Strategy, and Public Speaking. Strong information technology professional with an M.com focused in Business/Commerce, General from Mahatma Jyotiba Phule (MJP) Rohilkhand University.
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