Germany business visa
For a short business trip to Germany — a trade fair, a round of negotiations, a conference — the document you need is the Schengen short-stay visa: Type C, the uniform visa. It is issued to Indian passport holders and covers meetings, negotiations, trade fairs and conferences, with stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The same visa opens the entire Schengen area, all 29 countries, so onward stops are possible without a second application. You apply through a German mission when Germany is your main destination — the country where you will spend the most days. If the stay splits evenly between countries, you apply through the one where you first enter the Schengen area.
From India, the process runs through VFS Global, acting for the German Embassy in New Delhi and the Consulates General in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata. A short-stay Type C visa can be lodged at any VFS Global centre in the country, wherever you live. You fill in the form online on the VIDEX portal, then print it, sign it and submit in person along with your biometrics. The decision belongs entirely to the German mission — no agent can sway it. Reckon on about 15 days once your file reaches the visa section, sometimes longer, so start early rather than close to your travel date.
Who this visa is for
- ✓Indian passport holder travelling to Germany for a genuine business purpose — meetings, negotiations, trade fairs or conferences — for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
- ✓Germany is your main destination (the country where you spend the most days); if the stay is split equally, you enter the Schengen area first through Germany.
- ✓You have a German business partner or host able to issue an invitation letter describing the planned activities and the business relationship.
- ✓You are backed by an Indian employer or your own registered business (Certificate of Incorporation, GST and company registration).
- ✓You can show sufficient funds for the trip and ties to India that support your return.
- ✓Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months beyond the intended date of return, with at least two blank pages.
Visa options for Germany
Schengen Business visa (Type C)
Single- or double-entry short-stay visa for a specific business trip, allowing up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area.
Multiple-entry Schengen business visa
Issued to frequent business travellers under the Schengen cascade, based on prior Schengen travel history; longer validity but the same 90-days-in-180 stay limit.
Documents typically required
- ✓VIDEX Schengen visa application form, completed online, then printed and signed.
- ✓Two signed declarations required by the German missions: Declaration of True and Complete Information, and the declaration of travel with valid medical insurance.
- ✓Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months beyond return, with two blank pages, plus a copy of the biometric/address page (and the last page for Indian passports).
- ✓One recent biometric photo, 35x45mm, white background, 70-80% face coverage, not older than six months.
- ✓Personal cover letter stating the purpose of travel, itinerary and intended means of transport.
- ✓Invitation letter from the German business partner (in German or English) describing the planned business activities and the relationship.
- ✓Original signed letter from your Indian employer/company on letterhead with your name, passport number, trip purpose, duration and a brief itinerary.
- ✓Proof of the Indian business: Certificate of Incorporation, GST registration and company registration.
- ✓Flight tickets and accommodation booking (hotel) for the entire stay, or host confirmation.
- ✓Financial proof: last 3 months' salary slips (if employed), last 3 months' stamped bank statements, and income-tax returns / Form 16 for the last 2 years (last 3 years' ITR for a company sponsor).
- ✓Travel medical insurance valid for all Schengen countries for the whole trip, with minimum coverage of EUR 30,000, from an Indian insurer approved by the German missions.
- ✓Detailed business meeting schedule (required only when the stay exceeds 30 days).
Your exact checklist depends on your profile — we confirm it during your case analysis. Every visa decision rests with the embassy or consulate.
Travel medical insurance is accepted only from Indian travel-insurance companies approved by the German missions; it must cover every Schengen country for the whole trip, with a minimum of EUR 30,000. Biometrics — fingerprints and photo — are taken in person at the VFS Global centre, unless you have given fingerprints for a Schengen visa within the last 59 months. The Schengen short-stay visa fee is EUR 90 for adults, paid in Indian rupees, plus a separate VFS Global service fee.
Frequently asked questions
Do you guarantee the visa?
No. The decision rests solely with the German embassy or consulate, and no consultant can promise an outcome. What we can do is assess your case honestly and build the strongest application possible. Across the applications we have handled over the last two to three years, the success rate is 97%.
How long does a Germany business Schengen visa take?
About 15 days once your file reaches the German mission's visa section. VFS Global needs a few days to forward the file, and the consulate itself can occasionally take longer. Apply well before you plan to travel.
Can I visit other Schengen countries on this visa?
Yes. A Schengen Type C visa issued by Germany lets you move freely through the Schengen area (29 countries) for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, as long as Germany stays your main destination for this trip.
Do I have to apply in person?
Yes. The VIDEX form is filled online, but your documents and biometrics must be submitted in person at a VFS Global centre in India — unless you have already given fingerprints for a Schengen visa within the last 59 months.