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Germany · Visa guide

Germany Family & Friends Visit Visa

A short-stay Schengen visa to visit family or friends living in Germany — up to 90 days.

  • ProcessingSchengen short-stay visas are processed within about 15 working days of submission at VFS
  • Visa categoryFamily & Friends Visit Visa
  • Your guideOne consultant
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Germany Family & Friends Visit Visa — overview

The Germany Family & Friends Visit Visa is a short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) for visiting relatives or friends who live in Germany, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

The heart of this application is the host: an invitation from the host in Germany and, where the host is covering costs, a formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung), along with the host's passport or German ID and proof of their residence. Proof of your relationship and your own funds and ties to India complete the file.

Lifeset Overseas coordinates the host's documents and your own into one consistent file built to the German checklist.

8 items

Documents you need

  • VIDEX application form

    The Schengen application completed on VIDEX, printed in full with barcodes, signed, with the required declarations.

  • Valid passport

    Issued within 10 years, valid 3 months beyond return, with 2 empty pages.

  • Host invitation

    An invitation letter from the host in Germany, with the host's passport or German ID copy and proof of their address.

  • Sponsorship / obligation letter

    Where the host covers your costs, a formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung), or the host's 3 months bank statements.

  • Proof of relationship

    Marriage certificate, birth certificate or other documents proving your relationship to the host.

  • Financial means

    Your salary slips, leave-sanction letter, 3 months bank statements stamped by the bank, and ITR or Form 16.

  • Travel documents

    Return flight reservation and a travel itinerary.

  • Travel medical insurance

    Schengen-wide cover of at least EUR 30,000 from an approved insurer.

5 steps

How the process works

Typical processing: Schengen short-stay visas are processed within about 15 working days of submission at VFS.

  1. Step 1

    Free eligibility review

    We confirm the visit-visa route and build a checklist for you and your host in Germany.

  2. Step 2

    Coordinate the host documents

    We guide your host through the invitation and, where needed, the formal obligation letter.

  3. Step 3

    Complete VIDEX & build the file

    Relationship proofs and financial documents are prepared and cross-checked.

  4. Step 4

    Submit at VFS & give biometrics

    You attend the VFS centre to submit the file and provide biometrics.

  5. Step 5

    Decision & passport return

    The German mission decides the application and your passport is returned through VFS.

Transparent

Costs & fees

Item

Amount

Schengen visa fee (adult)

EUR 45 for children 6-12; under 6 exempt. Payable in INR.

EUR 91

VFS Global service fee

Plus optional add-ons.

INR 2,022

Government and third-party fees change often — we confirm the exact current amounts for your case before you pay anything.

3 answers

Frequently asked questions

Q.What is a Verpflichtungserklärung?
It is a formal obligation letter the host in Germany can provide, committing to cover your costs during the visit. Where the host is funding the trip, it strengthens the application.
Q.Who can invite me to Germany?
A relative or friend living in Germany can host you. They provide an invitation, a copy of their passport or German ID, and proof of their address — plus a residence-permit copy if they are not a German citizen.
Q.How do I prove the relationship?
Through documents such as marriage certificates and birth certificates linking you to the host.

Why it matters

Going it alone vs filing with us

On your own

  • Guessing the document list — one missing or wrongly formatted paper triggers a refusal.
  • Generic cover letters copied from the internet that officers recognise and flag.
  • No read on peak rejection windows or what this visa post is strict about.
  • Government and VFS fees are non-refundable — money lost if you are refused.
  • A refusal stamp follows you and weakens every future visa application.

With Lifeset Overseas

  • An honest case assessment before you spend a rupee on government fees.
  • A file built to the embassy's exact checklist and in the exact order.
  • Weak finances, ties or purpose identified and fixed before submission.
  • Previously refused? We can rescue and rebuild the file.
  • 1,200+ approvals, handled by one licensed consultant end to end.

Refused before?

A refusal isn't the end

Refused applicants often win the second time — once the real reason is fixed. If a Germany visa has been refused, we:

  • Read the actual refusal letter and pinpoint the real gaps.
  • Advise whether to pull the officer's notes (CAIPS / GCMS) for the true reason.
  • Identify which part was weak — funds, employment, purpose or ties.
  • Tell you honestly whether to reapply now or strengthen the file first.
  • Rebuild a stronger application — same fixed fee, refusal or first try.
Get refusal support

Your next step

Ready to start your Germany Family & Friends Visit Visa?

A visa file is won or lost on the small things — a mismatched date, a thin financial trail, a document formatted wrong. We go deep into your profile, build every document properly, and give you an honest verdict before you commit. If your case isn't ready, we'll tell you — and tell you exactly how to fix it.

  • Free, honest assessment

    We read your full profile and tell you straight whether your case is ready — before you pay anything.

  • Your file, built right

    Every document prepared, apostilled, translated and stress-tested the way the embassy expects.

  • One consultant, end to end

    The same person handles your case from the first call to the visa decision — no hand-offs.

  • We handle the process

    VFS appointment, biometrics, submission and follow-up — we manage the moving parts for you.

licensed (No. 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024)Fixed fees agreed upfrontWe won’t take a case we believe will fail

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