VISA APPLICATION GERMANY

Last update: January 2006

This Information is given without any liability and may be subject to unexpected changes.

1. General Information

The ‘Schengen Visa’ is a short-term visa valid for visits to all the implementing countries of the Schengen Agreement: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

With a Schengen visa you are free to travel within this area.

The single-entry visa is valid for up to three months.

With a multiple-entry visa one may enter the Schengen area several times providing that the combined stay in this area must total not more than 90 days within six months starting from the first day of entry.

You need to apply for the Schengen visa at the Embassy of the country of your main destination. If you plan to visit several Schengen countries and you do not have one main destination you have to apply for a Schengen visa at the Embassy of the country where you will first enter the Schengen area.

Therefore the German Embassy is only responsible for your visa application, if you will stay most of the time in Germany or if your travel through several Schengen countries takes you first to Germany.

2. Preconditions for visa applications

What to submit:

• Passport or Travel document with a validity extending the desired period of travel by at least three months
• 2 passport photos, 5 x 3 cm (2 inch), white background
• Completely filled in application form(s) with a precise description of the travel purpose
  (The form is available at the Embassy free of charge and on this webpage)
• Formal pledge by the inviting German resident (‘Verpflichtungserklärung’) which can be obtained at the local German immigration office
  or
  sufficient own funds (documents required: e.g. bank book, personal bank account summary or similar documents) and hotel reservation, travel insurance: coverage at least 30,000.00 Euro (1,500,000.00 Baht) valid for this period of stay. Find the list of accepted travel insurance companies below.
• Evidence that the applicant is a genuine visitor and will therefore return to upon expiry of the visa. This evidence depends on each individual case and could be:
  
  - previous visa for Schengen states, USA, Switzerland, UK, Canada or Australia
  
  - family ties: own marriage certificate or birth certificate of child/children
  (please note that for adults the relation to the parents, brothers and sisters
  unfortunately does not provide such an evidence)
  
  - for self employed applicants: trade/business licence, tax documents, etc.
  
  - for employees: work contract, confirmation by employer, social security card, etc.
  
  - for financially independent persons: proof of banking relationships or real estate
  
  - Any additional documents which proof, that the applicant has a reason to return
  
  - The processing officer reserves the right to request further documents as necessary
• Reservation of flight (no ticket - in order to avoid unnecessary costs)
• If an applicant intends to visit close family members (parents, brother or sister) it is helpful to proof the
  relationship through relevant birth certificates
• Applicants under the age of 20 additionally need to submit the approval of their legal guardians
  
  

Supply the originals and one copy of all documents mentioned above
(passport: only first page)

3. Procedure

• Comprehensive application:
  Access to the visa-office can only be granted upon presentation of a completely filled and signed application form plus corresponding documentation. Incomplete applications will have to be turned down. Documents translated into German will speed up procedures!
• Personal interview:
  Particularly first time applicants are required to have an interview at the visa-office, thus requiring the personal appearance of the applicant.
  
  For appointments call the Hotline  1900 222 343

• Individual decision making:
  Above enumeration of preconditions is exemplary and does not have a final character. Each application will be dealt with individually and decisions will be based on the underlying legal provisions. The Embassy reserves the right to require additional documents suitable to sustain the willingness of the applicant to return to his home country or to suspend the requirement for extensive documentation.
• Duration of procedure:
  Two or three working days.

4. Fees

The visa fee is EUR 60.- (approx. 2,900- 3,000 Baht depending of the exchange rate). The fee has to be paid in cash upon acceptance of the application. The Embassy would greatly appreciate the payment of the exact amount.

It is not refundable, even if the visa is rejected.