The visa required for Germany is what they call the Schengen visa. This visa grants the holder access to the Schengen member states: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
These Schengen states do not have borders from each other (hence no passport stamps when traveling from one Schengen country to another). If you are doing a multi-country visit, you must apply for the Schengen visa in the country 1) where will be staying for the most number of days 2) where you will be entering (if you will be staying in the difference countries for an equal number of days.
1.Get an updated list of the requirements. All German Visas are handled by VFS global, and the requirements depend on your visa type. For my intended stay, I chose Short Stay visa for tourists. This grants a Schengen visa good for at most 90 days. So far, I have no experience getting other types of visas
Now here is a downloadable form which you have to print, by the way https://www.vfsglobal.com/Germany/Philippines/pdf/TOURIST-VISA-CHECKLIST-Recent.pdf
The latest requirements for Schengen visa are as follows:
( ) Visa application form (see number 3 below)
( ) Two current biometric passport picture (no smiling, if you smile, they will declare your picture invalid and request you to take a new one, which at VFS Global costs 1,000 Php +)
( ) Declaration
( ) Original Passport and one photocopy – must be valid for at least 6 months from date of travel. (Please renew your passport if applicable). You need to bring previous passport also and also photocopy this
( ) Details regarding the travel destination (Your trip itinerary)
( ) Details regarding the means of travel for the outward and return journey. We already bought our round trip tickets to Germany and we attached this in our application form. However, no flight tickets are needed.
( ) Proof of employment, which includes the following: Income tax Return, Certificate of Employment, Approved Leave of Absence
( ) Visa Fee- This to be paid at VFS Global
( ) Travel Insurance- Make sure you buy accredited insurance companies. Click here: https://www.vfsglobal.com/Germany/Philippines/pdf/List-of-accredited-Travel-Health-Insurances.pdf
2. Schedule your appointment at VFS Global. Now that you have seen all the requirements, estimate the amount of time you need to get them and schedule your appointment online.
3. Fill up the application forms online at https://www.vfsglobal.com/Germany/Philippines/tourist.html. This requires a program, however, I was able to run it easily on my MacBook Air. Now, this one is tricky because if you do not fill up the form properly, they will not accept your application. You have the option of redoing it, or VFS Global could do if for you for a fee of 400.00. Apparently, there’s a line there that says “surname at birth” and it actually means your middle name. Do not skip the part where they ask for your hotel in Germany and its address. If in doubt you can book online hotels and cancel it if you change your mind. Place not applicable for blanks.
4. Show up at VFS Global Germany with your requirements. This is located in Ecoplaza, Chino Roces Extension. Once you enter the VFS Global Germany area, they will give you a number. When your number is called, you proceed to the counter. They will just check if your requirements are complete, and they will be collecting visa fees.
After this, you will be asked to sit down and wait for the biometrics. You will be called again, and they will be taking your fingerprints.
5. You are done! VFS Global will forward your application to the German Embassy. After 5 working days true enough, I have it:
Other tips:
Bring cash for the visa fees. I paid a total of 3,560 php for the visa fees. Bring extra incase you get charged for a) filling up of incomplete forms b) retaking your picture. There is a BDO ATM at ecoplaza, but if it wont work, the next ATM is in the next building or across the road.
Bags are not allowed in the area, and VFS Global will rent you a locker for a one-time fee of 75.00. Only wallets and cellphones (turned off) along with your envelope will be allowed.
You have the option of (1) claiming your passport back in Ecoplaza or (2) have it mailed to you. Because I do not like to negotiate the traffic, I have always had my passports mailed back to me, and it never got lost.
xoxo, Gayle
(applied for Visa April 2019)
When she gets lost 