Visa Processing
Strict entry restrictions currently apply to the issuance of visas: Visas can only be issued under one of the following conditions:
1. The applicant is fully vaccinated with a Covid-19 vaccine approved by the Paul-Ehrlich-Institute (PEI), Germanys medical regulatory body and research institution for vaccines. You can find the list of approved vaccines here: Paul-Ehrlich Institut - list of approved vaccines Please note that the list is regularly updated. A minimum of 14 days after the second jab with the respective vaccine must have passed in order to be considered as fully vaccinated.
Only if you are fully vaccinated with one of the vaccines listed by the Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, can you book an appointment with VFS to submit your application: VFS appointment.
OR
2. The intended entry is absolutely necessary. Under which circumstances a compelling necessity for entry can be assumed is explained on the website of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) in German Link BMI DEU and English Link BMI ENG.
If you have such a compelling reason for entry, please contact the visa office at the Embassy by mail visa@colo.diplo.de with the reference “Schengen”.
The visa office will carefully assess the reasons given and in the light of the legal requisites may confirm the existence of a compelling reason for entry. In this case the external service provider VFS will contact you to arrange an appointment to apply for the visa.
In cases where the visa office cannot confirm such a reason you will NOT be contacted and your mail not be answered. This is to keep the visa office operational and able to continue processing emergencies.
Please understand that cases personally perceived as very urgent may not meet the legal requirements and therefore cannot be considered under the existing laws.
Please inform yourself about COVDI-19 restrictions on public life in Germany!
In many places in Germany, restrictions on public life are currently in force, partially depending on the local epidemiological situation. These restrictions are subject to change anytime. German Federal Government and German Federal States (Bundesländer) have restricted, and may further restrict, access to accomodation (in particular hotels), hospitality businesses (restaurants, bars, clubs etc.) as well as leisure, culture and sports events to individuals in possession of a valid certificate of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19 (“2G rule”) or an additional test certificate (“2G plus”), as the case may be. As a general rule, Germany only recognizes vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or licence products thereof. Furthermore, in some cases, only EU Digital COVID Certificates or equivalent certificates are accepted. As a consequence, holders of foreign certificates (physical or digital) are in many cases not granted access to certain venues and events. Therefore, prior to your intended travel to Germany, please inform yourself about whether your trip, and activities planned in its course, can actually be conducted. Respective information is available at the websites of the German Federal State (Bundesland) you are travelling to. The German diplomatic and consular missions abroad cannot take any responsibility or provide any guidance in this regard.
