Only the visa fee is due for the procedure. Applications and information sheets are issued free of charge. The help of an agent is not necessary! Please be aware that you will be held responsible for all actions taken by the agent in your name.

Fill out application form and prepare documents according to the checklists.

For a successful application, you must submit a complete application at the appointment. So please bring the application form with passport photos, your passport, the documents intended for the purpose of stay and the visa fee.
The required documents are listed according to the purpose of stay in the fact sheets in the section 'Checklists'. Documents are accepted in A4 format only. Your application documents should be in German or English. In case the document is in any other language, kindly provide a translation as well.

The documents submitted and all information given in your application form must be genuine and accurate. Falsified or untrue documents will result in the rejection of the visa application. Deception about the purpose of stay will also lead to the rejection of the visa application.

The submission of the documents does not establish a right to the issuance of a visa. In individual cases, the submission of further documents may be required.

Please do not send any documents to the visa office without being requested to do so -especially not before submitting your application. These documents cannot be kept and/or assigned here. Please bring all required documents to the visa interview. In case of subsequent submissions of requested documents, please indicate the transaction number (will be assigned at the time of application), surname, first name and passport number of the applicant.

Biometric photo

Kindly submit photos which meet the biometric photo requirements.

Appointments are booked at the foreign mission responsible for your place of residence or habitual abode. Responsibility is based exclusively on the applicant's current main place of residence. Place of birth or nationality are not relevant.

The German Embassy is not responsible for Visa proceedings for Bangladeshis abroad please contact the mission in you state of residence.

To find out where to submit your application (at VFS or at the German Mission), please refer to the specific information here.

Please make sure you arrive on time for your appointment and have your documents prepared and in order as per the checklist (step 3).

NOTE: Appointments can ONLY be booked via VFS or at the Embassy/Consulate, depending on the visa category; please beware of fraudulent offers of third parties!

Visa Fees

Please pay the required amount - always in taka and in cash- upon submission of your visa application.

Please note:
- The visa fee is to be paid at the end of the visa appointment.
- The visa fee is not refundable, even if the visa is rejected.
- In all those cases, in which document verification is necessary, an additional fee of 28,000/- BDT is applicable.

The following persons will be exempted from Schengen Visa fees:
- Children under 6 years of age
- School students as well as accompanying teachers on a study or educational trip
- Guest scientists travelling to Germany for research
- Exhibitors at German trade fairs and exhibitions holding an original exhibitor’s pass
- Spouses and minor children of German citizens as well as parents to minor German nationals
- EU nationals (+ their relatives), provided they enjoy freedom of movement

The following persons will be exempted from National Visa fees (not document verification fee):
- Students receiving a scholarship from public funds

- Members of the diplomatic missions, consular posts and international organizations in
Germany
- Spouses and minor children of German citizens as well as parents to minor German nationals
- EU nationals (+ their relatives), provided they enjoy freedom of movement

Admission to the Visa Sections
Visitors to the Visa Section are not allowed to carry the following devices:
- any form of electronic device (e.g. notebook, mobile phone, camera)
- dangerous objects (in particular knives and weapons)
- bags and luggage, umbrellas
- any other dangerous items
All visitors are allowed to carry only the documents that have been asked for and required by the German Embassy.

Please note that the German Embassy is not in a position to keep in deposit the above-mentioned objects that are not allowed inside the Embassy premises.

Safeguarding personal belongings outside the Embassy premises is the sole responsibility of each
applicant!

The German Mission will examine and decide on your application. The legal requirements are always checked on a case-by-case basis using the available application documents. Depending on the purpose of stay, this review can take from a few working days to several months.

Please note: VFS is an external service provider that means they take in our applications but still every single application is handled and decided by the embassy. VFS has no means to influence the decision taken.

Please keep in mind that this period starts once the application reaches the mission, not VFS. If you were asked for a pending document, the processing time does not start until your application is complete.
Kindly understand that, in the interest of all applicants, we cannot give individual status updates within the below mentioned time. As soon as a decision on the application has been made, you will be contacted by the German Embassy.

Standard processing times

- Family reunion (including dependents and intended marriage): 12-16 months
- Students (including preparatory (language) courses : 4 weeks
- Employment with pre-approval of the Federal Employment Agency, Employment with
Hosting Agreement according to Section 18d German Residence Act and Blue Card: 3 weeks
- Employment in general 4-6 weeks
- Opportunity Card 8 weeks
- Schengen (short term stays under 90 days): 15 working days

Please note the time spans above are the processing times, waiting times are not included.

The following applies to queries: For data protection reasons, detailed information can only be
provided to the applicant, his/her legal representative or authorized representative in writing. Other inquiries from third parties can unfortunately not be answered.

Verification of Documents

In certain cases, the visa section might initiate a verification of your documents. This concerns all public documents issued by the Bangladeshi authorities and work proof documents.
The visa section will inform you about the verification either during the interview or via e-mail.

You applied directly at the embassy:
The embassy will inform you by mail, when the decision is taken. You will get an appointment to receive your passport
You applied via VFS:
Either VFS will inform you by mail that you can get your passport or the passport will be send via mail.
Please check your visa as soon as you receive your passport, and report any errors to us immediately via e-mail. Always mention your passport number, full name and reason for correction!!
Your visa will show your full name, passport number and photo. You can see the approved period of validity of the visa, i.e. the period of time during which you are allowed to enter Germany and may have to apply for a domestic residence permit at the Immigration Office (See 'have a nice trip' section
below).
Please be aware that the visa section cannot issue the visa earlier than the starting date of your travel health insurance.

Please note: If you need your passport back during Schengen Visa proceedings, you will need to withdraw your application and apply again. If you need your passport back during National Visa proceedings, you may write an e-mail to visa@dhak.auswaertiges-amt.de.