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Parents' visit visa to Germany (माता-पिता का शेंगेन वीज़ा)
Bring your parents from India for a visit to Germany: invitation letter, the formal obligation (Verpflichtungserklärung) at your foreigners' office, their document set, insurance, the VFS appointment and visa fee, and the 90-day rule.
- India
- ~45 days
- 8 steps
- 3 documents
Curated by Raaya · Last reviewed Oct 2026
Steps
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Plan the visit and the 90-day limit (यात्रा की योजना)
1 dayParents visiting you in Germany need a Schengen short-stay visa: up to 90 days in any 180 days. Germany is the right country if they spend most nights there. They apply in India, through the German missions' visa application centres run by VFS Global.
Apply up to six months before travel and at least 15 days before; for summer visits, book the appointment early. Decide who pays: either your parents show their own funds, or you sign a formal obligation in Germany (step 3).
Tip: Pick dates that leave a few days spare. Flights change, and overstaying even one day causes problems for future visas.
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Write the invitation letter (निमंत्रण पत्र लिखें)
2 daysWrite a short signed letter: your full name, address in Germany and residence status; your parents' names and passport numbers; the relationship; travel dates; where they will stay; and who covers costs. Add copies of your passport, residence permit and registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung).
Tip: Keep the dates in the letter identical to the flight reservation and insurance. Inconsistent dates are a common reason for questions.
Your residence permit and passport copy -
Sign the formal obligation at the foreigners' office (Verpflichtungserklärung)
1 dayIf you are paying for the stay, sign a formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung) at your local foreigners' office (Ausländerbehörde). You declare that you will cover your parents' living costs, health costs and return travel. The office checks that your income is enough, so bring salary slips and your rental contract. The fee is EUR 29 per declaration in Berlin and Munich; in Berlin one declaration can cover a married couple. Other offices may differ, so check your office's page.
Send the original to your parents by courier; the visa centre needs the original, not a scan.
Tip: Book the appointment online early. Some offices have waiting times of several weeks.
- Fee
- €29 · Formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung) fee
- Where
- Foreigners' office (Ausländerbehörde) · Bring passport, residence permit, registration certificate, last three salary slips, employment contract, rental contract and your parents' passport details. Fee EUR 29.
Your residence permit and passport copy -
Parents gather their documents (माता-पिता के दस्तावेज़)
3 daysThe German missions in India publish a checklist for visits to family and friends. Typical items are below; follow the current checklist on the mission or VFS page.
- Passports (valid three months beyond return, two blank pages) and old passports
- Completed and signed application form
- Biometric photos 35 x 45 mm
- Original formal obligation letter, or own bank statements and ITRs
- Invitation letter with your passport and residence permit copies
- Proof of relationship, e.g. your birth certificate
- Travel insurance with at least EUR 30,000 cover
- Flight reservation (not a paid ticket) and day-wise plan
- Proof of ties to India: property, pension, other family
Parents' passportsYour residence permit and passport copyYour birth certificate (relationship proof) -
Buy travel insurance for both parents (यात्रा बीमा)
1 dayEach parent needs travel medical insurance covering at least EUR 30,000 for emergency treatment, hospital and repatriation, valid in all Schengen states for the whole trip. Many insurers in India and Germany sell Schengen-compliant cover for visitors; premiums rise with age, so compare.
Tip: Check pre-existing condition cover. Many visitor policies exclude it unless you add it.
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Visa appointment at VFS in India (वीएफएस अपॉइंटमेंट)
1 dayYour parents book an appointment at the VFS centre for their area, submit the file and give fingerprints and a photo, unless their fingerprints were taken for a Schengen visa in the last 59 months. The visa fee is EUR 90 per adult, paid in rupees, plus the VFS service charge.
Tip: Let them carry a one-page summary of the trip and your phone number. Staff sometimes ask simple questions about the purpose of travel.
- Fee
- €90 · Schengen visa fee per adult (paid in INR) plus the VFS service charge
- Where
- VFS Global visa application centre (Germany) · Parents bring passports, signed forms, appointment letter, photos, the original formal obligation or own financial proof, insurance and all copies.
Parents' passportsYour birth certificate (relationship proof) -
Track the application (आवेदन ट्रैक करें)
15 daysThe mission normally decides within 15 calendar days; it can take up to 45 days if documents are checked further. Track it on the VFS site with the reference number and answer quickly if the mission asks for something.
Tip: Book refundable flights until the visas are in the passports.
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Before they fly: check visas and plan the stay (यात्रा से पहले)
1 dayWhen the passports come back, check every detail on the visa stickers. On arrival, your parents enter the EU Entry/Exit System, which records fingerprints and a photo at the border.
If they stay with you, no registration is needed for a short visit. Keep the insurance papers handy for any doctor visit.
- Check names, passport numbers, dates and entries on each visa
- Count the days: at most 90 in any 180
- Print insurance certificates and your address for the border check
- Carry the invitation and formal obligation copies on the flight
Documents you'll need
| Parents' passports | Issued within the last 10 years, valid at least three months after the planned departure from the Schengen area, with two blank pages. |
|---|---|
| Your residence permit and passport copy | Shows you live legally in Germany. Copies go with the invitation. |
| Your birth certificate (relationship proof) | Shows your parents' names. Some missions accept other proof; check the checklist. |
Official sources
Related templates
General guidance, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change; confirm with the official source before you act.