Faster Visa Application Process Through Germany VACs

01 Feb 2014

Encouraged by a rise in Indian visitors, Germany announced the start of the German VAC (Visa Application Centres) which will fasten and ease the Germany Tourist Visa application process.

Now, Bhutanese and Indian visitors to Germany do not need to apply for Schengen Visa (Short-term Visit Visa) at the German missions in India. Any Indian visitors to Germany can just file their Germany Visit Visa application in the 16 German VACs which are spread all over India. To make the entire process much easier, Germany has opened a VAC in Bhutan.

This new ‘customer-friendly’ service will speed up the entire process and avoid sizable travel expenses. Officials said that the new service is operated by contract partner VFS Global.

The German Ambassador to India, Micheal Steiner said that for most Bhutanese and Indians visiting Europe, whether it is for leisure or business, Germany is on the top of their wish list. Hence, a smoother visa application process is necessary, and with this new policy, Germany is taking the process to people's door. Steiner added that this is customer orientation and good service at its best.

The German VACs in Chandigarh, New Delhi, Jalandhar, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Thimpu, Hyderabad, Chennai, Puducherry, Mumbai and Bengaluru are already working in their respective regions.

Over the next 2 months, the VACs in Pune, Goa, Ahmedabad, Trivandrum, Kolkata and Cochin will be operational.

The officials from VFS Global said that, if an application is submitted on Day 1, it will be handled swiftly, and the application will be with the Embassy for assessment by the morning of Day 2, thus making the process faster.

Officials stated that the Germany VACs are located conveniently and have longer operating hours, are easily accessible, lesser waiting time between making an appointment and submitting application, secure handling of online appointment and passports, tracking, scheduling and payment.

According to the embassy officials, 120,000 Germany Visas are being issued annually, out of which 28,000 were issued in Delhi, and 40,000 were issued in Mumbai.