Schengen visas allow people to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days every six-month period.

This applies if your main destination is one of the following countries: Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Hungary, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Preparing your application

Please prepare your application as follows:

• Please fill in your application electronically via VIDEX beforehand. Print out the application form AND the barcode that is automatically generated and bring it with you when you come to your apppointment.
• Please note that the photos have to comply with the specifications of the:  Biometric passport photo sample PDF / 2 MB
• Please compile the documents you need to submit with your application. If documents or supporting documentation are missing, your application may be rejected. We have prepared a checklist for each type of visa:
  
  Checklist for business visa PDF / 368 KB
  Checklist for tourist visa PDF / 366 KB
  Checklist for visitor visa - family and friends PDF / 368 KB
  Checklist for visitor visa - family members of non-German EU citizens PDF / 374 KB
  Checklist for Airport Transit Visa PDF / 365 KB

Booking an appointment

You need to book an appointment via this link 

You may submit your application six months before the start of your planned trip at the earliest. 

Submitting your application

In order to submit your application, please attend your appointment at the German Embassy in Windhoek in person. During this appointment, we kindly ask you to submit all of your application documents and pay the visa fee. Your fingerprints will also be taken on this occasion.

What happens during processing?

The Embassy will review your application and make a decision on whether or not to grant you a visa. To this end, it will assess whether your application meets the legal requirements. The processing time for a visa application may take up to 15 consecutive days according to the European Visa Code. The Embassy is not able to answer any questions on the status of your application during this processing period. After that, enquiries can only be answered if they are made by the applicant, his/her legal representative or another person authorised in writing.

Return of your passport

As soon as the Embassy has decided on your application you will be informed to pick up your passport.

There are various reasons why your visa application may be rejected. The reasons will be stated in the letter notifying you that your application has been rejected.
You are welcome to submit a new application at any time with complete, informative and verifiable documentation.

Information for visa holders

If all the information on your visa label is correct, you are free to travel. Please check the information on the label as soon as your passport is returned to you. You should let us know immediately if there are any mistakes so that we can issue you a new visa.

Your visa will state your full name and passport number and include your photo. It will also state the period of validity. This is the time period in which you can travel. In addition, it will state the maximum number of days you can stay in the Schengen area during the period of validity of your visa. Our aim is to give you a certain amount of flexibility in planning your trip. In order to allow you to change your travel dates at short notice, visas are usually valid for 15 days longer than the maximum number of days you are allowed to stay in the Schengen area.

Please note that being granted a Schengen visa does not guarantee that you will be allowed to enter the Schengen area. The final decision on whether or not you will be allowed to enter the Schengen area will be made by the border police on your arrival. When you arrive, the border police may ask you to present additional documentation alongside your passport and valid visa with information on your financial means, the length and purpose of your stay, and your health insurance cover. You should therefore take your original visa documents (including an invitation from Germany, hotel reservation and travel health insurance) with you on your trip.