Important: You can only submit your visa application at the VFS Global office if you have an appointment. Without appointment VFS Global will not take your application! You can either make the appointment online or call the VFS Global office. (internet link and telephone number below)

Citizens of certain countries need a Schengen visa for short stays in the Schengen area. Schengen visas allow you to stay in the Schengen area up to 90 days within each 180-day timeframe.
The German Embassy is responsible for processing your visa application if Germany is the main destination of your trip to the Schengen area.
(Where do I apply for a Schengen visa? What is the Schengen area? Who needs a Schengen visa? Who needs an airport transit visa for Germany? See FAQ).

Before preparing your application for a Schengen visa, please check if you need to hold a Schengen visa to enter the Schengen area by clicking here. You can access the list of countries whose citizens need a Schengen visa by clicking here If your country figures in section A of this list, you must apply for a Schengen visa.

Schengen visa applications for Germany are handled by the service provider VFS Global. You need to submit your Schengen visa application at the office of VFS: http://www.vfsglobal.com/germany/israel/

Visa applicants from East Jerusalem and the Gaza strip

Schengen visa applicants living in East Jerusalem and in the Gaza strip have to turn to the German Representative Office in Ramallah to have their applications processed, please click here for more information or call +972 2 297 7630.

Preparing your application

Please prepare your application as follows:

• Please fill out the visa application form. You can download and print the application form by clicking here. Please print the application form and bring it with you.
• 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 you:
• Schengen Visa for Tourists, Business or Visit
• Please make an appointment on the internet page of VFS Global to submit your Schengen visa application. You may submit your visa application three months before the start of your planned trip at the earliest. Here is the link of the internet page of VFS Global with further information: http://www.vfsglobal.com/germany/israel/

Submitting your application

In order to submit your application you need to book an appointment with VFS Global. During the appointment at the VFS visa application center, we kindly ask you to submit all of your application documents and pay the visa fees. Your fingerprints will also be taken on this Occasion.

What happens during processing?

VFS Global will send your application on Tuesday and Thursday morning to the Embassy. The German Embassy Tel Aviv will then 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 complete processing time (from submitting your documents at VFS until you receive back your passport) generally takes 7 - 10 days. We will not 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 or her legal representative or another person authorized in writing by the applicant.

Return of your passport

You collect your passport in person at the VFS visa application center. If you are not able to collect it yourself, you can authorize another person to collect it for you. In order to do so, please fill out a power of attorney.

Rejection of your visa application

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. These reasons are explained in the FAQ.
You are welcome to submit a new application at any time with complete, informative and verifiable documentation.

Have a good trip! 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 visa sticker as soon as your passport is returned to you. You should let us or VFS Global know immediately if there are any mistakes so that we can issue you a new visa. You can also come to the embassy without appointment to have your incorrect visa sticker replaced. (e-mail: visa@tela.diplo.de)

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.

In case you have been granted a Schengen visa with a long validity period and you travel to the Schengen area more than once during the validity period, you can check the remaining number of days that you are allowed to stay by using the Schengen calculator of the European Commission (please click to open)

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 a copy of your visa documents (including the invitation from Germany, hotel reservation and travel health insurance) with you on your trip.