Schengen visa allow people to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days every six-month period.
As a German Embassy, we are responsible for processing your application if Germany is your main destination.

The visa section of the German Embassy in Kabul remains closed until further notice. As a result, it is not possible anymore to submit your visa application in Kabul. Applications for Schengen Visa can be submitted at the German Missions in Islamabad, Istanbul and Dubai.

Preparing your application

Please prepare your application as follows:

• Please fill out the visa application form.
  Application form
• 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 - Schengen Visa for Visit and Tourism
  Checklist - Schengen Visa for Business Purposes
  Checklist - Schengen Visa for Trade fair exhibitors / visitors
  Checklist - Schengen Visa for Medical emergencies
  Checklist - Schengen Visa for Airport transit

• Please make an appointment to submit your application. You may submit your application six months before the start of your planned trip at the earliest. You can make an appointment at one of the following German missions:

Visa section for Afghanistan in Islamabad​​​​​​​

German Consulate-General Istanbul

German Consulate-General Dubai

Please make an appointment at one visa section only.

Submitting your application

In order to submit your application, please attend your appointment at the Embassy/Consulate General or at the external Service Provider in person. During this appointment, we kindly ask you to submit all of your application documents, pay the fee and answer questions about your planned trip. Your photograph and fingerprints will also be taken on this occasion.

What happens during processing?

The Embassy/Consulate General 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. Processing generally takes at least ten days. We hope you will understand that we are 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 by the applicant.

Return of your passport

As soon as the Embassy/Consulate General has decided on your application, you can collect your passport. You should collect your passport in person. If you are not able to collect it yourself, you can authorise another person to collect it for you. In order to do so, please fill out the following power of attorney.

Power of attorney

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.

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