Germany visa requirements for Chinese citizens

VFS Global application centres for Germany in 15 Chinese cities, according to the district of residence

Chinese nationals need a Schengen visa for Germany. The German missions in China are competent when Germany is the main destination and the applicant lives in China, and they receive applications through VFS Global, which has centres in 15 cities; the appointment is booked at the centre matching the place of residence. Applying directly at the embassy or a consulate is possible at most on a very limited basis, and always with an interview. VFS takes the documents and the fee, records biometrics and returns the passport, but the decision rests with the German mission alone; with a complete file it usually takes a few working days, and status enquiries are not answered during processing. The form is filled in on VIDEX and brought printed and signed by hand. Children under 12 travelling with their parents do not have to attend, and anyone who gave biometrics for a Schengen visa in the last 59 months can submit through an authorised representative. Since 1 July 2026 the missions in Beijing, Chengdu (except Chongqing) and Shenyang also handle visas for Lithuania for residents of their districts.

Official application site →

What the visa centre can and can't do →

Fee

€90

The €90 is the short-stay Schengen visa fee, set by Article 16 of the Visa Code (Regulation (EC) 810/2009) as amended by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1415, in force since 11 June 2024. It is not a fee set by Germany: the same amount is paid at any Schengen consulate. Children from the age of 6 and under 12 pay €45, and children under 6 are exempt. Travellers entering without a visa pay no fee at all.

Processing time

Where the trip requires a Schengen visa, the consulate must decide within 15 calendar days of an admissible application being lodged. That period may be extended to a maximum of 45 calendar days in individual cases, particularly where the application needs closer examination; in justified urgent individual cases the decision is taken immediately (Regulation (EC) 810/2009, Art. 23). An application may not be lodged more than six months before the intended trip and, as a rule, no later than 15 calendar days before it; where the consulate requires an appointment, it is normally given within two weeks of being requested (Art. 9).

Required documents

• A valid passport or travel document, issued within the previous ten years and valid for at least three months beyond the date you plan to leave the Schengen area (Regulation (EU) 2016/399, Art. 6(1)(a))
• A valid visa, if your nationality requires one. It is not needed if you hold a valid residence permit or long-stay visa issued by a Schengen State (Art. 6(1)(b))
• Documents justifying the purpose and conditions of the intended stay: an accommodation booking or a declaration of invitation from your host, and a return or onward ticket (Art. 6(1)(c) and Art. 6(3), which points to the non-exhaustive list in Annex I)
• Proof of sufficient means of subsistence for the whole stay and for the return to your country of origin, or of being in a position to acquire such means lawfully. They are assessed according to the duration and purpose of the stay, by reference to average prices for board and lodging in budget accommodation (Art. 6(1)(c) and 6(4)). Cash, traveller's cheques, credit cards and declarations of invitation or of sponsorship all count as proof (Art. 6(4))

How much money you need to show

€45 per day if you cannot show the purpose of your trip or where you are staying

Germany sets no mandatory amount: border officers take into account the purpose and length of the trip and whether you are staying with family or friends. Besides money, a letter of guarantee from your host, a bank guarantee or a formal declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) also count. You also need to show how you will leave, for example with a ticket.

What each Schengen country asks for →

Source: European Commission, Annex 25 to the Practical Handbook for Border Guards (reference amounts notified by each State), version of 8 June 2026. Checked on 1 November 2026.

Health insurance

Mandatory to apply for the Schengen visa: minimum coverage of €30,000, valid across the whole Schengen area and for the entire length of the stay (Regulation (EC) 810/2009, Art. 15).

Which policies meet the €30,000 requirement →

When travel insurance is mandatory → Travel insurance policies ↓

How long you can stay

Schengen rule: a maximum stay of 90 days within any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area.

Calculate your available Schengen days →

Why isn't your passport being stamped? The EES system →