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How to Get a Schengen Visa at the German Embassy in Manila, Philippines | SGMT
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When I visited Munich two years ago, I was on a trip through several European cities and had gotten my Schengen visa from the Dutch embassy. For that reason, when last week my mum’s friend asked me to help her get a visa to visit her sister in Germany, I told her I would still have to look up the specific procedure at the German embassy. (You see, procedures can vary among different embassies: some use third-party visa application centers, some handle it themselves; some require cover letters, some don’t; and so on.)

The website of the German embassy in Manila was very helpful but with the wealth of information there, it took several clicks to tease out just the information that I needed. So…I figured it might be useful if I gathered all the information for tourists/family visits and put them all here in one page.

Please note that this guide is for Filipinos who want to go to Germany either (1) for tourism, or (2) to visit family and friends there. The website of the German embassy in Manila can guide you if you want to go to Germany for other purposes:

  • Au pairs (see requirements HERE)
  • Business (see requirements HERE)
  • Employment (get more info HERE)
  • Fairs (see requirements HERE)
  • Family reunion and subsequent permanent stay (see requirements HERE)
  • Jobseekers – highly skilled professionals who want to look for a job in Germany (see requirements HERE)
  • Language course less than 3 months (see requirements HERE)
  • Language course longer than 3 months (see requirements HERE)
  • Marriage and subsequent permanent stay (see requirements HERE)
  • Nurses seeking employment in Germany (get more info HERE)
  • Seafarers joining their ship in a German harbour (get more info HERE)
  • Studying in Germany (see requirements HERE)
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*Applying for a Schengen Visa at the German Embassy: The Basics
Applying for a Schengen visa at the German embassy_1_The Basics

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Basically, there are 5 things you need to do to get a Schengen visa from the German embassy:

  1. Prepare your travel itinerary.
  2. Fill up the online application form.
  3. Gather all your requirements.
  4. Set an appointment at the Germany embassy.
  5. Go to the embassy at the appointed date and time and submit your requirements.

Personal appearance is necessary.

The earliest time you can apply for a visa is 3 months before you intend to enter the Schengen area. For example, if your flight from the Philippines to Germany is on the first week of November, the earliest you can apply for a visa is on the first week of August.

According to the embassy website, processing will take one week — and it is NOT possible to expedite the visa processing.
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Step 1: Prepare your itinerary
Applying for a Schengen visa at the German embassy_2_Step 1 Prepare your itinerary

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The first thing you need to do is to prepare your travel itinerary because you will need to write the details of your trip when you fill up your application form online (in Step 2).

The information and documents you need to have on hand are as follows:

  • Your personal information — name, date of birth, etc.
    *
  • The names and address of your parents or legal guardian
    *
  • Your passport details — passport number, date of issue, etc.
    *
  • Your home and e-mail addresses
    *
  • Occupation and employer’s name/address
    *
  • Travel data
    • Main purpose(s) of your journey — tourism, visit of family or friends, etc.
    • Member state(s) of destination — Germany (DEU) plus any other Schengen state you plan to visit
    • Intended date of arrival, intended date of departure, duration of the intended stay or transit
    • Schengen visas, if any, issued during the past three years — dates of validity of the visa, date your biometrics (specifically fingerprints) were taken
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  • Details of your entry permit for your final country of destination, if you are going somewhere else after you visit the Schengen area
    *
  • Reference details — your reference could be the person/organization that invited you, a hotel, an accredited diplomat, an EU citizen, or you could select “No reference person”
    *
  • Expenses
    • Who will cover your cost of living and traveling — yourself, a third party (e.g., company), or a sponsor
    • Means of support — cash, traveller’s cheques, credit card, accommodation provided, all expenses covered during the stay, pre-paid transport, other
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  • Name, address, and other details of your sponsor (if you have one)
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Step 2: Fill up the online application form
Applying for a Schengen visa at the German embassy_3_Step 2 Fill up the Online Application Form

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When you have your travel details ready, you can now fill up the online application form.

(It’s not a must-read but you can see the General User Guidelines for the application form HERE.)

Once the form is completed, print it out. You will need to bring the printout of the application form to the embassy during your appointment.

The German embassy website says: “The printout should be done in the best possible quality so that we can read the barcode into the data processing system. If you do not have a printer, you are welcome to let a person you trust (e.g. your host, business partners in Germany, relative, friend, etc.) fill in the form for you and / or print and then send it as a scan (pdf-file) to us by email (visa@mani.diplo.de) at least one working day before your visa appointment. The most important part for the data processing is definitely the last page with the barcode!”
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Step 3: Prepare the Visa Requirements
Applying for a Schengen visa at the German embassy_4_Step 3 Prepare the Visa requirements

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A checklist of required documents can be found in the German embassy website:

These are the requirements you need to prepare:

  1. Passport — original and photocopy
    • Must be valid for another 3 months after the end of your trip
    • Must contain two empty pages
    • Bring previous passports
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  2. Current passport picture
    • One (1) picture if you are applying for a tourist visa
    • Two (2) pictures if you are applying for a visitor’s visa
    • Photo studios generally know the specs needed for Schengen visa applications but you can also see the specs HERE
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  3. Visa application form — the printout of the form you filled up online. Don’t forget to sign it!
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  4. A signed printout of the “Declaration according to § 54 AufenthaltsG” — this basically says that if you provide false or incomplete information in order to get a visa, you may be expelled.
    *
  5. Travel details

    • For tourists, you need to submit the following documents:
      • Details regarding your travel destination and travel route
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      • Details regarding your means of travel for the outward and return journey (details regarding the airline — no flight ticket needed)
        *
      • Hotel voucher or confirmation of the hotel/guesthouse that the accommodation has already been paid for. For hotel reservations that you can cancel in case your visa application gets denied, Booking.com lets you filter search results to show only those hotels that offer free cancellation. *
    • If you are going to Germany to visit family or friends, you need to submit the following documents:
      • Proof of your relationship with your sponsor — birth/marriage certificates, written correspondence between you and your sponsor, proof of telephone connections, other evidence of relationship between you and your sponsor
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      • If no formal obligation is submitted, an informal invitation by your host, in which information is given regarding your host’s exact address of residence, the purpose of your travel, and the full duration of your travel and stay
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      • Details regarding your means of travel for the outward and return journey (details regarding the airline — no flight ticket needed)
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  6. Financial coverage of the cost of your travel and stay
    • F
    • For tourists: Statements of your account(s) for the previous six months, with a confirmation by the bank. According to the German embassy (in “How can I prove self-financing of subsistence expenses?“) you would generally need an amount of about €45 per person per day. (This is what people sometimes refer to as “show money” although the money is definitely not just for “show.” You need to have this amount to prove that you have the financial capacity to pay for the expenses you may incur during your trip.) You can substantiate that you have this amount through:
      • Proof of your own income
      • Presentation of your credit card together with the accounts of the past six (6) months
      • Presentation of your bank statements for the past six (6) months together with a confirmation of the bank
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    • For visitors to family/friends in Germany: EITHER (or both, if you can) of the following:
      • Statements of your account(s) for the previous six months, with a confirmation by the bank
      • Formal Obligation (original and a Xerox copy) according to §§ 66-68 of the German Residence Law, given by your host at the aliens authority “Ausländerbehörde”) in Germany that is responsible for his / her area of residence
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  7. Travel health insurance, which is valid for all Schengen-States and the full duration of stay for which the visa is applied for, with a minimum coverage sum of 30,000 Euros. Philippine insurances must be accredited and given in the original with a Xerox; German insurances are accepted as a Xerox, Fax or scan. The Schengen-accepted Philippine travel insurance companies that are accepted at the German embassy are:
    • ACE Insurance Philippines
    • Chartis Philippines Insurance, Inc.
    • Assist-Card
    • Blue Cross
    • BPI – MS Insurance Corporation
    • Everest International Group Administrators Inc.
    • FPG Insurance Co., Inc. (vorher: Federal Phoenix Assurance Co., Inc.)
    • Fortune General Ins. Corp
    • Liberty Insurance Coporation
    • MAA Insurance
    • Malayan Insurance Company, Inc.
    • MAPFRE Insular Insurance Corporation
    • Oriental Assurance Corporation
    • Paramount Life and General Insurance Co
    • Philippine British Assurance Co., Inc.
    • Philippines First Insurance Company
    • Pioneer Insurance Company
    • PNB General Insurers Co., Inc.
    • Standard Insurance Co.
    • Starr International Insurance Philippines
    • UCPB General Insurance Co. Inc.
    • WorldWide Travel Insurance Plans
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  8. Proof of rootedness in the Philippines
    • If you are employed: Proof of your employment, i.e. most recent income tax return, certificate of employment (including your employer’s full name, complete address and telephone number with area code details regarding your position or professional designation, income, duration of the working relationship) AND letter of approved leave of absence signed by your employer
    • If you are self-employed: proof of registration and commercial activity of your company in the Philippines, e.g. income tax returns, bank certificates, documents of the company accounts or other
    • If you are a pupil/student: School certificate / University certificate; proof of enrollment (for students), if applicable; letter of exemption from studies
    • Plus: If you own real estate property, e.g. original land title, deed of sale
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  9. Additional documents for children below age 18:
    • Personal appearance of both parents during submission of the visa application (if residing in the Philippines) with valid ID (passport or driver’s license)
    • Original Birth Certificate of the child, issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA – former NSO) on Security Paper (SECPA)
    • If not traveling with both parents:
      • Declaration of consent by the legal guardian(s), signed in front of a German consular officer
      • Passports of the legal guardian(s) (original and Xerox copy of the data page)
      • Proof of legal custody (for minors with parents whose marriage was dissolved/ annulled)
      • Death certificate of the other parent
      • Travel permit issued by the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
    • If the person(s) having care and custody of the child is resident abroad, a declaration of consent, given before the responsible German Consul must be submitted. If the person(s) having care and custody of the child live(s) in Germany, this declaration must be given before a German Notary Public or the responsible aliens authority (Ausländerbehörde).
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  10. Visa fee
    • Children up to 6 years – no fee
    • Children from 6 to 12 years – €35
    • Applicants older than 12 years – €60
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Step 4: Set an appointment online
Applying for a Schengen visa at the German embassy_5_Step 4 Set an appointment online

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You can book an appointment at the Germany embassy HERE.

The instructions in the website are quite easy to follow but if you need a step-by-step guide with screenshots and labels and arrows and all that, you can find one HERE.

Once you have booked your appointment, you will receive a confirmation email. Print out the email and bring it with you during your appointment. You will not be admitted for your appointment at the Visa Section without a printout of the confirmation email.
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Step 5: Go to the embassy at the appointed date and time and submit your requirements.
Applying for a Schengen visa at the German embassy_6_Step 5 Go to the embassy at the appointed date and time and submit your requirements

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Address
:
German Embassy Manila
25/F Tower 2, RCBC Plaza
6819 Ayala Ave (cor Sen. Gil Puyat Ave)
Makati City
Metro Manila, Philippines

Contact number of the German embassy’s Visa Section:
(63) (2) 702 3001

Fax number of the German embassy’s Visa Section:
(63) (2) 702 3045

Email address: visa@mani.diplo.de

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Make sure your documents are complete (review Step 3). The German embassy says: “Incomplete applications will not be accepted: the application will then be turned away free of charge, and you will need to set a new appointment.”

There will be an interview and biometrics will be taken.

And then: wait. The embassy will release their decision after 1 week.

If your application was denied, you can file an appeal.
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Extra Tips
Applying for a Schengen visa at the German embassy_7_Extra tips

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The Germany embassy website has a FAQs page that you might want to check out.

As I mentioned at the top of the page, I got my Schengen visa from the Dutch embassy (and another time from the French embassy) and I’m simply compiling this info for my mum’s friend. For tips from someone who actually — successfully! — obtained her visa from the German embassy, check out my friend Daisy’s blog.

Good luck! 🙂

 

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65 Responses

  1. Just curious, would you know if by “1 week” they mean 7 working days or 7 actual days? Thanks. Article was very helpful.

    1. Hi Pancho! I think they mean 7 actual days but I’m not 100% sure. Their actual words were “the processing time for a Schengen-Visa application is in general one week” so probably best to give them 2 weeks, just to be safe. Good luck!

  2. Hello. I have a boyfriend in germany, and he invited me to go to german, i would like to apply for a schengen visa not a fiancee visa.. anyway i dont have a work here in philippines but he supported me financially. We met 4x here in phililippines as well as in Singapore. I would like to know if is it possible to get schengen tourist visa.

    1. Hi Kat! I don’t think anyone can tell you with 100% certainty whether or not you will be given a visa, but you can always try. Just try to be meticulous in preparing the required documents. Good luck!

    2. Hi Kat,
      Same with me I have German boyfriend for 5 years we travel together in some country in Asia every year. I have 7 years old daughter with my Filipino bf before I want to bring her.I have work as a casual in Municipal Tourism.I decided to go there April 2018 so I have much time to prepare all the requirements.I been worried if I will pass on the interview specially I want to bring also my daughter.Good luck to us.
      If you apply advance in Embassy hoping you give me some tips also.
      Thanks…

      1. Hi Kat how’s your application? We have same status unemployed but I have an sponsor too.

      2. Hi Kat and Lea!

        Just want to ask what happen to your visa application going to germany?
        I have the same problem too and I’m planning to go there on December.

      3. Hi guys, i have the same problem. I’m unemployed and my boyfriend is inviting me in germany, can you give me some tips? Thank you and Godbless

    3. Hi Kat,

      I have the same issue, I’m currently unemployed but my bf will sponsor me. How did your application go? Here’s my email address kcrb02@gmail.com. I look forward to your reply.

      1. Hi guys! I have the same issue also.. Not employed, my bf want me to visit germany

    4. Hi Kat, same problem here. Did your processing go well? Can you give me some ideas? Thank you and God bless

    1. Hi Lay! The embassy’s checklist of requirements says that for insurance from Philippine companies, you need to have both the original and a photocopy. However, I know you can get a policy from some of the accredited insurance companies online — like Blue Cross; not sure about Starr — and in cases like that, I *think* a printout of the PDF they send you should be fine.

  3. Hi. I have a question. My mom, sister, her husband and my sister’s friend would like to come here and visit me. I am just confused which visa they should apply for. Tourist or visiting? coz we will travel europe as well.

    1. Hi Jennifer! I think the visitor’s visa would be more appropriate, if their main purpose is to visit you and especially if they’re staying at your home while they’re at your home city. It would be a bit complicated for your sister’s friend to document her relationship with you though…

  4. Hi my german boyfriend will come this coming march..and he wants me to go with him to germany to visit for 90 days.but my main problem is my rootedness..pls help me

    1. Hi Love. Rootedness would usually refer to your job (or other source of income) here in the Philippines, as well as your property here and perhaps family (like a child) — and I don’t think I can help you with any of that, it’s either you have it or you don’t. If you have a job, that would be a good start.

  5. Hey! You see I am fresh grad from college here in the Philippines and I was browsing online for possible jobs when I suddenly came across this job openings from Creators Media. However, since the position I’m hoping to apply for has its main office in Berlin, Germany, I instantly knew that I will need a visa to Germany for me to be able to apply. So my question is, what required documents should I prepare in applying for the visa?

    1. Hi Lea!

      In the 3rd paragraph of this article, you will see a link to the German embassy’s guide for Jobseekers. It’s a bit longer and more complicated than for a simple tourist visa so instead of me listing everything down, it would be better for you to get it straight from the source.

      Good luck!

  6. Hi kat i was wondering if i will be able to get a schengen visa my 4years boyfriend/fiancé will be my sponsor he’s from USA we have been traveling around the world for 4 years now and i have been in 21 countries so far.. But the problem is i dont have a job and i only have a small business here in philippines that is not yet registered in BIR. do you think that i will have a problem with that and If ever that i will apply do you think i need proof like pictures so they will know that our relationship is genuine.. Thank you ans have a nice day

  7. Hi ,I’m krizia,I had a german friend…he wants me to visit his country,, I’m just asking if I can travel to Germany,,and what visa can I apply for this?

    1. Hi Krizia! If you’re asking if you can travel to Germany, I don’t see why not. You can apply for the visa to visit family/friends. You can read about it in this article. Good luck!

  8. Hello Kat! I was wondering if I need to authenticate my invitation letter and copies of IDs from my aunt in Germany by asking a notary public to notarize it? If yes, should the documents need to be notarized here in the Philippines or in Germany?

    Thank you,

    Mab

  9. Hello! I was wondering if I need to authenticate my invitation letter and copies of IDs from my aunt in Germany by asking a notary public to notarize it? If yes, should the documents need to be notarized here in the Philippines or in Germany?

    Thank you,

    Mab

    1. Hi Mab!

      If it’s just an informal invitation letter, I don’t know if it needs to be notarized. (But if it does need to be notarized, your aunt needs to sign it in front of the notary public, so it should be notarized wherever she is.)

      However, if your aunt is contributing in any way to your trip, note that you would have to submit a “Formal Obligation (original and a Xerox copy) according to §§ 66-68 of the German Residence Law, given by your host at the aliens authority (“Ausländerbehörde”) in Germany that is responsible for his / her area of residence.”

      Good luck!

      1. Thanks for this. But i will be shouldering all of my expenses. Except the accomodation as I will be staying at her place.

      2. Hmmm… I suppose one could argue that by offering you accommodations, she is actually sponsoring that aspect of your trip, and you would be justified in asking her for the formal obligation document. But anyway… I can’t be sure since I’ve never tried submitting an invitation, but if I were in your place, I would either:
        a. Ask my aunt for the Obligation, or
        b. Just book a hotel [that offers free cancellation] so as not to have to provide documents from my aunt.

  10. Hi! My German bf is inviting me to visit him in Munich for 90 days. He also intends to show me a bit of Switzerland and Austria for separate weekend trips. So the scenario will be me staying in Germany most of the time but one weekend to Switzerland then back to Germany. Then another weekend to Austria then back to Germany. Is this possible? I’m confused about the single and multiple entries. In which category does this planned itinerary belong to? Single or multiple? Either way, is this possible?

    Thank you.

    Sky

    1. Hi Sky! I don’t see why it shouldn’t be possible. If you’re staying within the Schengen area, that only counts as a single entry. There are usually no passport/visa checks in the borders between Schengen countries. But if you’re staying there for up to 90 days, might as well request for a multiple entry visa, just in case you want to go to, say, London, or other places outside the Schengen area. Good luck!

      1. Hi Gaya! I’ve got another question and I really hope you could help since I can’t seem to find an answer online. So my bf is sending me a formal obligation along with the travel health insurance. What I’m concerned about is that the embassy has been very specific about the accredited health insurance – all of them in the Philippines. Is it ok if the insurance is obtained from Germany? Thanks.

      2. Hi Sky! I think the Schengen countries have that list for a reason. You could try asking the German embassy if they will accept your insurance, but to avoid hassle, I would recommend just getting a policy from the companies on the list. You can buy from Blue Cross (now named Pacific Cross) online — convenient, which is why I’ve used them for my previous trips. I also tried getting a quote from MAPFRE once and I think their plans are cheaper than Blue Cross’.

  11. Hello, my boyfriend from germany inviting me to visit him I just need some help to get visa. I dont have my passport yet but i already appointed this august for passport

    1. Hi Janualyn. You can read about how to get a Schengen visa in this article but if you think you need more help, I would suggest that you ask for assistance from a travel agency. Good luck!

  12. Hello! Very helpful blog. I do have a question, however.

    My German boyfriend living in Germany is inviting me to visit him, providing formal obligation since I am not currently financially capable for the trip. However, when he called the Office of Foreign Affairs of his city, he was informed that processing can take up to 5 weeks (used to be 7-14 days but due to refugee crisis, it now takes longer). I am aware that I need to submit the original copy to the German Embassy so it could take an additional 1-2 weeks for me to receive the formal obligation.

    My target trip to Germany is 3rd week of August.
    I have just applied for a passport and is expected to arrive 2nd/3rd week week of June.
    7 weeks (processing + delivery of formal obligation) after 2nd week of June is last week of July.

    Do you think I can set an appointment for my Schengen VISA application on the last week of July if my target trip is 3rd week of August? Or is the application too early?

    Vielen dank! 🙂

    1. Hi Geline! I have absolutely no way of knowing if your documents will arrive on their expected dates so I can’t say whether an appointment date on the last week of July would be too early. If I were in your place, though, I would not feel comfortable with a timeline as tight as that and would push back the trip to September at the earliest. Good luck!

  13. Hi. Thanks for informative article. Regarding Step 5 “Submit requirements at embassy”, this means submit personally during the interview date, correct? (Not send by postmail)

    1. Hi Red! I’m very sorry for the super-late reply. I was on a trip recently and then when I got back, I had to catch up on work, so I was super-busy and have just gotten around to replying to comments. I’m sure you’ve probably found out the answer by now, but yes, the requirements are to be submitted personally at the embassy. Good luck and happy travels!

  14. Thank you for this article. Ill be having my interview for tourist visa by weds and hopefully all will end up well .

    1. Hi Dynes! Sorry for the late reply — I was on a trip recently and had a lot of work to catch up on when I got back, so I’ve just gotten around to replying to comments. Anyway, I hope your interview went well and you got a visa. Have a great trip! 🙂

  15. Hi I have romanian husband and living in Germany i would like to ask if they also need my bank account documents even if my husband will sponsor me on my trip to Germany? Thanks

    1. Hi Mizzy! Yes, even if your husband is sponsoring all the expenses for your trip, it would be better if you also submit your own financial documents. It just adds more credibility to your application if you can show that you have your own money, particularly if your account shows that you have a steady inflow of cash. Good luck!

  16. Hi! Please help me, I’m so nervous about my visa application I am fresh graduate and my grandma invited me to visit her in germany, she will be my sponsor, since I am a fresh graduate I don’t have any proof of employment etc. I can you help me what other proof of rootedness I can present? I’m afraid of getting denied. Thankyou!

    1. Hi kc! Sorry for the very delayed reply, have been very busy. Usually, proof of rootedness consists of employment, property, and family (spouse/kids). Since you’re still a fresh graduate, I would assume you’re not yet married and don’t have kids either. In that case, if you can present proof of property (usually real estate), that would be great. If not…there’s not really much you can do about it. You can just try to apply for a visa anyway and just firm up your other documents to make up for your lack of proof of ties. Good luck!

  17. I have read about the travel health insurance with minimum 30,000 euro if you are visiting Germany. Is it really that much or it depends to the travel insurance listed in this section.

    1. Hi Jessie! The minimum coverage of the insurance should be 30,000 euros, but how much you will pay will depend on the insurance company, as well as the number of days covered, the number of countries you’re visiting, etc. Just to give you an idea, the last time I got insurance, it cost me 57 euros. Good luck!

  18. Hi! I just had my Schengen Visa application in German Embassy in Manila. I submitted all required requirements and they had me fill up the 2Go and was told that they will send my passport back in 5 to 7 working days. I’m just confused, is that mean I will be expecting my visa approval attached to my passport when I get it? Is my visa approved already? Thank you! Have a Good day!

    1. Hi Angela! So sorry to have missed your question — for some reason, a bunch of comments were put in the Spam section. 🙁 Anyway, I hope you got your visa already! But to answer your question, no, it’s not a guarantee that the visa application was approved. Sometimes, they send you back your passport with a letter explaining why your visa application was denied. But in your case I hope it was good news!

  19. I have a German friend who is inviting me to visit him but we haven’t seen each other but we are in contact for almost a year now. Im applying for a tourist visa. I’m employed for 11yrs years in my job. He will be sponsoring my accommodation and food, in which box will i encode his details?

    1. Hi Aubrey! I believe you can list him under “Reference” and select “Inviting person” from the drop-down list. Good luck!

  20. Hi everyone. I have a German boyfriend and I met him this year in the month of September on a dating site, and by the end of September he came here in the Philippines to meet me and we did met. He always asked me to get a tourist visa but I don’t know how to start the process, what do I need to do and what he needs to do also for my tourist visa? How long will it takes to get a visa?

    We’re actually a single parent, I have a 4 year old son and he has a 13 year old daughter. He said he will pay everything the cost of my visa and shoulder all the expenses if I am in Germany with my son since he owned a small business there and now he supported me in my needs. I don’t have work. I only have €87 in my local bank account.

    For now, I’m waiting for my passport appointment this coming December.

    Hope anyone can help me about my problem and this is my email address z.pacunla04@yahoo.com.

    God bless us all.

    1. Hi Zamboanga! How to get a tourist visa is exactly what this article is about so perhaps you can start by reading it. It also mentions what you need to submit if you are going there to visit family or friends. If you need further guidance, you could try working with a travel agency. Good luck!

  21. Hi! Thanks for your informative blog!

    I have two questions, if you don’t mind. 🙂

    1) Do you know how the sponsorship works? My German bf wants me to go to Germany last week of April. However he won’t be back in Germany until mid-March and the formal obligation takes weeks to process. Will an invitation letter suffice to show he’s got me covered for my trip?

    2) How does the show money work? 45 € per day so let’s say I go to Germany for 10 days. Does it mean having around 450 € in my bank is enough or is the 450 € on top of my travel expenses? My bf plans to put his “sponsorship” travel funds in my bank in additional to what I have but I’m afraid to be honest at the interview if they ask where and how I got the money so quickly.

    Sorry for the questions, first time applying for VISA esp Schengen (and I heard German embassy is one of the most strict in Schengen states).

    Thanks a bunch!

    1. Hi Anne!

      1. If I understand the visitor’s visa checklist correctly, if your boyfriend is financially sponsoring the cost of your trip, you will need to submit a formal obligation. However, if you’re only staying with him but you are paying for the trip yourself, you have the option of just submitting “An informal invitation by the host, in which information is given regarding the host’s exact address of residence, the purpose of travel and the full duration of travel and stay.”

      2. The 45 € per day is for your subsistence expenses — or, basically, your travel expenses. So for a 10-day trip, you should have in your bank account 450 € set aside specifically for the trip. That should be in top of your savings, etc. (for which they don’t specify an amount). You can read more aboout show money here – https://smalltowngirlsmidnighttrains.com/show-money-visa/

      Good luck! 🙂

      1. Your blog on show money answered the questions I had in mind although I have another one but I can’t seem to comment on that entry?

        I have yet to request for a bank statement but I’ve projected my ADB by manually calculating it. Do you think this is accurate? http://www.banksphilippines.com/2014/09/compute-monthly-average-daily-balance.html

        I’m wondering, based on your experience or of you know, if you have an idea what range a “good” ADB is? 10,000-20,000 or more?

        Thank you! ♥

      2. Hi Anne!

        Yep, that looks like an accurate way to get your ADB, though it’ll take you quite some time to calculate your ADB for the whole year that way.

        I’m afraid I don’t really know what the embassies would consider a “good” ADB.

        My personal rule of thumb is that my total budget for a trip should be less than my ADB and that, at the time of visa application, the part of my travel budget that isn’t fully paid yet should be less than half of my account balance. But that’s really just my own rule. Basically, you just have to find a way to show them you’re responsible with your money.

    1. Hi Joan! Sorry, I can’t really speak with authority regarding other visa types. Perhaps you could ask the company you will be interning with? (And good luck!)

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