Welcome
Schengen Visas
For short stays of up to 90 days
The Schengen visa entitles the holder to stays of a maximum of 90 days per 180 days in the Schengen area.
The German Embassy Kuwait is the competent mission for your Schengen visa application if your usual place of residence is Kuwait and your main destination is Germany, Finland, Iceland or Norway. When applying for a Visa to Finland, Iceland or Norway, please provide documents relating to your main destination instead of Germany. Should it become clear that your usual place of residence is outside Kuwait; your visa application cannot be processed by the German Embassy Kuwait.
Applicants whose usual place of residence is Syria or Yemen can also apply for a Schengen Visa at the German Embassy Kuwait.
Preparing your application
Schengen Visa applications can be submitted up to 6 months before and must be submitted at least 15 days prior to your travel. The Embassy cannot speed up the processing time of your application, so please allow for ample time by booking your appointment as early in advance as possible.
Only fully completed applications can be accepted; failing to submit the necessary documents in the requested form may lead to a refusal of your visa request.
Documents and certificates are to be provided in German or English. Should your documents be issued in any other language, please provide the original with an official translation into German or English.
The applicant is responsible for all information provided during the application process. Forged or falsified documents, including fake reservations, will result in an immediate refusal of your visa application and a possible entry ban to the Schengen area.
Prepare your application documents as follows:
- Please use the VIDEX application form for Schengen visas in order to speed up the application process and to reduce your waiting time.
- Please ensure that your photo adheres to German biometric requirements and is taken in front of a white/bright background.
- Please fill out and attach the following documents to your file:
- Please compile the supporting documents for your application according to the purpose of your trip:
Kuwaiti passport holders:
Tourism; Visiting Family and/or Friends; Business; Trade Fair
Medical Treatment / Accompanying a patient for medical treatment
Non-Kuwaiti passport holders:
Tourism; Visiting Family and/or Friends
Medical Treatment / Accompanying a patient for medical treatment
Submitting your application
Please book your appointment at VFS Global Kuwait via their appointment scheduling system.
Every applicant needs his/her own appointment and needs to appear in person. Minors have to be accompanied by their custodians.
We urgently recommend that you book your appointment yourself. Using “agents” or “advisors” puts you at risk of losing a lot of time and money. Booking an appointment is free of charge; neither the German Embassy nor VFS Global Kuwait will request payment other than the visa fees or the VFS Global Kuwait Service fees stated on the respective websites.
Should you need appointments for a larger group, please contact VFS Global Kuwait in advance.
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?
Processing time for visa applications will take up to 14 days, commencing with the day the file has been delivered to the Embassy. The German Embassy Kuwait and VFS-Global Kuwait are committed to keep the processing time to a minimum. You can track your visa status via VFS Global Kuwait.
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. 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 has decided on your application, your passport will be returned to you via the external service provider VFS Global Kuwait.
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.
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 an invitation from Germany, hotel reservation and travel health insurance) with you on your trip.