A dummy ticket for a Germany visa is a flight reservation held in the airline's system without paying the fare, delivered as a PDF with a PNR you can check. The German missions' tourism checklist for India lists "Flight reservation" as item 11 and says a booked ticket brings no faster processing. Dummy Tickets Visa (DTV) charges US$15 (₹1,200) per passenger.
- Item 11 of the German missions' tourism checklist for India reads "Flight reservation"; a booked ticket does not speed up processing.
- The visa fee is €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 11, listed in India as ₹10,100 and ₹5,100 on a fee page dated 27 August 2026.
- Germany's checklist says to apply not later than 15 working days before travel, which is about three calendar weeks.
- You can apply at any VFS Global centre in India, whatever your place of residence.
- Since 3 June 2026, Indian passport holders no longer need an airport transit visa to change planes in Germany.
On this page
- What Germany's checklist asks for
- Visa fee, service charge and processing time
- Where to apply in India: any VFS centre
- Sample routings: Frankfurt, Munich and trade fair travel
- Schengen visa or Germany's national (D) visa
- Changing planes in Germany: the airport transit visa is gone
- Ordering a dummy ticket for Germany visa applications
- Typical entry airports
- German trips by purpose, with examples
- A worked German business file
- Common questions from Indian business travellers
- Germany's main airports and Indian routes
- Germany combined with neighbouring countries
A dummy ticket for a Germany visa is a flight reservation: a genuine booking held in the airline's system in your name, with a PNR you can check on the airline's website, delivered as a PDF. That is what the German missions in India ask for. Their tourism checklist lists "Flight reservation" as a required document and says a booked ticket does not bring faster processing. Dummy Tickets Visa (DTV) charges US$15 (₹1,200) per passenger. This page covers the checklist wording, the fee in rupees, Germany's working-day deadlines and routings via Frankfurt and Munich.
What Germany's checklist asks for
It asks for a flight reservation instead of a purchased ticket. The tourism Schengen checklist published by the German missions in India lists "Flight reservation" as item 11 under "Required documents". Item 5 asks for a "Personal covering letter/ Proof of intended means of transport and itinerary", and item 6 for a travel agency's confirmation of an organised trip or "any other appropriate document indicating the travel plans".
The same checklist says: "A booked flight ticket does not result in a preferred processing of the application." Buying a fare early does not move your file up the queue, and you lose the fare if the visa is refused or your dates change. A flight reservation shows the same concrete plan without paying for it.
A flight reservation is a real booking in the airline's reservation system, with a PNR you can check on the airline's "Manage booking" page during the hold is live. It is not an edited PDF and not an e-ticket, and it cannot be used to board a flight. If an officer asks, describe it as a reservation.
Visa fee, service charge and processing time
The visa fee is €90 for an adult and €45 for a child aged 6 to 11 as of September 2026, and free under 6. The German missions' fee page, dated 27 August 2026, lists the rupee amounts as ₹10,100 and ₹5,100 and marks them "Subject to change without prior notice". VFS Global adds its own service fee. By law it cannot exceed half the visa fee (€45); this page does not quote the current figure, so check it on the VFS Germany site for India before you pay.
| Item | Amount or rule | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visa fee, adult | €90 / ₹10,100 | Fee page dated 27 August 2026 |
| Visa fee, child 6–11 | €45 / ₹5,100 | Same page |
| Visa fee, under 6 | Free | Same at every Schengen consulate |
| VFS service fee | No more than €45 | Check the current amount on the VFS Germany site |
| Apply by | 15 working days before travel | Checklist; about three calendar weeks |
| Transfer from VFS | Up to 2 or up to 6 working days | Checklist says 2; the Schengen visa page says 6 |
| Processing | 15 working days | From the day the file reaches the visa section |
Germany counts in working days. "Not later than 15 working days" before travel is about three calendar weeks, not 15 days. Processing runs "within 15 working days from the day of arrival at the visa section", and the file has to get there first: the checklist allows up to 2 working days from VFS, the missions' Schengen visa page up to 6. Plan on the longer figure.
A worked example: you submit at VFS on Monday 2 November 2026. Up to 6 working days of transfer takes the file to Tuesday 10 November, and 15 working days of processing from there takes you to about 1 December, before courier time and any public holidays. A trip in the first week of December would be tight. Our processing time guide compares other consulates.
Where to apply in India: any VFS centre
You can apply at any VFS Global centre in India. The missions' Schengen visa page says applications "can be submitted in all Visa Application Centers run by VFS Global all over India, regardless of your place of residence". If slots in your own city are full, you may book a centre in another city.
The decision is made by one of Germany's five posts in India: the Embassy in New Delhi and the consulates in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata. Because any VFS centre takes your file, you do not need to work out which post covers your state before you book. VFS lists its current centres and hours on its Germany site.
If you legally live outside India, in the UAE, the UK or elsewhere, you apply to the German mission for that country of residence, not in India. Our page for Indians living abroad covers ordering a reservation and paying from outside India.
Sample routings: Frankfurt, Munich and trade fair travel
Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC) are Germany's two long-haul hubs and the usual arrival airports for flights from India, with nonstop and one-stop options. If your stay starts in Berlin, Hamburg or Düsseldorf, reserve to that city instead, so the flight matches the first night of your hotel booking.
A visit to a trade fair (Messe) is business travel, so the purpose on your form is business, not tourism, and your proof of purpose should show the fair and your role there. The tourism checklist quoted above is for holidays; check the German missions' website for the documents they list for business visits before you build the file. Our business visa page covers the reservation side.
Fix the reservation to the fair dates plus the travel days either side, and keep the hotel booking to the same dates. For a fair outside the two hubs, such as in Hannover, Cologne or Düsseldorf, reserve to the airport you will actually use or show the onward train in your travel plan. A trip that also takes in another Schengen country can go on a multi-city itinerary, priced at US$15 (₹1,200) per two flights, per passenger.
Schengen visa or Germany's national (D) visa
Everything above is about the Schengen (C) visa, for stays of up to 90 days. For a longer stay in Germany, for study, work, the Opportunity Card or family reunification, you need a national (D) visa, which is a separate application with its own document list for each category.
| Point | Schengen (C) visa | National (D) visa |
|---|---|---|
| Length of stay | Up to 90 days in any 180 | Longer than 90 days |
| Typical purposes | Tourism, business, visiting family | Study, work, Opportunity Card, family reunification |
| Flight document | "Flight reservation", item 11 of the tourism checklist | Depends on the category; check the missions' page for yours |
| Where to apply | Any VFS Global centre in India | As the missions' page for your category directs |
Do not assume the Schengen wording carries over to a D visa. Check the list for your category on the German missions' India website before you order anything. Our student visa page and work visa page cover reservations for longer-stay applications in general.
Changing planes in Germany: the airport transit visa is gone
Since 3 June 2026, Indian nationals no longer need an airport transit visa to change planes at a German airport on the way to a country outside the Schengen area. The German missions in India say the change was published in the Federal Law Gazette on 2 June 2026. The exemption covers staying inside the international transit area only. If you leave the airside area, collect bags or change airports, you need a Schengen visa in the ordinary way.
Germany's exemption says nothing about other airports on your route. As of the Commission's table dated 30 June 2026, Czechia and Romania still required an airport transit visa from Indian nationals, with exemptions for holders of certain visas and residence permits. Our transit visa page covers reservations for transit applications.
Ordering a dummy ticket for Germany visa applications
Order it for the dates on your form, have it delivered the day before your VFS appointment, and check the PNR before you submit. The reservation is one document among several in a Germany file, next to your passport, form, photo, insurance, proof of funds, and proof of purpose and accommodation. It shows that your travel plan is concrete and checkable, and it does nothing for the rest of the file.
Pick your dates and route
Match them to your application form, insurance certificate and hotel booking, and to the airport where your stay begins.
Order through the booking form
Enter passenger names exactly as they appear in the passport, the route and the travel dates on the booking form. No passport scan and no account are needed.
Set delivery for the day before
The form asks when you want to receive it. Choose the day before your VFS appointment, because how long a hold stays live depends on the airline.
Check the PNR
Look the booking up on the airline's own website while the hold is live, using our PNR check guide.
DTV books the reservation in the airline's own system and holds it without paying the fare. You receive it by email or WhatsApp as a PDF itinerary, typically 10–20 minutes after your payment is confirmed. It costs US$15 (₹1,200) per passenger, the same for one-way or return, and one order covers up to 9 passengers on one itinerary. Our sample dummy ticket shows the layout.
For the rules every Schengen country shares, including insurance, the 90/180-day limit and which country to apply to, see our Schengen visa guide.
Typical entry airports
- Frankfurt (FRA), Germany's largest hub with direct flights from several Indian cities.
- Munich (MUC), useful for Bavaria, Austria-side trips and southern Germany.
- Berlin (BER), Düsseldorf (DUS) and Hamburg (HAM), usually with one connection.
If you are attending an event in a particular city, choose a route that ends there or close by. A trade fair in Cologne with a reservation into Munich and no onward travel plan is the sort of inconsistency to avoid.
German trips by purpose, with examples
Trade fair in Frankfurt or Hannover
A sales manager from Pune attends a four-day trade fair. She flies Mumbai to Frankfurt two days before the fair and returns the day after. Her file includes the exhibitor or visitor registration, her employer's letter, a hotel near the fairground and a verifiable flight reservation.
Client meetings in Munich and Stuttgart
An engineer from Chennai has meetings with two companies. He flies to Munich, takes a train to Stuttgart and flies home from Stuttgart. The invitations state the meeting dates, and the reservation is open-jaw.
Visiting a child studying in Berlin
Parents from Hyderabad visit their son for three weeks. He sends an invitation letter and a copy of his residence permit. They stay with him for part of the trip and in a hotel for the rest.
Christmas markets tour
A family from Delhi visits Cologne, Nuremberg and Munich in December. They show three hotel reservations, train legs in the day plan and a Delhi–Frankfurt–Delhi reservation.
A worked German business file
Karthik, a procurement lead at a Coimbatore manufacturer, visits two suppliers and a trade fair.
| Day | Plan | Proof |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fly Coimbatore–Bengaluru–Frankfurt, arrive same evening or next morning | Verifiable flight reservation |
| 2–3 | Supplier visit near Frankfurt | Supplier invitation letter |
| 4–6 | Trade fair in Hannover | Fair registration; Hannover hotel |
| 7 | Train to Stuttgart; supplier visit | Second invitation letter; Stuttgart hotel |
| 8 | Fly Stuttgart–Bengaluru–Coimbatore | Same reservation, open-jaw |
His employer's letter states his role, the purpose, the dates and that the company pays all costs. The reservation, hotels and invitations line up day by day.
Common questions from Indian business travellers
"Should my company or I book the reservation?"
Either is fine. If your company's travel desk can provide a reservation, use it. If not, order one yourself.
"Do I need a hotel if the client provides accommodation?"
No. Include the client's letter stating that they provide accommodation, with the address.
"Can I add holiday days after my business trip?"
Yes. Mention it in the cover letter and add hotel bookings for the extra days. The main purpose may still be business.
Germany's main airports and Indian routes
| Airport | Code | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Frankfurt | FRA | Largest hub; many connections from India |
| Munich | MUC | Southern Germany, Austria border trips |
| Berlin | BER | Capital; tourism and student visits |
| Düsseldorf | DUS | Business in North Rhine-Westphalia |
| Hamburg | HAM | Northern Germany |
| Stuttgart | STR | Automotive and engineering business |
Whether a direct flight exists from your city varies by season and airline. Choose a realistic routing, including Gulf or European hubs.
Germany combined with neighbouring countries
Germany borders nine countries, and many Indian travellers combine it with Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, France or the Czech Republic.
| Trip | Nights | Likely consulate |
|---|---|---|
| Munich 4, Salzburg 2, Vienna 2 | Germany has most | Germany |
| Berlin 3, Prague 4 | Czech Republic has most | Czech Republic |
| Frankfurt 2 (business), Paris 4 (holiday) | Purpose may matter | Check both consulates' guidance |
| Black Forest 3, Zurich 3, Lucerne 2 | Switzerland has most | Switzerland |
Your reservation should enter and leave the Schengen area within your dates, whatever the internal route.
Frequently asked questions
Does the German mission accept a dummy ticket for a Schengen visa?
The German checklist does not use the term "dummy ticket". It asks for a "Flight reservation" (item 11) and says a booked ticket brings no preferred processing. A genuine reservation with a PNR the officer can check matches that wording; an edited PDF does not, and doubts about a document's authenticity are a refusal ground. The visa section decides each file. Our key facts page sets out what DTV sells.
Do I need a return reservation, or is one-way enough?
Show a return. Germany's checklist says only "Flight reservation", but the common Schengen list for India asks for a "flight reservation of return or round ticket", because the return flight is evidence that you will leave. A DTV reservation costs US$15 (₹1,200) per passenger whether it is one-way or return. Our guide to one-way or return tickets for visas compares the two.
Which travel insurance does Germany accept?
A policy of at least €30,000 for medical expenses, valid in all Schengen countries for the whole trip. The German missions in India add that they accept Indian travel medical insurance "only from approved Indian Travel Insurance companies", so check that your insurer is on their approved list before you buy. Our Schengen travel insurance guide covers the general rules.
How early should I receive the reservation before my Germany appointment?
The day before you submit your file. A reservation is a temporary hold and how long it stays live depends on the airline, so one issued weeks early may have lapsed by the time your file is checked. Set the delivery date on the order form and check the PNR on the airline's site first, using our PNR check guide.
Can I get a two-year Schengen visa from Germany?
Possibly. The German missions in India say they issue a two-year (C2) visa to Indian applicants who have lawfully used two Schengen visas in the past three years, with a five-year visa possible after that. They also say there is no automatic entitlement, and your passport's validity can limit what you are given. The rule is for Indian nationals living in India.
My flight to Italy changes planes in Frankfurt. Do I apply to Germany?
No. A change of planes in Frankfurt or Munich on the way to another Schengen country is not a stay in Germany. You apply to your main destination, here Italy, and pass Schengen border control at the German airport on that visa. Our main destination guide explains the rule.
- German Missions in India: Schengen visa for tourism, document checklist
- German Missions in India: visa fees
- German Missions in India: Schengen visa, application centres and processing
- German Missions in India: Schengen visa FAQ
- German Missions in India: airport transit visa requirement lifted for Indian nationals
- VFS Global: Germany visa application, India
- European Commission: national airport transit visa requirements (Annex 7B)
Last updated by Girish A. Visa requirements change, so confirm the current checklist with the embassy, consulate or official application centre before you apply. A reservation supports a visa file and cannot guarantee a visa decision.