1. Online Visa Application Form duly filled out and signed by the applicant. 

2. Two biometrical passport photos – have your passport photo taken. The embassy is very strict on their photo specifications. Fortunately, they have a page on their official website dedicated to explaining this. Bring at least two copies or more, just in case. One photo should be glued to the application form. The second photo will be returned to you.

3. Original passport and a photocopy of it – The embassy requires that your passport is valid for at least another three months on the date the visa application is submitted. It also must have two empty pages for them to stamp your passport. If you have renewed your passport, bring your old one/s with you. These are needed especially if you have previous overseas trips.

4. Download, print, and sign the Application Form and the Questionnaire

5. Your travel plan (travel destination, route, proof of accommodation and itinerary) – with the necessary documents needed, this should clearly state the purpose of your travel. Normally, this would just include your complete flight itinerary. Remember that you do not need to book/pay for the ticket yet. You just need to show that a flight itinerary from the Philippines to your destination exists. However, I advise that you also prepare a cover letter stating the purpose of your trip to Germany as well as a detailed itinerary (e.g., the exact destinations/sights that you will be visiting) just in case the embassy asks for it. 

• • If applying as a Tourist:
    • A cover letter addressed to the German Embassy Consul. If you are a first-time traveler to Germany, please submit an informal declaration explaining your willingness to return to the Philippines before the expiration of your visa: What exactly will be an incentive for you to return to the Philippines and can you submit proofs for these circumstances?
    • Your day-to-day itinerary – be specific in indicating the place you will visit and the tours you will join or take. 
    • Flight reservation – Reservation ONLY. Do not pay for your flight reservations until your visa is approved. You can avail for my services for a dummy ticket so that I can assist you with your flight reservations. Get a flight reservation here. 
    • Proof of accommodation or Hotel reservations – you would need to show hotel bookings, but this does not mean that you must pay for your hotel reservations this early. You can check via Booking.com, AirBnB, Agoda, or simply an apartment. 
• • If visiting family or friends:
    • An informal invitation letter written by the host or by your partner who is based in Germany – the content should include the host’s exact address of residence, the purpose of your travel, and the full duration of your travel and stay at your host’s country. 
    • Proof of relationship with the host, sponsor, or partner – these can be birth certificates, marriage certificates, written correspondence between you and your sponsor (screenshot of video calls and chats), proof of telephone connections and other evidence of relationship between you and your sponsor, and photos together.
    • If you want to visit a close relative: Proof of the urgency of that visit, e.g., marriage celebration, birth of a child, serious health problem, funeral
    • Details regarding the means of travel for the outward and return journey (details regarding the airline), no flight ticket is needed.

• • If visiting boyfriend, girlfriend, or fiancé (Visit Visa for unmarried couples): In applying for a Visit Visa for unmarried couples, it is a strict requirement that you and your partner have already met at least once.
    • If you visit your partner with whom you are not married: Erklärung zur Beziehung (Besuch)PDF, filled and signed by you and your partner, with attached evidence of your relation and at least one former visit
    • If you wish to visit Germany together with your partner, with whom you are not married but living together in the Philippines: Erklärung beider Partner zur Beziehung und zum zwingenden Einreisegrund PDF, filled and signed by you and your partner, with attached evidence of your relation

• • Additional documents for children (minors):

• • • Personal appearance of the parent(s) having legal custody, with their passports or identity cards. If a parent with legal custody lives abroad and cannot appear at the Embassy: Written declaration of consent from that parent, with an authentication of his signature by the German Embassy competent for his residence or by a local German authority.

• • • If the child’s parents were married and one parent is deceased: PSA death certificate

• • • If the child’s parents were married and if one parent has the sole custody: Divorce or Annulment court order stating the court’s decision concerning the legal custody

• • • PSA birth certificate of the child
    • If a child (minor) is travelling without the parent(s) having the legal custody, a travel permit may be necessary. Please contact the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) after you receive the visa.
    • Joint affidavit of both parents or legal guardians granting consent
    • Photocopies of the passports of both parents or legal guardians
    • Birth certificate of the minor. Must be recent, original, and issued by PSA.
    • DSWD Travel Clearance, if the minor is not traveling with either parent or legal guardian
    • Recent certificate of enrollment from the school
    • Letter authorizing the student’s absence from school

If you want to know the requirements for a minor, please watch my previous video: https://youtu.be/aVUq5nbmQig 

6. Travel Insurance – the coverage must be applicable during the entire duration of the trip and must be valid for all Schengen countries. Coverage sum must be at least EUR 30,000 (Php 2.5 million or USD 50,000). Philippine insurances must be accredited and given in the original and photocopy. German insurances are accepted as a photocopy or scanned copy. I highly recommend Pioneer Insurance which you can avail through me. Feel free to directly inquire through JASTravel on Facebook and I would be very glad to assist you. 

For the list of recommended Schengen insurance companies in the Philippines, you can also check it through https://www.vfsglobal.com/Germany/Philippines/pdf/New-Insurence-Visit-Family.pdf . 

7. Proof of Funds or Financial Capacity – these documents are necessary to prove that you can either support yourself or your sponsor can cover for your expenses financially during the whole duration of your travel. 

• • If applying as a   
    • Bank statements – must show records of the past six months. A bank statement shows your transactions in your account at a specific period. It will show debits (withdrawals, payments, taxes, service fees) and credits (deposits, interest earned.)
      Note: Bank Statements can also be seen online especially if you have a registered account. There is no signature for the manager or a bank officer.

• • • Bank Certificate – it is a confirmation by the branch manager or a bank officer that you have an existing account in their bank. It shows the account number, the type, and other details such as the opening date of your account, your account balance as of the date of request, and your average daily balance. 
    • Other proof of income (supporting documents) – although it is not really required, you can submit invoices and pay slip equivalent to prove that you earn enough to support this trip financially.
       
  • If applying as a Tourist or as a Visitor with a Sponsor – this means that your host and/or sponsor (family, friend, partner, or fiancé) pledges to take full responsibility to cover all the expenses that you will incur during the whole duration of your travel.

    Tip: It is also an advantage if aside from the documents that your sponsor will send you, you can provide your proof of financial capacity too, most especially if you are employed. If you maintain a bank account for a long time, better maintain it. Kahit na may sponsor ka, of course, plus points pa din sa visa application mo if idadagdag mo din bank statements, payslips, and other proof na financially capable ka din and it proves deep rootedness as well.

• • • Sponsorship Letter which should state the fact that he/ she is inviting you to come over, your relationship with each other, and that he/ she is willing to sponsor you during your trip. Of course, it needs to have documentary proof. 
    • Formal obligation (both original and a photocopy) according to §§ 66-68 of the German Residence Law, with a confirmation of the sponsor’s financial capacity by the local Immigration (“Ausländerbehörde”) in Germany.
    • Optional as supporting documents from your sponsor:  6-month bank statements, recent proof of income or 3-month pay slip, and work contract
    • The sponsor’s copy of passport including the biodata page and travel history (passport stamps). 
    • “Meldebescheinigung” or Proof of Registration of your sponsor’s Residence – It is also named Anmeldesbestätigung. It is a document that your sponsor needs to request from the City hall or Citizens Service Centre (Named in German Rathaus or Bürgeramt) of the city/town where he/ she lives.
    • Proof of home/ apartment ownership or rental contract that shows the address – if you will stay at his house/ apartment
    • Residence ID – if your sponsor is from a Schengen area
    • Original Affidavit of Support from the Philippine Embassy in Berlin or from the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt – this is a document that your sponsor should process, and it is legalized by their municipality where he/ she is registered as a resident. To know more about the specific process, check the infographic: How to Authenticate your Documents. Take note that the process can take within 3-4 weeks.

To know more about additional requirements that you would need from your sponsor, check out my YouTube video: https://youtu.be/SEad8VHVkLk

8. Proof of Civil Status – Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Death Certificate of spouse, etc. These documents must be issued on security paper (SECPA) by the Philippine Statistics Authority, see http://www.psaserbilis.com.ph. The birth certificate does not need to be authenticated by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.

9. Evidence of your rootedness in the Philippines – Evidence of deep-rootedness a.k.a. strong family and social ties to your home country, is one of the most critical requirements when applying for a Schengen Visa. It is what the Consul will look for in your visa application. So how do you prove that you are firmly established in the Philippines and that you will go back to your home country?

• • For Employees:
    • Employment or Work contract
    • Bank account statements or pay slips showing the transfer of your last six-monthly salaries 
    • Certificate of Employment which should include the employer’s full name, complete address, telephone number with area code, details regarding the position, income, and employment duration
    • Approved letter of approved leave signed by your employer (Leave of Absence letter)
    • Optional: Signed No Objection Certificate which states that your employer has no objection for you to travel to Germany and that they have approved your leave request
    • Most recent Income Tax Return 2316 (ITR) 
    • Optional Supporting Documents: 
      – Government Mandated Contributions: SSS, Pag-ibig, Philhealth Contributions
      – If with existing loan – SSS Loan or Pag-ibig Salary loan

• • For Self-Employed: 
    • DTI Business Name Registration Certificate
    • Barangay Business Clearance
    • Mayor’s Business Permit from your Municipality where the business address has been registered
    • Business activity of your company for the last 6 months – invoices and bank transactions
    • Most recent Income Tax Return 2316 (ITR)
• • For Students: 
    • School Certificate or proof of enrollment
    • School IDs
    • Approved letter of absence from your school or University
      
  • For Real Estate Property Owners or for those who have Leased Properties:
    • Original and a photocopy of the Land Title
    • Original and a photocopy Deed of Sale
    • For those who are leasing/ renting a room, an apartment, or a condo:
      – Rented Room: Notarized Contract
      – ID with affixed signature of the Landlord/ Landlady
      – Proof of rent payments or remittances (screen shot of online bank transfers, receipts, etc.)

• • For Retirees:
    • • Pension statement for the last 6 months
      • Retirement Certification

10. Others (No work, No Business, etc.)- Family as Proof of Rootedness:

• • For Solo parents:
    • A copy of your birth certificate- PSA Authenticated
    • A copy of your child/children’s birth certificate- PSA Authenticated
    • Solo parent ID
    • Barangay Certification as Solo parent
    • Notarized Affidavit of Solo Parent with Undertaking
    • Money remittances to support your dependents

• • For those who are supporting or watching over the health/well-being of the family: 
    • A copy of my parent’s birth certificates- PSA Authenticate
    • If parents are already Senior Citizens: a copy of their Senior Citizen ID and Barangay Certification as Senior Citizens
    • If parents have sickness/ illness: Medical history of parents (diabetes, hypertension, etc.)