Please read the following information carefully and in full!

We would like to make using VIDEX as easy as possible for you. Below you will find all relevant information on how to use VIDEX.

General Information

VIDEX is an online application provided by the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany for entering your data when applying for a visa. It is available in two versions:

1. VIDEX – Short-term stay allows you to create application forms for Schengen visas (e.g. for visits, business trips, tourism, etc.) or a transit visa

2. VIDEX – Long-term stay allows you to create application forms for national long-term visas (e.g. for family reunification, students, employment, etc.).

Filling out the visa application form

Before starting data entry, have all important documents for your planned trip ready. You will especially need your passport, travel or flight schedule, destination address in Germany, and where applicable, your hotel reservation and invitation letter.

Language selection

VIDEX is available in multiple languages. Select the language in which you would like the questions to be displayed. You can change the language at any time, even after starting the application. Your entered data will remain saved when switching languages.

If you choose a language other than English or German, please switch it back to one of these languages before printing. During the interview, only the German or English version will be accepted.

Help function

Use the VIDEX assistant: click on “Start assistant” to be guided step by step through the data entry process.
For each field, you can display an appropriate help text via the assistant. You can move between help texts using “Next.” The assistant can be closed by clicking the white cross.

General structure

The requested data are organized thematically in various sections or blocks, which may contain subsections.
Required fields are identified by a star (*) and bold type. Depending on your inputs, additional required entries may appear or disappear.
All mandatory fields must be completed before you can generate and print the visa application form as a PDF file by clicking the “Next” button.

Printing the visa application form

To print your application, click “Next.” At least all required fields must be filled in before printing is possible. The following documents will be printed:

1. Visa application form (must be signed),

2. Information notice according to § 54 (2) no. 8 in conjunction with § 53 of the Residence Act (must be signed), and

3. Barcodes containing your encrypted application data generated by VIDEX.

Attention! Do not staple or otherwise attach the pages and documents together!

Submitting the visa application

Your application cannot be submitted online. It can only be submitted at the competent German mission abroad or via an external service provider authorized by the mission after booking an appointment.

Additional information

If you encounter any problems during data entry, please take note of the following:

Validation of entries

If you forgot to fill in mandatory information, this will be indicated in the overview bar located above the first data block.
Completed blocks will appear in green, incomplete ones in orange, and unfilled blocks in grey.
Within each block, every field is also validated. Correctly completed fields turn green after leaving the field, while incomplete or incorrectly filled mandatory fields turn red.

Permitted characters

Please complete the application fully using only Latin characters. Applications with non-Latin characters cannot be saved or printed.
In addition to standard Latin letters, the following characters are allowed: Ä Ö Ü ß . + - , ’.
In fields requiring an email address, “@” is also permitted.

Date format

For date fields, please use the following format: DD.MM.YYYY.

Frequent mistakes

Name at birth: Refers only to your surname. Fill out this field only if you have changed your surname.

First name(s): Refers to all your given names as they appear in your passport.

Biometric data: Only applicable if you have previously applied for a Schengen visa. If you have never applied for a Schengen visa, you can ignore this section.

Saving applications

When using VIDEX for private (non-commercial) purposes, you can save your entered data on your computer by clicking on “Save.” The data will be stored in the same folder where you typically download files from the Internet.
If you wish to save the file elsewhere, select a different folder in your browser. You can reload saved data into the form using the “Import data” button.