Schengen - Visa - Extension

Schengen visas (visa category C) can be issued for short-term stays of up to 90 days in the Schengen region, for instance, for tourist visits or visits for business purposes or for medical treatment. The consulates of the Schengen States are responsible for granting Schengen visas.

An extension to a Schengen visa is only possible:
  • in exceptional cases where new facts and special reasons arise after entry or
  • if entry into the Federal Republic of Germany or into another Schengen state was late.
A Schengen visa which has already expired cannot by extended.

Prerequisites

  • Exceptional reasons: Force majeure, humanitarian or important personal reasons
    A visa extension can be considered for humanitarian or important personal reasons or in the case of force majeure.
    • Example of force majeure:
    No air traffic due to weather conditions or strike

    • Examples of humanitarian reasons:
    Urgent medical treatment is needed or where the applicant is incapable of travelling or in the case of some worrying event affecting a close family relative

    • Examples of important personal reasons:
    Urgent business or professional reasons which were not foreseeable before entry
  • Late Entry
    A visa can also be extended where the visa period has not been fully used because entry into the Federal Republic of Germany or another Schengen State was late.
  • Proof of Income
    Proof of income must be provided for the duration of the visa extension.
  • This service can only be taken with an appointment.
    To arrange an appointment, please contact unit B 5 using the contact form (see “More information” section).

Documents required

  • Passport with valid visa
  • Power of Attorney with Passport or Personal ID Document
    In case personal interview is not possible
  • Filled in form "Antrag auf Verlängerung eines Schengen-Visums (Application for extension of a Schengen Visa)"
    see section "Forms"
  • Proof of Income
    • Formal obligation and proof of sufficient financial means of person issuing invitation (bank statement / three most recent wage slips / income statement from tax advisor for self-employed persons) or
    • proof of own sufficient means or
    • where necessary, reference from relevant embassy with assumption of costs of living
  • Health insurance
    • Travel health insurance for the duration of the extended stay or
    • reference from relevant embassy with assumption of costs of living
    Accident and acute illness must be covered by insurance in both cases.
  • Other Documentation
    In the case of a visa issued for business or professional reasons, documents must be provided which found a public interest in the extension.

Forms

Fees

  • Free of charge: when the Schengen visa is extended because of force majeure or for humanitarian reasons
  • 30.00 Euro: when the Schengen visa is extended for important personal reasons or due to late entry

If a second extension is required, the fees will be
  • 60.00 Euro for adults
  • 30.00 Euro for minors

Legal basis

Average time to process request

As a rule, the extension is carried out on the same day, if possible.

More information

Notes on responsibility

This service can only be taken advantage of in the Berlin Immigration Office (Landesamt für Einwanderung – LEA) at Keplerstr.

Your point of contact

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