German Embassy in Bahrain: nine countries from one window and how to apply

Last checked against the official source: 29 August 2026

One fact changes the whole plan if you are in Bahrain: the German Embassy in Manama issues Schengen visas not only for Germany but on behalf of nine countries — Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Iceland and Slovenia. All applications are filed at the VFS Global centre, not at the embassy. And a second point that saves a wasted trip: your passport stays with the visa section until the end of the process.

Nine countries from one window: what that means in practice

The embassy’s page states expressly that it issues Schengen visas to Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Iceland and Slovenia. So a resident of Bahrain wanting to visit the Netherlands or Sweden may find the German mission itself is the practical destination, rather than searching for that country’s embassy in Manama.

That does not mean Germany grants a visa for any trip. The governing rule is that the German mission is responsible for your application if Germany is the main destination of your journey — or, in cases of representation, the represented state is. Settle your main destination before booking an appointment.

How to apply, step by step

1. Establish the visa typeA stay of up to ninety days for a visit, tourism, business or treatment: a Schengen visa. A stay longer than three months for study, work or family reunification: a national visa. If you are unsure, use the official visa navigator before booking anything.
2. Get the timing right: not too early and not too lateThe embassy’s page sets a clear window for Schengen applications: at the earliest six months before travel, and at the latest fifteen calendar days before it. Outside that window the application is not accepted.
3. Prepare the application online through VIDEXThe embassy recommends creating the application online and printing it so its barcode can be scanned electronically during the appointment with the service provider, and notes that this significantly reduces processing time.
4. Book your appointment with VFS GlobalBooking requests and enquiries go to the centre’s call centre or email. There is no parallel route through the embassy for filing a Schengen application.
5. Know that your passport stays with the embassyTo process without delay the passport remains at the visa section until the end of the process and is returned to you at the end. If you need it before then, the only option is to cancel the application and apply later. Do not plan other travel during processing.
6. One exception: airline crewsCabin crew and pilots have an exception: the passport is returned via VFS within up to three working days, and the applicant must return it via VFS promptly and unasked if the process has not finished. The embassy notes that this exception may prolong processing.
7. Check your day balance with the Schengen calculatorA Schengen visa allows no more than ninety days within any hundred and eighty. The official calculator works out what remains before you plan a new trip — an overrun is a problem at the border, not at the consulate.

The remonstration procedure has been abolished — this changes what you do after a refusal

The German Federal Foreign Office abolished the remonstration procedure against visa refusals worldwide with effect from 1 July 2025. If your application is refused after that date, do not send a remonstration to the mission — it will not be processed. The remaining legal route is an action before the Administrative Court in Berlin, which must be in German and involves court costs. And one door stays open always: submitting a fresh application. Which is why filing a complete file the first time now matters more than it ever did.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the German Embassy in Bahrain?

On Salmaniya Avenue, Road 322, Block 327, Building 39 in Manama, postal address P.O. Box 10306. Visa applications, however, are filed at the VFS Global centre in the Diplomatic Commercial Tower, 18th floor — a different address.

Does the German Embassy in Manama issue visas for other countries?

Yes. Its page states it issues Schengen visas to Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Iceland and Slovenia. The main-destination rule still determines the competent mission.

When do I apply for a Schengen visa from Bahrain?

The window the embassy sets: at the earliest six months before travel and at the latest fifteen calendar days before it. Applications outside that window are not accepted.

Can I get my passport back while the application is processed?

No. It stays at the visa section until the end of the process, and the only way to retrieve it early is to cancel the application and apply later. The sole exception is airline crews, whose passports are returned via VFS within three working days.

What do I do if my application is refused?

Remonstration is no longer available: the German Federal Foreign Office abolished it worldwide with effect from 1 July 2025, and the embassy will not process one. The legal route is an action before the Administrative Court in Berlin, in German and with court costs; a fresh application is always possible.

Should I post my documents to the embassy?

No. The embassy asks that business invitations and application documents not be sent to it, because all papers are presented to the external service provider at the appointment.

How do I contact the visa centre in Manama?

Through the call centre on +973 17516545 or by email at info.germanybh@vfshelpline.com, which is the designated route for appointment requests and enquiries.