Applying For A Schengen Visa in Germany
- Do you need to get a Schengen visa for Germany?
- The list of the countries that do not need visa for Germany
- Types of Germany Visas
- Documents Requirements for Germany
- Main package
- Additional packet
- Filling out the application form
- Germany children visa
- Where to Apply for Your Germany Visa
- How to apply for Germany Schengen visa
- Germany Visa Fees
- FAQS
- Conclusions
Germany is a European country with a fairly large flow of tourists. Citizens of various countries visit it for different purposes: someone wants to visit relatives, someone goes on a trip or to one of the brightest festivals, someone needs a treatment in a prestigious clinic, and someone dreams of moving there for permanent residence.
Before planning a trip, you need to familiarize yourself with the procedure for obtaining a visa to Germany and the list of required documents.
The following charts show the available statistics of accepted and rejected Germany visa applications in 2020–2022.
Do you need to get a Schengen visa for Germany
For citizens of the European Union, as well as citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, the Schengen visa is not needed. Citizens of these countries do not need either a visa or a legal basis for staying. They are granted the right to freely move within the EU. However, an important condition is the presence of a valid identity document.
On the website of the Federal Foreign Office, you can check whether you need to apply for a Germany visa if you want to stay up to 90 days. Usually, non-EU residents who want to visit Germany need Schengen regardless of the purpose and timing of the trip, and it must be issued in advance.
In each individual case, it is required to apply for an appropriate Germany visa type. An exception to the rule that a separate German visa is not required is the case when the tourist’s passport already has a Schengen stamp from another state. The established rules allow such a traveler to move freely throughout the Schengen area with a visa stamp from any state in this zone.
However, there are some nuances to entering the Schengen zone of another state. Many people are wondering if it is possible to apply for a Schengen visa to Germany and use it to travel to another country. Unfortunately, no. You must first visit the country for which the visa was issued, and only then go to any other Schengen state. Moreover, more days must be spent in the country that issued the visa.
The list of the countries that do not need visa for Germany
- Albania
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Brunei Darussalam
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Check Republic
- Denmark
- Dominica
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Israel
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Kiribati
- South Korea
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macao
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Palau
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- Ukraine
- UAR
- UK
- USA
- Uruguay
- Vatican City
- Venezuel
What Are Types of Germany Visas?
There are two types of entry documents in Germany: the Schengen German Visa Category C (used for short-term trips not exceeding 3 months) and the national visa D (which gives the right to stay in the country for a long period). The national visa is issued independently through the diplomatic representative offices of the state in your country.
Schengen visa C
The Schengen visa is most popular, since it gives its owner the right to stay in Germany for a period of no more than three months. This document is suitable not only for a tourist trip, but also for visiting the country at the invitation of a private person or an official organization, as well as for treatment, short-term training, etc. The most common questions about obtaining a German visa on your own are related to the procedure for issuing it. Documents for obtaining a type C visa to Germany are regulated by EU directives and agreements.
Tourist visa to Germany C
As a rule, foreign citizens want to get a tourist visa in order to go on an exciting journey through Germany. The most common questions are: how to apply for a Germany tourist visa and what is the procedure for obtaining one? There are no particular difficulties here. A tourist visa to Germany is the same category C as a Schengen visa. It is issued and costs the same as a German visa for any other non-tourist purpose. Visa centers have long debugged the process of opening an entry visa for tourism. A fairly clear and simple procedure has been established, so it makes no sense to overpay intermediary firms for assistance. Through the visa center, you can obtain permission to enter Germany for group tours.
Transit visa A
A very important question is about obtaining a German visa, which is issued exclusively for transit. Without an entry permit, no one can travel through Germany. Even if there is only a transit transfer at the German airport, at the border you will need to present a valid visa to the state of your final destination. If there is a transfer to a visa-free country, a transit visa is necessary in any case, since there will be a change of airport terminals, and, consequently, an exit from the international zone.
National visa D
This is a long-term entry document, which is done independently through the Embassy or Consulate General. It gives its owner a very wide range of possibilities. If you have a national D visa, you can find a job, enter an educational institution, move in with relatives for a long time, get married, etc.
Unlike the C visa category, you need to prepare a fairly large package of documents for a visa to Germany, since it is issued for a longer period.
Visa Type | Category | Description |
|---|---|---|
Schengen | C | A Schengen visa is required for short-term stays in the country up to 90 days in 6 months. |
Tourist | C | This type of visa is needed for any tourist who visits and sightseeing through the country. |
Transit | A | The transit visa is needed for those who stopover at a German international airport and head to another country. |
National | D | Required for long-term stays, more than 90 days in 6 months. D visa allows you to visit other Schengen countries (no more than 90 in 180 days). |
What Are Document Requirements for Germany?
The list of documents directly depends on the purpose of the visit to Germany. Documents are divided into 2 types: main and additional. Basic documents are mandatory for submission by absolutely all applicants. Additional are required based on a specific goal.
So, the main package of documents includes:
- A completed visa application form with signatures (you can fill it out online on the website of the visa center, and then print it out);
- Foreign passport in the original (with an expiration date of at least 90 days after leaving Germany);
- Two color photos 3.5×4.5 cm;
- A copy of the international passport with a photo and personal data;
- A copy of all non-blank pages of the passport;
- Tickets (or ticket reservations) for any type of transport, indicating the date of return, as well as booking a hotel or private accommodation, indicating dates;
- Medical insurance / policy (minimum coverage — from 30,000 €), insurance is valid throughout the Schengen area;
- The consular fee receipt;
- Documents confirming the financial viability of the applicant: a bank statement; a certificate of ownership, a sponsorship letter from a person who is ready to pay for the trip, etc.
A guest Germany visa application by invitation is issued for a trip to visit relatives or friends, as well as for a business trip. Invited citizens must first collect the basic documents for a visa to Germany listed above, and then a package of additional documents, depending on the inviting party and goals.
The additional packet of documents includes:
- Proof of residence — the original guest invitation with information about accommodation and a notarized signature or a copy of the passport of the inviting party, as well as an official statement that the inviting party accepts obligations if it assumes the costs of the trip;
- A photocopy of the document certifying the legal residence of the inviting party in Germany.
Required documents for a national visa. The D visa category is needed in order to reside in Germany for a long time. The list of documents depends on the purpose of obtaining a visa to Germany. A national visa gives the right to legally work, study and live with relatives. To enter a German university, get a job and marry a German citizen, foreigners must prepare an extensive package of documents for obtaining a national German visa.
Filling out the application form
When applying for a German visa, you should pay close attention to the application form, which consists of several parts. It can be filled out online.
When filling out the questionnaire, you must comply with the following rules:
- Provide only true information;
- Avoid discrepancies with the information that is stated in other papers;
- The printed form is signed three times.
Germany visa application requirements for children
One of the most popular issues for foreign citizens is how children visa is issued. For minors, the following documents must be attached:
- Copy of birth certificate;
- A consent letter for children is required for the departure from both parents or guardians, if the minor travels without parents / guardians, then the consent must be notarized. If the minor is accompanied by at least one of the parents / guardians, then the consent (power of attorney) certified by a notary is not required from the second;
- If the child’s entry permit is issued at different times than the parents, a copy of the parents’ Schengen visa and documents that they are traveling together are required, for example, booking tickets or a hotel with the name of the child, etc.
Where to Apply for Your Germany Visa
You may apply for a Germany visa both online and offline.
- Visit the Germany Embassy or Consulate located in your country.
- A Visa Application Center, that Germany has contracted with.
Check for all available visa offices in your country, visiting the VFS website.
How to apply for Germany Schengen visa?
There are several easy steps to applying for a Germany visa.
- Get all the needed documents: the main packet and the additional one, if required.
- Decide where you are going to apply and if any specialized help is needed.
- Schedule the interview.
- Pay the visa fee.
- Get ready for the interview and attend your appointment on the planned date.
- Get a response to your application.
Germany Visa Fees
The cost of the Schengen visa to Germany depends on the cost of the services of the visa center and the consular fee. All Schengen visas are subject to uniform rates.
The cost depends on the type of document. The table shows the prices for a Schengen visa to Germany for 2023.
Type of the document | Visa fee |
|---|---|
Schengen visa C | €80 |
Schengen visa C express | €160 |
Schengen visa C for children 6–12 y.o. | €40 |
National D | €70 |
National D for minors | €35 |
FAQS
-
Are all foreigners allowed in Germany?
Yes. There are no visa restrictions.
-
What type of visa can be issued now to Germany?
- short-term,
- long-term.
-
Is a Covid-19 certificate needed?
It is no longer necessary to present a vaccination certificate, or a negative COVID test to enter Germany.