german tourist visa apply

Visitor Visa

Can I visit Germany?

Foreign citizens who want to travel to Germany need a visa, except for citizens of other EU and Schengen countries - and some other third countries whose citizens are allowed to travel to Germany visa-free. You can find out whether you need a visa for Germany at  auswaertiges-amt.de .

Here you can find information about the visa for visiting Germany, i.e. the visa for a (short-term) trip to Germany, which is officially known as "Schengen Visa Type C", "tourist visa" or "visitor visa".

What do I need to know?

A so-called "Schengen Visa Type C" is the visa you need to visit Germany for a few days or weeks- it allows you to stay in Germany for up to 90 days within 6 months in total . This is the type of visa you need if, for instance, you are visiting family or friends in Germany, want to travel to Germany as a tourist or for a business trip. 

A visa can be issued for a few days or for 4 years, for example. The diplomatic missions abroad decide whether to issue a visitor visa– the validity duration depends on your travel plans and the documents you submit. If you regularly visit your family or friends in a Schengen state or have to travel frequently to the Schengen area for professional reasons and can prove that, you can obtain an annual visa with multiple entries.

It is important to note: If your Schengen visa is valid for more than 6 months, you must ensure that you do not stay in Schengen countries for more than 90 days within 6 months (180 days). That means you need to watch out as not to exceed the permitted length of stay each time you visit.

Good to know : If you have a visitor visa valid longer than 90 days, you can divide your visit into 90-day slots within 6 months. You can calculate the remaining days of your visa using the Short-stay Visa Calculator on the European Union website.

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To have a chance of obtaining a Schengen visa, you must meet the following requirements:

• You have to offer an adequate, credible reason for your trip. You can read more about this in our chapter " Invitation Letter for a visitor visa ".
• You must be able to secure your travel and living expenses during your stay. You can prove that, for example, by showing your bank statements from the previous three months, proof of your assets, etc. If you cannot prove that you have enough money, someone living in Germany can submit a so-called "declaration of commitment" for you. You can find out all about that in our chapter " Declaration of commitment for a visitor visa ".
• You need to have travel health insurance with a minimum coverage of €30,000 for the Schengen area for the entire duration of your trip. Such travel insurance costs around €10 per week.
• The staff at the embassy/consulate must conclude that you will leave the country after your visa has expired. Possible evidence of your willingness to leave the country is, for instance, having a job or educational commitment in your home country, showing a purchase contract for a flat in your home country, having underage or dependent family members in your home country, etc. You need to submit relevant, convincing evidence when applying.

Please Note : You must meet ALL of the above requirements to obtain a visa. The decision on whether you should be issued a visa is up to the embassy/consulate. Unfortunately, it could be pretty hard to obtain a visa when numerous people from your home country flee to Germany.

You need to apply for a Schengen visa in person at the German embassy/consulate in your home country or a neighbouring country (if there is no German embassy or consulate in your home country) or the country where you reside. You can find the addresses of all German embassies and consulates on  the website of the German Foreign Office . You have to make an appointment in advance to submit the application. 

You can usually download and print out the form for the visa application on the website of the embassy/consulate. There you will also find a list of all the documents that you have to submit. If you cannot print out the form yourself, you can find it in your language free of charge on-site and fill it out.

Alternatively, you can fill out the form online at  videx.diplo.de   and then print it out. The website works in many languages.

Yes. When you apply for a Schengen visa, you must briefly describe the reason for your trip (e.g., attending a wedding, a holiday with friends, etc.) and your travel details and prove it, e.g., through hotel bookings or invitations.

• As a tourist , you must describe your travel plans in a detailed daily programme. You can do so by providing a clear schedule (e.g. a list of the museums or sights you want to visit), the destinations you want to see and preferably also present the reserved tickets for the cities you want to go to in Germany.
• If you are planning a business trip or a visit to a trade fair , you must be able to show an invitation or ticket for the event. It will also be checked whether your area of work has a meaningful connection with the planned visit.
• If you wish to apply for a visitor visa for a short stay (up to 90 days in total within 6 months) for medical treatments in Germany, you will need an invitation from the clinic where the treatment will take place, confirmation of funding for the treatment, confirmation of accommodation for you and your accompanying person, medical documents and a medical certificate as well as other documents proving your travel plans. Further information can be found on the website of the German diplomatic mission or consulate where you wish to apply for your visa. You can find a list of German diplomatic missions abroad on the website of the Federal Foreign Office .

For a Schengen visa, you usually need at least the following documents:

• A valid passport
• Current biometric passport photos
• A completed visa application
• Proof of your accommodation
• (If you want to visit someone) an invitation from relatives or acquaintances or an institution or company. You can learn more in our chapter " Invitation Letter ".
• Your travel dates according to your tickets
• Proof of your financial resources or a letter of commitment. You can learn more in our chapter " Declaration of commitment for a Visitor Visa ".
• Schengen visa travel insurance

Important : The documents must always be complete, i.e. you must bring all documents with you to the appointment . In individual cases, it may be possible to submit documents later within a certain period of time but only by prior arrangement! Otherwise, the embassy will reject your application directly (without informing you beforehand).

The processing fee for a Schengen visa is €80, and you have to pay the money when you apply. Important: You will not get this money back even if your visa application is rejected.

Please note : There are exceptions to the costs for certain groups of people. Please note : There are exceptions to the costs for certain groups of people. For example, depending on their age, children pay less or nothing at all.  You can find out more (in German) in the  German Foreign Office's leaflet .

In principle, the application procedure takes up to 14 work days until the embassy/consulate decides on your visa application.

Please note , however, that this deadline is not always met. So book your appointment at least 2 weeks to a month before your planned trip.  You can apply for the visa up to 6 months before the planned trip, and you can make an appointment for the application in advance.

If your application is rejected, you will receive written notification with the reason behind the rejection. You can object to the decision within a month. T o find out where and how to file your objection, check the notice of rejection (usually at the end) .  

To object the rejection of your application, you must prove that the reasons for the rejection are not valid. When filing an objection, you have the opportunity to submit all the documents that were previously missing.

For example, it could be said that you have not provided enough proof of funds. However, if you are sure that you have enough money for your trip, clarify it in a letter and prove it with bank documents and other financial proof.

If you stay in Germany after your visa has expired, your stay will be considered illegal. The authorities will demand that you leave the country - and if you don't, you could get deported.  In such a case, you would also receive an entry ban of several months.

A Schengen visa can only be extended in exceptional cases. For example, if you are ill and unable to travel. However, for you to be considered “unable to travel”, significant requirements must be met. Even an illness that is proven by a medical certificate is often not considered sufficient ground if the person concerned is still able to travel or be transported by plane. The local Immigration Office where you are staying will decide whether your visa should be extended.

You can enter Germany with a Schengen visa and then apply for asylum  as you always have the right to apply for asylum . But  whether your asylum application will be approved depends on the circumstances in your home country. In principle, people who have a chance of asylum usually are not issued a visa at all. You can learn more about the asylum procedure in Germany in our chapters " Asylum Procedure " and " Residence Permit for Refugees ".

Please note : Until a decision has been made on your asylum application, you or the person who has made a declaration of commitment for you must cover all upcoming costs (accommodation, food, medicine, etc.)- including expenses of possible deportation. You can learn more in our chapter " Declaration of commitment for a Visitor Visa ". 

If you enter Germany with a Schengen visa and find a job that meets the considerable requirements of the EU Blue Card after entering the country, you can apply for the EU Blue Card under the new regulations. Please note , however, that the employment contract may only be signed after you have entered the country.

Important : Since the law is new, it is also possible that the Immigration Office initially rejects your application for an EU Blue Card because there is not yet much practical experience with the new regulation. But in principle, if you meet the requirements, you should be able to obtain an EU Blue Card.

At  videx.diplo.de , you can fill out the form for the visa application online and then print it out and bring it with you to your appointment at the embassy. The website is available in many languages.

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Additional Links

Find the German embassy or consulate in your country on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Here is where and how you can apply for a Schengen visa for an up to 90-day stay in Germany.

Here are the requirements you need to meet to obtain a Schengen visa for Germany. 

Gefördert durch:

What are you looking for?

Application schengen visa.

A Schengen Visa has to be applied for if you intend to travel to Germany as a visitor, for business or tourism purposes for up to 90 days within a period of 180 days. You also have to apply for a Schengen visa in case you need to obtain an Airport Transit Visa.

Important information:

• The German Embassy in Wellington is responsible for processing your application if Germany is your main destination .
• A confirmed return ticket must be presented for the Schengen Visa application
• Please make sure that your travel insurance covers you for Covid-19 and that your insurance covers all Schengen states

The Schengen visa allows you to stay in the following countries for up to 90 days within a period of 180 days:

Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

The following countries are not part of the Schengen area:

Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United Kingdom.

Schengen Visa needed?

An overview of visa requirements/exemptions for entry into the Federal Republic of Germany can be found here

As of now, the German Embassy will also process Schengen visa applications for Austria again.

Where to apply?

You always have to apply for a Schengen Visa at the embassy of the member state that is your main destination in terms of length or purpose of stay. If no main destination can be determined, the visa has to be applied for at the embassy of the member state whose external border the applicant crosses first.

The German Embassy in Wellington is responsible for processing your application if Germany is your main destination . All applications for short-term visas (Schengen Visas) can only be lodged with the German Embassy in Wellington. Honorary Consuls do not handle any visa applications.

In order to apply for a visa

• Your passport must have at least two empty opposite pages .
• Your passport must have been issued within the last ten years and its validity must exceed the duration of stay in Germany by at least three months
• Furthermore, you must hold a valid visa for New Zealand. Its validity must exceed the duration of stay in Germany by at least three months . Holders of visitor visas must apply for their Schengen Visa in their home country.
• Visa applicants must have their fingerprints taken. Children unter the age of 12 are exempt from the requirement to give fingerprints. Fingerprint scans stored in the Visa Information System (VIS) can be reused for future visa applications within the following five years.

According to the Schengen regulations, you may apply up to 6 months before entry into Germany for your visa. However, due to generally short waiting times for an appointment as well as processing time of up to 15 days for complete applications, we recommend you apply within 3 months of intended travel to Germany.

Postal applications

Postal applications are only for applicants who have already had a Schengen Visa within the last 5 years, for which fingerprints were successfully taken. Please do not include any fees with your application.

Once your application is complete, you will be contacted by the Embassy via E-Mail with the current visa fee and our bank details for immediate bank transfer.

Schengen Tourist Visa

If you are planning a trip to Germany as a tourist and you have to apply for a Schengen Visa, detailed information on the documents you have to submit with your visa application can be found here.

Schengen Visitor Visa

If you are planning a trip to Germany as a visitor and you have to apply for a Schengen Visa, detailed information on the documents you have to submit with your visa application can be found here.

Schengen Business Visa

If you are planning a business trip to Germany and you have to apply for a Schengen Visa, detailed information on the documents you have to submit with your visa application can be found here.

Airport Transit Visa

Citizens of some nationalities require an airport transit visa for the Schengen area. This visa allows a short stop-over at an international airport only.

Your appointment at the Embassy in Wellington

You will need an appointment to apply for a visa. You need to book an appointment for every applicant. Appointments have to be booked online To protect your privacy please note we cannot grant…

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What are you looking for?

Visa information, application form for schengen visa applications.

Only for short term stays of up to 90 days within 180 days, e.g. tourism, business, family visit, airport Transit.

VIDEX, the software of the Federal Republic of Germany, enables you to complete your application form for a Schengen visa online fast and easy.

Guidelines for Filling out VIDEX Application Form

• Preparing to complete your visa application

If you have started to complete the form but then stop working on it for more than 10 minutes, your data will be deleted! In order to avoid this, please have the following documents at hand before starting to complete the form:

• Your travel document
• Your travel or flight schedule
• An address in Germany
• Hotel reservation, if applicable
• Letter of invitation, if applicable

If you receive an error message when trying to download your completed visa application form, please verify the text entered under “Means of Support”. The text in the box “Other (please specify)” may not contain more than 29 characters. By typing less than 29 characters into the box “other (please specify)”, the pdf-file can then be generated without any problems. If necessary, add the additional text by hand on the print-out.

Click here to start completing your VIDEX Application Form

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What are you looking for?

Frequently asked questions.

Going to Germany? Take a moment to have a look at our FAQs before you call or contact us.

Please read the Information carefully and use the contact form for inquiries to specific questions . If the information requested is readily available on our website, we may not reply to your message.

My visa has been issued by the german consulate, could i use this visa to make a sidetrip to other european countries (for example to france or austria).

Yes , you can. According to the Schengen agreement, visas are also valid for Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Please note, however, that you always have to apply at the consulate of the country which is your primary destination. If you intend to visit several of the above-mentioned countries but do not have a primary destination, you should apply at the consulate of the country which is your first point of entry.

I have already made a trip to Germany with a visa (“Schengener Staaten” is mentioned on the visa sticker) issued by the German Consulate. I think the visa is still valid and I am planning now a business trip to Italy for example. Can I use this visa?

Yes, you can. Please check your visa's validity, its number of entries and the maximum duration of stay (both are mentioned on your visa sticker) carefully.

My flight itinerary requires an overnight stay at a German airport. Do I have to apply for an airport transit visa or a regular visa?

Airport transit visa are only good for short stopovers while you are waiting a few hours for your onward flight in the airport's international transit area. However, hotel accommodation is only available outside the transit area. Please apply for a regular tourist visa if you want to stay at the airport overnight.

My flight itinerary requires airport transit in Germany, however I do not have a confirmed onward flight (e.g. Buddy Pass) from Germany. Do I have to apply for an airport transit visa or a regular visa?

If you do not have a confirmed onward flight from Germany you have to apply for a regular tourist visa.

I am planning to apply for a visa at the German Consulate, how long should my passport be valid?

Your passport should be valid for at least 3 months upon conclusion of your trip.

This website tells me that I have to show my bank statement when applying for a visa. I do not have a bank account / my balance is low and the trip will be paid by my friends/relatives in Germany. What do I have to submit?

Ask your friends/relatives to sign an official affidavit of support (called “Verpflichtungserklärung” in German).

I cannot get a national passport from my country of origin but I do hold a U.S. “Permit to Re-Enter”. Can I use this permit to travel to Germany?

We expect you to submit your national passport. However, in rare instances, a U.S. “Permit to Re-Enter” can be accepted if it is evident that you cannot get a national passport from your country of origin. Please be informed that visa applications of “Permit to Re-Enter”-holders may take up to two weeks to be processed.

I cannot get a national passport from my country of origin but I do hold a “Travel Document for Refugees”. Can I use this document to travel to Germany?

Holders of the “Refugee Travel Document” (Form I-571) which is issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are not required to obtain a visa to enter the Federal Republic of Germany for purposes of business, tourism, or to visit friends if they stay no longer than 90 days. The Travel Document must be valid for at least three months after entering Germany.

Please be advised that this regulation applies to Germany only. If you plan to transit or travel to other Schengen countries you have to contact the responsible consular mission of the respective countries to find out about their visa regulations. Please also note that holders of the very similar document called “Permit to Re-Enter” (Form I-327) do not fall under this rule. Holders of a “Permit to Re-Enter” must apply for a visa.

If you are in doubt whether you are a holder of a “Permit to Re-Enter” or a “Refugee Travel Document” please refer to the data page of the document in your possession issued by DHS. More information on the type of document issued to you can be found above and below the photo in your document.

How can my friends/relatives in Germany get an official affidavit of support (so-called “Verpflichtungserklärung”)?

Your friends can get this document at the local Aliens' office at their place of residence in Germany. Please bring the original of this affidavit when applying for your visa.

I want to visit my friends/relatives. My own funds are sufficient so I am paying for the trip myself. What kind of invitation should I submit?

Just ask your friends/relatives to send you an informal invitation. Name, address and a copy of the friend's/relative's passport. A copy of the residence permit is an additional requirement if your friend/relative in Germany is not a German national. If your friends/relatives pay for your travel expenses you will need to submit an official affidavit of support.

I have my own business and therefore cannot bring an employment letter. What documents should I submit?

Please include your business registration, your tax returns and your latest bank statement to complete your Application.

Why am I required to have a health insurance coverage for Germany?

Imagine you have an accident during your stay in Germany. Please check carefully whether your medical insurance will also cover costs for medical treatment abroad. If yours does not, you need to submit a health insurance covering your stay in Europe when applying for the visa. In general all major US medical insurance companies cover costs for emergency medical treatment abroad.

My U.S. Resident Alien Card/U.S. visa has expired and has to be renewed/extended. How can I apply for a visa to Germany?

We can only accept applicants holding a vaild U.S. Resident Alien Card/U.S. visa. If yours has expired, please contact the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service first for renewal/Extension.

US Immigration and Naturalization Service

I am planning to move to Germany with my German wife and have to apply for a residence permit. The application process requires me to show my US marriage certificate and an apostille. What is an apostille good for and where can I get one?

Your application for a residence permit has to be approved by the Aliens' Office at your intended place of residence in Germany. The Aliens' Office will check whether your U.S. marriage certificate is a proper American public document. An apostille is needed as a confirmation.

My spouse is a German national. We both plan to establish a joint residence in Germany. Do I get a German work permit immediately after we move to Germany?

Yes, you do. The residence permit will be issued by the Aliens' Office after your arrival in Germany. It will include a permit to work.

I have heard that Germany has a shortage of IT specialists. I am an IT-expert and would be interested to work in Germany. How can I find an employer and how can I apply for a residence and work Permit?

The Federal Employment Agency has set up an online job fair where you can introduce yourself and present your curriculum vitae. Companies also post job openings in this online fair. Of course, you may also apply directly to a company in Germany. As soon as you have a written formal notice that a work permit will be issued, you can apply for an entrance visa at the German Embassy or Consulate which has jurisdiction for your place of residence.

My US employer is sending me to work in Germany for a few years in its office. May my wife and children accompany me?

Yes, in general they may. Aliens eligible to obtain a residence and work permit may be accompanied by members of their family. Please submit your marriage certificate and your children's birth certificates when applying for their residence Permit.

I am a legal resident alien in the US and would like to work in Germany for a few years. However, I do not have any contact with an employer in Germany yet. How can I apply for a residence and work Permit?

First things first: It is essential to find an employer in Germany who is willing to make you a job offer. Once you got a job offer, please apply for a residence and work Permit.

I am a member of the US Armed Forces and will be stationed in Germany. Do I need to apply for a visa?

Under the NATO Status of Forces Agreement, members of the US Armed Forces and their dependents are exempt from German laws and regulations relating to aliens. When entering Germany, they must be in possession of a copy of their orders and a military identification card. Dependents should have a military identification card and a valid passport containing certification or a stamp by the military authorities indicating their dependent status.

We want our child under the age of 18 to travel to Germany. How do we apply for a visa?

Please apply for a regular visa to visit friends/relatives in Germany or a regular tourist visa. A birth certificate of your child is an additional requirement. Children under 18 are considered minors by EU law. Therefore, the visa application needs to be signed by the persons exercising permanent or temporary parental authority or legal guardianship - usually both parents. Please make sure that you include a family court order if only one parent has full custody. The application form has to be signed by the legal guardian(s) during the visa interview. Alternatively, their signature can be certified by a notary public.

I am a visitor to the US with a B1/B2 visa and would like to spend two weeks in Germany after my trip to the US. Where do I apply for a visa?

We can only accept visa applicants of legal resident aliens in the US. If you are only visiting you need to apply at the German Embassy or Consulate in your home Country.

How long will I have to wait for my visa?

The processing time for visa applications (short stay) takes up to 15 days. If long-term residence permits or visa for employment in Germany are applied for, the processing time will be up to several months.

Please Note: Although the information on this website has been prepared with utmost care, we can not accept any responsibility for inaccuracies contained herein.

How can I file a complaint about the conduct of the consular staff or the visa application process?

Applicants for a Schengen visa may submit a complaint regarding the conduct of the consular staff or the application process, by using the contact form on our website.

In the drop down menu of the contact form, please choose the option “Complaints regarding the Schengen visa application process in …”. Please note that complaints can only be submitted in German or English. Complaints in a different language cannot be investigated.

You may enter one of the two following options in the subject line:

• Complaint about the conduct of the consular staff
• Complaint about the process of the visa Application

We will investigate your complaint.

Important note: Visa applicants cannot use the contact form to file an appeal (“Remonstration”) against decisions made in terms of refusal, annulment or cancelation of a visa.

Related content

Consulate finder.

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What are you looking for?

A step-by-step guide to apply for a schengen visa.

File your Schengen visa application at your Visa Appication Centre in three easy steps.

Duly completed application forms may be submitted three months prior to the intended travel date. As application numbers peak during the months of April through September, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply well in advance of their actual travel dates. This will help towards the smooth organization of your trip. Please note that it can take up to two weeks to process your Schengen visa , and even longer in individual cases.

File your Schemgem visa application at your Visa Application Centre in three easy steps:

Prepare the necessary documentation for your visa application using the following checklists: If you are planning to visit Germany as a tourist: Checklist for a Tourist Visa If you are planning to visit Family or Friends in Germany: Checklist for a Visit Visa If you are planning to visit Germany for a business trip of less than or up to 90 days: Checklist for a Business Visas If you are planning to visit Germany for a Trade Fair: Checklist for a Trade Fair visa If you are planning to visit Germany for a Training program of less than or up to 90 days: Checklist for a Training Visa If you're visiting Germay as a professional for a cultural, films, sports, or religious event: Checklist for Group Visas If you require an Airport Transit visa: Checklist for Airport Transit Visas

If you are visiting Germany as a Guest Scientist for less than or up to 90 days: Checklist for Guest Scientist Visas If you are visiting Germany to receive Medical Treatment: Checklist for Medical Treatment Visas (Kindly note that your photographs should meet biometric photos requirement . These photos can be obtained, among other things, at the Visa Application Centres.)

Please fill out the online application form , print it out, sign it and submit it along with the other documents. Those applying for a Schengen visa in Mumbai are kindly requested to fill in the online application forms according to VIDEX format, which can be found above. Please ensure that a high quality printout of the barcode is submitted with the application.

Please print out & sign the following declarations in order to complete your documentation: Declaration on True and Complete information Declaration on Health Insurance Additional Contact and Legal Representation information

Now you can schedule an appointment for the submission of your visa application and submit it at the nearest Visa Application Centre.

For further information, please visit the VFS Global Website

Alternatively, after scheduling an apppointment, you may also submit your visa application at the German Mission of your local jurisdiction.

Visa Application Centres

List of Visa Application Centres across India.

How to schedule an appointment?

Find information on how to schedule appointments for Schengen Visa, German National Visa & for attestations.

Travel Medical Insurance

Please note: German Missions accept Indian Travel Medical Insurances only from approved Indian Travel Insurance companies.

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What are you looking for?

Visa and entry to germany, welcome to germany.

Short-term visas are also called “Schengen-Visa” as they allow a stay up to 90 days in a 180-day timeframe in the Schengen area. A short-term visa is needed for any stay shorter than 90 days.

If you intend to stay longer than 90 days, you would have to apply for a long-term visa (also called “national visa”).

You can check here if you have to apply for a visa to travel to Germany.

You can check here if you need an Airport Transit visa.

You can check here if you need a visa if you have an Irish travel document.

In order to apply for a visa, you must make an appointment. Please check the relevant page below to find out how to book an appointment.

Visa Navigator

Short-term visa for germany, long-term visa for germany, visa applications faqs, skilled immigration act (fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz), complaints regarding the schengen-visa application process, general data protection regulation.

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What are you looking for?

Visas to germany, general information.

• You will find information on where to apply for your visa in the respective category. Visa appointments for applications which have to be submitted at the Consulate General in Sydney can be booked online and are subject to availability. No special appointments are available outside our online booking system. Please make sure that you book in the visa category. Incorrect bookings in other categories will be deleted without prior notice.
• Please read the information on the website carefully and use the contact form for enquiries to specific questions only. If the information requested is readily available on our website, we will not reply to your message.
• Please do not send any documents to the Visa Section unless requested to do so, particularly not before you have applied for a visa. We are not able to store such documents and will not know which application they belong to. Please always bring all the necessary documents with you to your appointment.

Short-term visa for Germany

A Schengen visa is required if you wish to stay in the Schengen territory for up to 90 days within a 180 day period for business, visitor and/or tourist purposes, and you do not attempt to work.

National visa

If you wish to stay in Germany for more than 90 days, please apply for a German National visa. National visas are sometimes also referred to as “long-term visas” or “D visas”.

Visa for applicants from Papua New Guinea

Starting February 2020, Schengen visa applications from Papua New Guinea may be handed in at an application center of the Service Provider VFS in Port Moresby. The applications are processed by the…

Visa Navigator

Which visa do I need for Germany? I want to travel to Germany as a tourist, on business, for my studies, to work, or to join family members who live there. Which visa should I apply for?

FAQ - Frequently asked questions

Please read the information on our website carefully. We do appreciate that it might be easier for you to ask questions. However, we do not have sufficient staff capacity to respond to every query. Please understand that we will not respond to questions already answered on our website.

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What are you looking for?

A visa to travel to other Schengen countries must be applied for at the respective Schengen state.

General Information

THE VISA SECTION OF THE GERMAN CONSULATE TORONTO DOES NOT OFFER CONSULTATION BY PHONE.

• Visa appointments can be booked subject to availability.
• Please read the information on the website carefully and use the contact form for inquiries to specific questions only. If the information requested is readily available on our website, we may not reply to your message.
• Please understand that questions regarding the status of a visa application will not be answered. If additional documents are required to process your application, the Consulate will contact you.
• ​​​​​​​ Comprehensive information is provided in the respective categories for your stay. In cases where you seek additional information not provided on the website you may contact the Visa section via our contact form (click here: Contact in consular matters )

PLEASE NOTE: The German Missions in Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver DO NOT ACCEPT visa applications. Please find more information on where to submit your application instead .

The German Consulate Toronto does not charge fees for visa appointments. Any visa fees due will be charged on the day of your appointment. Overview of visa fees

Visa Navigator

Short stays/ schengen visa, long stays/ national visa, work and travel in germany with the youth mobility visa, canadian citizens, convention refugees, visa information for eu citizens, fees for visa applications at the consulate general toronto.

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Visiting Germany as a foreign tourist: Who needs a visa?

W hether you're into high culture, beer festivals or football — Germany makes for a fabulous holiday destination. But who needs a visa to visit?Germany is a fantastic holiday destination year-round. With more medieval castles than you can count, vibrant cities, a rich history, famously hearty fare and Oktoberfest, the world's biggest beer festival, Germany offers something for everyone. Plus, this summer, it's playing host to the UEFA 2024 European Football Championship. So that's plenty of good reasons to spend a vacation in Germany.

But what documents do tourists need to visit the country? Will a valid identity card or passport do? And is any additional paperwork needed? Well, that depends on your nationality.

Visiting Germany as an EU national

All EU citizens have the right to freedom of movement within the bloc, meaning they can enter and stay in any member state they choose for up to three months, provided they hold a valid identity card or passport.

So that makes it pretty straightforward to spend a holiday in Germany as an EU national.

Visiting Germany as a US national

Fortunately, entering Germany as a US citizen is just as simple. With a valid US passport, one can freely enter and stay in any European Schengen area state -- that includes Germany of course -- for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. But be sure to your passport is valid for at least three months after the intended date of departure from Germany.

Visiting Germany as an Indian national

Getting into Germany as an Indian tourist requires a little more effort. As a tourist, you will most likely want to apply for a short-term Schengen area visa, known also as a C visa. It grants the right to enter and stay in any European Schengen area state -- including Germany -- for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. You can fill out the application form here.

What are the passport requirements?

You will need a passport valid for at least three months after the intended date of departure. It needs to have been issued in the last 10 years and contain at least two blank pages.

What does it cost?

Indian adults applying for a short-term Schengen area visa must pay a E80 processing fee.

Children aged 6 to 12 pay a visa processing fee of E40.

What documents are needed?

You will need to fill out the visa application form, provide two recently taken passport pictures, a photocopy of your passport showing your biometric data, proof of medical travel insurance for the entire stay, provide your travel itinerary, proof of sufficient financial means for the entire stay, an invitation (if applicable) and proof of accommodation (if applicable).

How long does it take for the visa to be processed?

It is recommended to submit one's visa application at least 15 days before the intended arrival date. But do not lodge your application more than six months in advance.

Can you submit your visa application online?

No. Indian nationals must appear in person to make their Schengen visa application and provide biometric data.

Visiting Germany as an Afghan national

Getting into Germany as an Afghan tourist is also a bit of work. Tourists will also want to apply for a short-term Schengen area visa, which grants the right to enter and stay in any European Schengen area state -- including Germany -- for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. You can find detailed information here.

Afghan adults applying for a short-term Schengen area visa must pay a E80 processing fee.

You will also need to fill out the visa application form, provide two recently taken passport pictures, a photocopy of your passport showing your biometric data, proof of medical travel insurance for the entire stay, provide your travel itinerary, proof of sufficient financial means for the entire stay, an invitation (if applicable) and proof of accommodation (if applicable).

Here, too, it is recommended to submit one's visa application at least 15 days before the intended arrival date. Do not lodge your application more than six months in advance.

No. Afghan nationals must appear in person to make their Schengen visa application. Note that Germany's Kabul embassy is closed until further notice. Afghan nationals can submit visa applications at Germany's Islamabad, Istanbul and Dubai embassies instead.

And what about other nationalities?

For a complete overview of visa requirements and exceptions for many more countries, head over to Germany's foreign office website.

Edited by: Elizabeth Grenier

Copyright 2024 DW.COM, Deutsche Welle. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Visa application

Opening hours and contact numbers.

You can only apply for a visa at the German Embassy in Manila if you are resident in the Philippines, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia or Palau. You can check here whether you as a national of another country need a visa to enter Germany.

Depending on the intended duration of your stay in Germany, you can either apply for a Schengen visa (stay up to 90 days) or for a German national visa (stay over 90 days).

The waiting time for an appointment to submit your application is currently: Family reunion or marriage up to 1 month, Nurses up to 1 month, all other purposes up to 1 month.

Please note: You have to submit applications for Schengen visas, for river cruise employees, health care workers and for family reunion of minors to their parents at VFS in Manila or Cebu. Please submit the applications for all other visa categories, especially with fast track approvals, at the Embassy.

Visa applications can be accepted in the Visa Section only after an appointment has been made for this purpose. You find the link to the appointment system in the information about the different visa categories.

Please read carefully the information regarding visas on this website and restrict your inquiries to specific questions concerning visa matters that are not answered by the information on the website.

Contact the Visa Section Phone: (0063 2) 8702 3001

For general inquiries about visas, you can call the Visa Section from Monday to Thursday from 2.00 pm to 3.00 pm. If you have specific questions concerning your visa application, please send us an email .

NOTICE: We recommend enquiries via email rather than telephone calls.

To find out how to apply for your visa and which documents to submit, please read the section below according to your visa type.

Schengen visas

Visas for visit, business, tourism, exhibitors of fairs, crew members

German national long-time visa

Visas for family reunion, marriage, education, work

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