Planning to apply for a Germany visa? Explore the necessary steps, such as determining the visa type, gathering required documents, completing the application form, scheduling an appointment, submitting your application, paying the visa fee, attending an interview (if applicable), and tracking the application status.
Remember to consult the official website of the German embassy or consulate in your country for the most up-to-date and accurate information pertaining to your specific visa category.
In 2019, German consulates and embassies granted foreign nationals a total of 2,259,101 short-term visas and 424,636 long-term visas.
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| Germany Visa |
Who Is Required to Have a Visa to Enter Germany?
If you are a citizen of one of the 62 countries whose citizens are exempt from needing a visa to enter Germany, then you do not need a visa to enter Germany for a short stay if you are going there for the purpose of tourism.
The holder of a German Tourist visa is permitted to stay in the country for a total of no more than 90 days within a period of 180 days total.
While the visa is still valid, holders are permitted to travel to Germany as well as the other 25 countries that make up the Schengen area.
Different categories of German visas
The German Immigration Authorities have created several different types of visas due to the diverse circumstances under which a person may wish to enter Germany.
The following is a list of the different kinds of visas for Germany that you can apply for:
- Transit through a German airport requires you to have a Germany Airport Transit visa.
- Schengen visa for Germany — to see family and friends, go on vacation, get medical treatment, attend official events, participate in cultural activities, or play sports.
- Business visa for Germany, allowing the holder to participate in conferences and other business-related gatherings.
- Students who are planning to enroll in a German institution or who have already been accepted to study there are required to obtain a valid Germany Student Visa.
- Language Course in Germany Visa applicants who wish to study in Germany may first be required to complete a language course before being accepted into a university there.
- Students who wish to take part in a training program or internship in Germany that will last longer than ninety days will need to apply for a Germany Student Internship Visa.
- Germany A researcher visa is required for foreign academics and researchers who wish to take part in a scientific event that will take place in Germany.
- Employment Visa for Germany is available to people who already have a job offer in Germany and can be utilized to work in a job that pays money.
- Visa for Job Seekers in Germany This visa is for those individuals who are interested in working in Germany but do not currently have a job offer.
- Freelancers from other countries looking to enter Germany and work there as independent contractors are able to do so with a Germany Freelancer Visa.
- Germany's Family Reunion Visa allows people who have previously established themselves in Germany to bring their spouses and children to join them there.
- Everyone from outside the EU who has a serious medical condition and wishes to receive treatment in Germany must first obtain a Medical Treatment Visa.
What Should I Do If I Need to Remain in Germany for More Than Ninety Days?
You are required to submit an application for a German long stay visa if you are not a citizen of one of the countries listed above and plan to remain in Germany for more than ninety days during your visit.
Long stay visas for Germany, as opposed to short stay visas, are granted for visits that are longer than ninety days and for an entirely different reason for travel than the reason granted for short stay visas.
Short stay visas are awarded for business or tourist travel.
Only if you are a national of one of these countries will you be exempt from the requirement to apply for a German visa for long stays:
- EU/EEA/EFTA countries
- Australia
- Israel
- Japan
- Canada
- New Zealand (n.fr.)
- South Korean Democratic People's Republic
- The government of the United States of America
After that, in the event that your visa is approved, you will be required to apply for a German residence permit as soon as you arrive in the country.
The following is a list of the several sorts of German residence permits that can be obtained based on the reason that a visa was issued:
- Permission to live and study in Germany on a student visa is granted to those who enroll in an educational program, attend an accredited university, and maintain continuous enrollment throughout the duration of their program.
- Those who have been actively looking for work in Germany under the auspices of a Job Seeker visa and have received an offer of employment in Germany are eligible to apply for a German Employment Residence Permit.
- The German Family Reunion Residence Permit is a residence permit that can be granted to family members of German residents for the purpose of reuniting families.
- Germany EU Blue Card — A residence visa for highly skilled employees who want to work in Germany in their field of expertise and who hold a valid qualification card from their home country.
- EU Residence Permits are provided to those who fall into one of the aforementioned categories and desire to live in Germany or another EU nation.
- People who have fled a crisis in their native country can apply for a Humanitarian Residence Permit in Germany. This permit is provided by Germany.
- The Permanent Residence Permit is required in order to establish residency in Germany.
- You may also be interested in: Retirement visa alternatives for people who desire to go to Germany
How Do I Apply for a Visa to Visit Germany?
When applying for a visa to enter Germany, the first thing you need to do is locate the German embassy or consulate that is located closest to you in your home country.
After that, you may move on to the next phases in the process, which are as follows:
- Complete the application for the visa that can be found online.
- Get all of the necessary documentation ready.
- Make arrangements for an interview to take place at the embassy or consulate.
- Attend the interview for the visa.
- Please hand over your fingerprints.
- Make sure you pay the application fee for the visa.
It is important to keep in mind that the procedure for applying for a German visa could be different depending on the nation in which you submit your application because the procedures followed by each local German mission can vary.
Where Can I Apply for a Visa to Enter Germany?
You must submit your application for a Germany visa good for a short stay at a German mission in either your home country or a nation that is nearby.
If, on the other hand, you are interested in obtaining a visa for an extended period of time, you are required to submit applications to not one but two distinct institutions;
- A German diplomatic office. You will still need to submit an application for your entry visa (national D visa) at an embassy or consulate of Germany in your home country before you will be able to enter the country.
- The Office for Foreigners After entering Germany, you will be required to obtain a residence permit by registering at the Auslanderbehorde, often known as the Foreigner's Office.
What Are My Options If My Application Is Not Accepted?
You will be informed of the reasoning behind the embassy's decision to deny your request for a visa in the event that it is denied. You always have the option to challenge this decision by composing an appeal letter for visa refusal if you believe it was made in an unfair manner.
You will be able to learn here about the nine grounds that Germany most frequently gives for denying visas.
How Much Time Does It Take to Acquire a Visa for Germany?
The processing of your application for a visa to enter Germany can take up to 15 business days. When you submit an application for a visa valid for an extended period of time, the processing time for such application could take several months.
However, keep in mind that the time it takes to process your visa application is dependent on several factors such as the staff that is available at the visa office, the time of year in which you apply for the visa (whether during the off-season or during the season), and whether or not you submit an application that is complete.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Visa for Germany?
- The primary applicant must pay €80 to obtain a short-stay visa for Germany. However, the amount of money you will need to pay varies according to the kind of German visa you wish to obtain as well as your age. For instance, if you have a child who is under the age of six, the application for their visa is free, while the cost is reduced to €40 for children who are between the ages of six and twelve.
- After you have finished your interview, you will typically be needed to pay the money. In some instances, you may be able to make the payment for your visa while you are filling out the online application form; however, this varies from country to country.
- It is imperative that you keep in mind that the payment for your visa to Germany is non-refundable, even in the event that your application for a visa is rejected. Additionally, please keep in mind that the vast majority of German diplomatic missions located outside of Germany do not accept purchases made with digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay; instead, you will typically be required to pay with cash or a credit card (you must be the cardholder).
How Long Is the Maximum Length of Stay in Germany If I Have a Visa?
Your visa for Germany will have a different validity period depending on the type of visa you sought for:
Visa type Validity
- Visa for airport transit in Germany valid for twenty-four hours
- 90 out of a total of 180 days are allowed on a Schengen (Tourist) Visa for Germany.
- Germany Business Visa 90 days in a 180 day term
- Visa for prospective students to study in Germany valid for three months (in the event that you have not yet been offered formal admission).
- Germany Student Visa Greater than three months (depends on your study program)
- Germany Job Seeker Visa Half a year
- Visas for Research in Germany and for Visiting Scientists Three to six months in length (may last longer depending on the research)
- Freelancer entry visa for Germany valid for three months
- Long-Stay Visa for Freelancers in Germany, valid for 1 to 3 Years
- Visa for a German Language Course Valid for Three Months
- Temporary Work Permit for Germany, valid for 1 to 3 years (depends on the contract)
- Visa for German family reunions valid for one year (initially)
- Germany EU Blue Card for a Period of Four Years (with possible extension)
When you apply for a long-stay visa in Germany, it is imperative that you keep in mind that the validity of your initial entry visa, known as a D visa, is between three and six months.
After entering the nation, you will be able to obtain a temporary permit that is valid for anywhere from one to three years, depending on the type of visa you were issued.
After that, you will have the opportunity to investigate your choices for a visa for permanent residency.
Because Germany applies the 90/180 rule to short visits, you need to calculate how long you will be there to avoid the repercussions of overstaying.
The calculator for the 90/180 rule is provided for your convenience below.
Germany Visa Extension
If you have very compelling reasons, which may include the following, you may be eligible to have your German visa extended:
Force majeure. This can refer to any catastrophe that is beyond your control, such as an earthquake or a storm, or it could also refer to the fact that you are unable to enter your country for some reason.
For reasons of one's own. Concerns pertaining to one's family life or suddenly pressing professional obligations are examples of personal motivations.
For reasons related to humanity. A sudden illness, either your own or that of a member of your immediate family, is one example of a humanitarian motivation.
A belated arrival You entered Germany later than when your visa was issued, and you did not use the entirety of the time that was allotted to you on your visa.
How Do I Extend My Current Visa for Germany?
You are need to submit an application for a visa extension at the Foreigner's Office in Berlin, located at Keplerstr (Auslanderbehorde), in order to extend the length of your stay in Germany.
You will need the following documents in order to complete the application process:
- Your valid passport.
- Your valid visa.
- Form for extending a visa in Germany
- Evidence of one's financial situation.
- Insurance for medical expenses
- Any additional forms of documentation that are pertinent to the sort of visa you have.
Please take note that in order to extend your visa, you will need to contact the Foreigner's Office and schedule an appointment via email.
In the event that your petition for an extension is granted, the extension of your visa will take place on the same day.
Should I Expect to Pay Anything to Extend My Visa for Germany?
If you were granted a visa extension for Germany owing to personal reasons or late entry, you will be required to pay a fee of thirty euros (€30).
You are not needed to pay the price for extending your visa, however, if you are extending it for reasons related to humanitarian concerns or force majeure.
It is essential to keep in mind that the charge for a second extension is €60 for adults and €30 for youngsters, and that fee must be paid if you require an extension.
Is It Possible to Cancel a Germany Visa?
Yes, the conditions under which your Germany visa was obtained may result in its cancellation if those conditions are no longer met.
Your authorization to enter Germany can also be revoked if any of the following circumstances apply to you:
- When you applied for the visa, you gave inaccurate information, which was required.
- You are considered a threat to Germany and its principles due to the fact that you committed a crime.
You always have the option to submit a new application for a German visa. However, if your previous visa for Germany was revoked due to providing false information or committing a crime, it would likely be more difficult for you to obtain a new visa for Germany.
Covid 19 Tips
- Under the Vaccinated Travel Framework (VTF), all countries/regions will be classified under the General Travel or Restricted Category and accord border measures by individual traveller’s vaccination status. Currently, all countries/regions come under the General Travel Category. There are no countries/regions in the Restricted Category at the moment.
- Advisory for German students studying abroad can be found on the MOE website and the Travel Advisory on the MOH website. Common concerns pertaining to the advisory have been addressed here. FAQs on the MOH website (under Border Measures) also provide information for students on overseas studies.
- Updates on German's border control measures in response to COVID-19 can be seen on the ICA website. Information on the SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration can be found here.
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