- A business visa is a Schengen visa type C for short stays of up to 90 days. It entitles the holder to enter Germany and travel freely in all other Schengen countries.
- All business travelers from countries without visa waivers for Germany and the Schengen area require this visa.
- To obtain a business visa, the reason for the trip must be proven by appropriate documents.
- Also essential are European travel health insurance and proof of financing.
- A business visa can be issued as a single-entry or multiple-entry visa.
Who needs a German business visa?
All travelers entering Germany for business reasons and who do not come from a visa-exempt country must obtain a business visa for Germany and the Schengen area.
No visa requirement applies to:
- EU citizens, as well as citizens of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, which also belong to the Schengen area
- Foreign nationals with a residence permit for one of these countries
- Travelers from around 60 countries who are exempt from visa requirements for Germany and the Schengen area for stays of up to 90 days. However, after the European Travel Information and Authorization System ETIAS comes into force (probably in May 2025), they will need a digital ETIAS travel authorization to enter the Schengen area.
A business visa is a Schengen visa type C (short-term Schengen visa) that entitles the holder to stay in the entire Schengen area for up to 90 days. The 90 days normally cannot be extended.
C visas are the regular Schengen visas for short stays in Germany. In addition, Germany also issues D visas (national visas) that entitle the holder to a longer stay and require a German residence permit after the visa has expired. These are, for example, work or student visas. However, national visas are not relevant for business trips.
Business visa for single or multiple entry
You can apply for a business visa for Germany and the Schengen area for single or multiple entry:
- A single-entry business visa is issued for a specific period that you specify in your visa application. After its expiration, you must leave Germany. For subsequent trips, you will need a new visa.
- With a multiple-entry business visa, you can travel to Germany and other Schengen countries multiple times without having to reapply for a visa. These visas are usually issued for 1, 3, or 5 years. Re-entry is possible if you have not stayed in Germany and other Schengen countries for more than 90 days in the past 180 days.
Visa application process
You apply for a business visa at the German Embassy, a German Consulate, or a visa center commissioned by the Embassy, such as VFS Global or TLS. The visa process begins with an appointment to submit the visa documents. This appointment is typically possible to schedule online.
You may not need a personal appointment if you have already obtained a Schengen visa in the past 5 years and submitted biometric data (photograph and fingerprints). In this case, you only need to submit your visa documents to the German Embassy. You can find out from the embassy whether this option is available.
General documents for the visa application
You must enclose all the required documents with your visa application (each in the original and with 2 photocopies). Missing documents will result in the application being rejected or the visa process being extended due to additional requests.
For a business visa for Germany and the Schengen area, the following general documents are required:
- Completed and signed application form for short stays (C visa)
- Valid passport (valid for 3 months after departure, not older than 10 years)
- 2 current biometric passport photos according to the photo requirements of the German authorities
- Declaration of the correctness of the information
- Travel health insurance for the entire Schengen area with minimum coverage of €30,000, which includes medically necessary return transport to the home country as well as repatriation in the event of death
- Flight reservation for the outbound and return journey
- Proof of accommodation for the entire stay in the Schengen area (e.g., hotel booking, invitation letter from a private host)
- If applicable: marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, death certificate of spouse
- Proof of financial situation and travel financing
- Proof of payment of visa fees
- Original older, expired passports, copies of previous Schengen visas
Proof of financial means
A key point for obtaining a Schengen visa is proving that you have sufficient financial means to finance your stay. For a business visa, the German embassies require, depending on the status of the applicant, the following documents:
Financing of the stay by the visa applicant
If you are applying for a visa as a self-employed or freelance professional, you will need the following as proof of financing:
- Company registration or proof of self-employment
- A current bank certificate (not older than 2 weeks) stating your account balance, including private bank accounts
- Bank statements from the last 3 months
Financing of the stay by the employer
Employees require the following for their visa application:
- Employment contract with salary information
- Authorization of the employer for business trips
- Commitment of the employer to cover the costs
A declaration of commitment from a German business partner can also serve as proof of financial means. This option is available to self-employed and freelance professionals and employees. The declaration must be submitted to the relevant German immigration office, and the original sent to the visa applicant. If the declaration of commitment is submitted by a legal entity, i.e., a company, the signatory’s signature must be certified by a German authority or a notary.
Proof of business travel
In addition, you must prove your business background and the business purpose of your trip to the German Embassy. To achieve this, you will need an invitation from a business partner in Germany, which must include the following information:
- Name, address, and contact details of the inviting company
- Personal data and position of the signatory of the invitation
- An exact description of the purpose of the business trip with a detailed schedule
The German embassies have the right to demand further documents. These may include, for example, more detailed information on the business activity and the purpose of the trip or proof of the visa applicant’s willingness to return.
Processing time and visa fees
The processing time for business visa applications in Germany usually takes 14 days.
Some German embassies offer shorter processing times of 3-5 working days for urgent business trips. However, if this option is available in your country, you must prove the urgency of the business appointment for which the visa is being applied.
If you regularly travel to Germany for business reasons, the embassy may automatically place you in a faster processing category after some time.
In countries where German missions cooperate with a visa center, there is sometimes the option of obtaining a visa within 24 to 72 hours for an additional fee. You can contact your home country’s German embassy or visa center for more information.
The visa fee for a business visa for Germany and the Schengen area is €90, regardless of whether the visa is for a single or multiple entries. You pay this fee in cash in your local currency.
Exhibitors at German trade fairs who have an official trade fair pass are exempt from the visa fee.
Conclusion
A business visa for Germany enables professionals from non-visa-exempt countries to attend business meetings, conferences, and trade fairs within the Schengen area. The application process requires proof of business activities, financial means, and accommodation, with additional documentation depending on the applicant’s employment status. While standard processing takes around 14 days, some countries may have express options. Frequent travelers can apply for multiple entry visas, facilitating access to long-term business engagements. Careful preparation of all required documents is key to a smooth application process.
Frequently Asked Questions — FAQ
Suppose Germany is your country of entry, and you mainly attend business meetings with German partners. You can apply for your Schengen visa for your business trip at the responsible German Embassy. You can travel in all other Schengen countries without restriction with your German business visa.
You need proof of frequent business trips to Germany and the Schengen area for a multiple-entry visa. This may include regular participation in business meetings, trade fairs or conferences, or long-term business relationships with German partners. The decisive factor for issuing such a visa is a consistent travel history for clearly demonstrable business reasons without violating visa regulations (e.g., late departure).
Business travelers usually receive their first multiple-entry visa for 1 year; later, visas for 2 or 5 years are also possible. However, this does not affect the 90-180-day rule for length of stay and re-entry.
You can apply for a business visa for Germany and the Schengen area 6 months before the planned entry. The latest date depends on the requirements of the respective German embassy. Normally, the embassies accept applications for C visas and, thus, also for business visas up to 15 days before the date of travel. In some cases, however, the visa application must have been submitted three weeks in advance. During peak periods, there may be longer processing times, which the German embassies provide information about on their websites.
