- You submit your application for a Schengen visa at your country’s German Embassy, consulate, or authorized visa center.
- The German missions abroad have established a structured application process.
- Different requirements apply to the documents to be submitted depending on the type of visa.
- Detailed information about the visa process can be found on the website of the German embassy in your country.
Visa obligations & visa types for Germany
The Schengen Agreement has created the world’s largest area without internal border controls. The Schengen countries include all EU member states except Ireland and Cyprus, as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. EU nationals and citizens of the four other Schengen countries enjoy freedom of movement throughout the Schengen area and do not have to complete any travel formalities.
Visa obligations
Whether third-country nationals require a visa to enter the Schengen area depends on their nationality.
Citizens of 60 countries can travel visa-free to Germany and all other Schengen countries for short stays of up to 90 days. Germany grants visa-free entry to citizens of 14 countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, even for a planned stay of more than 90 days. However, all other third-country nationals require a visa to travel to the Schengen area.
You apply for a Schengen visa at the embassy of the country through which you will enter the Schengen area and in which you will presumably spend the most time during your trip. If your main destination is Germany, you must apply for your visa at the German mission responsible.
Visa types for Germany
The type of visa you need depends on the duration and purpose of your intended stay:
- A visa is an airport transit visa for a stopover at a German airport. It is only valid for the international transit area and a maximum of 12 hours. An airport transit visa is only required for travelers from 21 countries. The processing time is usually up to 5 days.
- C visas authorize entry and a stay in Germany and the other Schengen countries for a maximum of 90 days (for multiple entry visas: 90 days within 180 days). They cannot be extended. The processing time is typically up to 14 days.
- D visas are national visas that allow for a longer stay in Germany. This category includes, for example, work visas, job-seeking visas, and student visas. They are valid for 90 days. During this time, a resident permit for Germany must be applied for at a German immigration office. The period of validity of the residence permit and whether it can be extended depends on the purpose of the stay. The processing time for a D visa can take up to 3 months and, in some cases, even longer.
The issuance of Schengen visas of categories A and C is uniformly regulated in all Schengen countries.
The Schengen countries decide independently on the criteria for issuing C visas. For Germany, they are determined by the Federal Foreign Office in consultation with other authorities. A German national visa will only be issued after approval from the immigration office of the city or municipality that the visa applicant has indicated as their first place of residence in Germany.
General information on the visa application
You submit your application for a German visa to the German Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence. If it is not your home country, you will also need a valid residence permit for that country.
In some countries, German missions abroad cooperate with external visa centers for their consular services. These service providers accept visa applications, collect biometric data, check documents, and arrange appointments for the applicant’s visa interview.
The required documents include an application form. It can be downloaded from the German missions’ websites or obtained at their offices.
If you are applying for a Schengen visa or a national visa for Germany for the first time, your fingerprints will also be taken as part of the application process. If you apply for a German visa again, this will be repeated every 5 years.
Applying for a visa to Germany requires a personal visa appointment at the embassy, consulate, or visa center.
Required documents for a Schengen visa
Documents must usually be submitted in their original form and with 2 photocopies. The following documents are always required:
- Valid passport (this remains with the embassy during the processing time)
- Correctly completed and signed application form (for minors, both parents must sign the application)
- 2 current biometric passport photos
- declaration of accuracy of information
- cover letter stating the reasons for the stay in Germany
- Schengen visa health insurance
- Proof of sufficient financial funds — for example, bank statements, proof of income, or a declaration of commitment from a German sponsor. A blocked bank account with a minimum deposit, as the German authorities prescribe, can also be used as proof of financial means for long-term stays.
- Proof of accommodation
- For C visas only: confirmed reservations for outward and return flights, proof of employment or education, leave letters from employers, universities, or schools (if applicable), suitable proof of self-employment
- Marriage certificate and birth certificates of children (if applicable)
- Proof of payment of the visa fee
Various other documents are required for a German national visa, depending on the purpose of the stay, such as proof of educational qualifications and language skills.
Visa application in 3 steps
The application for a German visa is made in the following 3 steps:
1. Schedule an appointment
You typically make the appointment for submission of documents and your visa appointment online on the website of the German Embassy or the visa center. You should plan with sufficient lead time here — it may take a few weeks after that until the visa interview. You will receive a written confirmation of the appointment.
2. Prepare the application
On the German missions’ websites, you will find all the information about which visa type to apply for, which documents to submit, in which order, and whether notarization is required.
If you provide incomplete documents or submit them in the wrong order, your visa application is not accepted, and you have to schedule a new appointment.
3. Visa appointment
The day of your visa appointment has come. The appointment is to be kept exactly. If you are more than 10 minutes late, you may not be allowed to submit your application. You will complete the following process:
- Submission and review of visa documents
- Payment of visa fee. The receipt will be attached to the visa documents.
- Entering the information on the application form into the embassy’s digital system. You will receive a printout of the data entered, which you check for correctness and sign.
- If necessary, record your biometric data (fingerprints, sometimes also a photo)
- If necessary, a visa interview with an embassy employee
Conclusion
The visa application for Germany and other Schengen countries follows a structured and standardized procedure. While the requirements and processing times vary depending on the visa type, applicants must generally provide a complete set of documents, mostly attend a personal appointment, and meet specific financial and insurance criteria.
Proper preparation and adherence to the guidelines set by German embassies and consulates can help ensure a smooth application process. For up-to-date and country-specific information, it is always advisable to consult the official website of the German mission in your country.
Frequently Asked Questions — FAQ
For a Schengen visa in categories A and C, the adult visa fee is €90. For children between the ages of 6 and 12, a reduced fee of €45 applies. Various other groups of people are also eligible for discounts or fee exemptions. A national visa for Germany costs €75 for adults and €37.50 for minors.
For a Schengen visa of category C, you require travel health insurance with coverage of at least €30,000. It must cover the entire duration of your stay and be taken out with a German or European insurance company. In addition to acute medical treatment, medically necessary return transport to your home country and repatriation in the event of death must also be insured.
Such travel insurance is also sufficient for applying for a national visa as long as it fully covers the period until you receive a German residence permit. You will need regular German health insurance for the rest of your stay.
The requirements for airport transit visas (A visas) are partially less stringent regarding the documents required. In particular, you do not need proof of financial resources or Schengen health insurance. Furthermore, the processing time of 5 days is significantly shorter than for other visa categories.
In this case, you will receive a rejection letter from the embassy by email explaining the reasons for the decision. You can appeal against this decision or take legal action against it.