Applying for a visa for a short stay in Germany and the Schengen area

Citizens who require a visa for a short stay in Germany or the Schengen area must apply for one in good time before entering the country at one of the German diplomatic missions abroad.

If you are a national of a country listed in Annex I of the Visa Regulation of the European Union (Regulation (EU) 2018/1806), you need a visa for short stays of up to 90 days per 180-day period in the Schengen area. You can find the regulation including Annex I in the Legal basis section.

If Germany is your only destination or main destination (in the Schengen area), you can apply for a visa at a German mission abroad (embassies and consulates); the same applies if you do not have a main destination but intend to enter the Schengen area via Germany's external borders.

The German diplomatic mission abroad to which you must submit your application depends on your place of residence. In many countries, the application can also be submitted to a service provider. In countries where Germany does not have a mission abroad, it may be possible to apply for a visa to travel to Germany at another Schengen partner.

The visa generally entitles the holder to stays of up to 90 days within a period of 180 days, for example for visits, business and tourist stays.

EU agreements with individual third countries make it easier for their nationals to apply. Information on this can be found on the list of countries with visa facilitation.

If you are a national of a country listed in Annex II of the Visa Regulation of the European Union (Regulation (EU) 2018/1806) and you do not wish to pursue gainful employment, you do not need a visa to enter the Schengen area.

The missions abroad of the Federal Republic of Germany (embassies, consulates general) designated by the Federal Foreign Office are responsible for visa matters abroad. You can find all the necessary information about your German representation on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.

Contact persons for Schengen visas are the visa offices of the German diplomatic missions abroad.

• Application for a Schengen visa, category C
• a valid travel document, e.g. passport
• biometric photograph
• a completed and signed application form
• Proof of appropriate and valid travel health insurance
• proof of the purpose of your trip and the conditions of your stay in Germany
• Proof that you can pay for your stay and your return journey
• Details of the documents required for a visa application can be found on the website of the responsible German diplomatic mission abroad and in the information sheets posted there

Forms available: Yes

Written form required: Yes

Informal application possible: No

Personal appearance required: Yes

Online services available: Yes

• You will need a valid travel document.
• You must submit a completed and signed application form.
• You must be able to substantiate the purpose of your trip and the conditions of your stay.
• You must be able to demonstrate that you are leaving the Schengen area before your visa expires.
• You must not be the subject of an alert for refusal of entry in the Schengen Information System (SIS).
• You must not pose a threat to public policy, internal security, public health or the international relations of one or more member states of the Schengen area.

• Remonstration (to be lodged with the German diplomatic mission or consular post deciding on the Schengen visa application)
• Complaint (to the Berlin Administrative Court)

As a rule, you must submit the application documents in person:

• You can find the application form and detailed information on which documents you need to enclose with the application on the website of the German diplomatic mission in your place of residence.
• Please book an appointment for the application in good time.
• You can submit the complete application form and the required supporting documents either directly to the German diplomatic mission abroad or to an external service provider.
• When you submit your first application, your fingerprints will be taken (these must be saved every 5 years).
• The visa will be affixed to your passport in the form of a label.
• Only if you cannot be granted a visa will you receive a written decision, which will also inform you of the legal remedies available to you against this decision.

If a visa facilitation agreement applies, lower fees may apply. In certain cases, the fee may be reduced or waived entirely. If the application is submitted to a service provider, the service provider will charge a service fee.: Fee 80,00 EUR (Information on cost composition can be found here)

Reduced visa fee for children between 6 and 12 years of age. If a visa facilitation agreement applies, lower fees may apply. In certain cases, the fee may be reduced or waived entirely. A service fee is charged if the application is submitted to a service provider.: Fee 40,00 EUR (Information on cost composition can be found here)

Free of charge for: Children under 6 years of age Pupils, students and participants in postgraduate courses and accompanying teaching staff who wish to enter the country for study or training purposes Representatives of non-profit organizations up to the age of 25 who are taking part in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events organized by non-profit organizations Researchers traveling for research purposes or to participate in a scientific seminar or conference "Replacement" of an old, still valid visa in a "full" travel document (without blank pages) with a new visa with the same period of validity in a new travel document: Fee free of charge (Information on cost composition can be found here)

Persons listed in Article 6 of the EU Visa Regulation (e.g. holders of diplomatic passports, civilian flight or ship personnel) are exempt from the visa requirement.