Traveling to Germany for Armenians
Germany is in the Schengen Zone, so Armenian citizens need a valid type C visa for short-term trips like sightseeing or visiting friends.
Tourist visa to Germany for Armenian citizens
With a German tourist visa, Armenians can visit for sightseeing, holidays, meeting friends or family, or attending short events. This visa also allows travel around all Schengen countries. It’s valid for up to 90 days in 180 days and cannot be used for employment.
How do Armenians apply for a German tourist visa?
- Pick a German consulate or visa center.
- Gather all the required papers.
- Submit your documents and give your biometrics during an appointment.
- Pay the visa fee (€90 adults, €45 children 6–12, no fee under 6).
- Processing usually takes up to 15 days, sometimes 30.
Required documents for Armenian citizens applying for a German visa
- Visa application form
- Passport valid for 6 months beyond your trip
- Two recent photos
- Medical insurance for the whole stay (€30,000 minimum)
- Bank statement or sponsorship proof
- Personal cover letter with details of your trip
- Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or invitation)
- Flight reservation or travel plan
- Employment or student certificate
- Visa fee, around 80 euros
Additional documents for visiting relatives/friends:
- Official commitment form (Verpflichtungserklärung) from the Foreigners' Office
- Host’s ID or residence registration
- Invitation letter with stay details
- Proof of family connection.
How can Armenians appeal a German visa refusal?
If a tourist visa to Germany is rejected, the embassy will explain why when they return your passport. Anyone who disagrees with the decision can submit an appeal letter. It must be sent to the embassy within the time limit given in the refusal notice.
Types of Schengen visas for Armenian citizens and entries allowed
- Single‑entry visa – one entry into Germany and other Schengen states. After you leave, the visa cannot be used again.
- Double‑entry visa – two entries are permitted; both trips must be within the 90/180‑day limit.
- Multiple‑entry visa – lets you come and go many times during the visa’s validity, provided you stick to the 90 days per 180 days rule.
- Limited territorial validity visa (LTV) – works only in Germany or in specifically mentioned countries and does not allow free travel around Schengen.
Can Armenians get more days on a German Schengen visa?
Normally, a Schengen visa for Germany is not extendable. It can be considered only in these cases:
- Force majeure, like weather disasters or canceled flights
- Humanitarian reasons, such as serious illness of a relative
- Serious personal reasons, for example unexpected work obligations
- If you entered late and still have unused days
Even in such cases, an extension is not possible if you apply after your 90 days are over.
Do Armenian citizens need to have travel insurance for Germany?
Yes, it is mandatory. When applying for a visa, you will need to attach proof of travel insurance covering your stay.
Medical insurance requirements for Armenians visiting Germany
A valid medical insurance policy is mandatory for a German Schengen visa. It must:
- Offer minimum coverage of €30,000
- Work throughout the Schengen zone
- Cover the whole trip, including entry and exit days
- Include costs of emergency medical care, hospitalization, treatment, and repatriation
This insurance can be arranged quickly through our website.
The holder of a German transit visa can stay in the international transit zone of the airport for up to 24 hours. Leaving the international transit zone of the airport with this visa is strictly prohibited and illegal.
Do I need a transit visa to the German airport?
Whether you need a German airport transit visa depends on your nationality. The list of those who need a German airport visa is actually quite narrow.
Citizens of the following countries need a transit visa to the German airport:
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- India
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Lebanon
- Small
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Syria
- Turkey
*Visa holders from Australia, Israel or New Zealand are exempt from the German transit visa requirement. Furthermore, if your transit time does not exceed 12 hours, you will not need a German transit visa.
Note that if you only need to stop at one airport in the Schengen area, you will need to apply for a regular Schengen visa. Whereas, if your destination country is one of the Schengen countries to which you have a short-stay visa, you will not need a transit visa through a German airport.
Documents required to apply for a transit visa to the German airport
As with any other visa, you will need to submit some documents when you apply for a German transit visa.
In addition to the standard required documents, below is a list of documents required to apply for a transit visa to the German airport:
- Application form for a transit visa to Germany . The form of the transit visa is the same as for the German Schengen visa;
- A signed declaration of information reliability.
- Confirmation of further travel:
- Confirmed airline ticket to the final destination.
- A copy of a valid visa for the country of destination.
- Full travel itinerary .
- Confirmation of the purchased travel insurance.
Exemption from a transit visa to the German airport
However, if you are a citizen of any of the countries listed above, you will be exempt from the transit visa requirement if you:
- Holder of a valid US visa.
- Holder of a valid visa to a Schengen country, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Japan, Romania or the United Kingdom.
- Holder of a Turkish service or official Turkish passport.
- A Jordanian citizen who has a visa to Australia, Israel or New Zealand and your transit time in Germany does not exceed 12 hours.
- The partner (married, civil or same-sex) or child of an EU/EEA/EFTA citizen and you hold a UK "EEA Family Member Residence Card".
- Holder of diplomatic passports.
Pets of the species Dogs, Cats and Ferrets have the following health requirements:
- Each animal must be identified with a clear tattoo or microchip.
- Proof of valid rabies immunization must be provided on the veterinary certificate. The validity of the immunization is determined on the basis of information provided by the manufacturer. The primary vaccination must be given at least 21 days before crossing the border. The pet must be microchipped before being vaccinated against rabies.
- Entry is possible if the animal is accompanied. The accompanying person must provide a written statement that the animal is not being transported for the purpose of sale or change of ownership.
- The above conditions governing entry must be documented in a veterinary certificate issued by an officially authorized veterinarian. In addition, the traveler must carry supporting documents such as a vaccination certificate.
Current regulations and additional information can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture and on the EU website.
It is permitted to import into Germany from outside the European Union:
- tobacco products in the amount of up to 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars (cigars weighing up to 3 grams), or 50 cigars, or 250 grams of loose tobacco;
- alcoholic beverages in the amount of up to 1 liter in case of spirits with an alcohol content of more than 22%, or up to 2 liters if the alcohol content is less than 22%, or a proportional combination of these goods;
- 4 liters of non-sparkling wine and 16 liters of beer (alcohol, like tobacco, is allowed to be imported only by persons over the age of 17);
- medicines in the amount necessary for personal use - if the amount is significant, the need must be confirmed by medical documents;
- fuel in the volume of a full car tank, regardless of its capacity, plus 10 liters in a canister can be carried with you.
There are also limits on the import of coffee, perfume (50 ml) and eau de toilette (250 ml).
Goods prohibited and restricted for import
German law strictly regulates restrictions on the importation of certain goods through special sectoral laws. Based on their provisions, the law prohibits the importation of certain goods into Germany:
- Weapons and ammunition may be imported into Germany only if you have a permit to carry them issued by the competent German authorities and a document confirming your ownership. Otherwise, it is fraught with punishment for the passenger of up to 5, and in some cases up to 10 years.
- Medicines and drugs may be transported across the border only if they have a certificate signed by a doctor. In addition, it is prohibited to transport counterfeit medicines or drugs used as doping agents.
- Pyrotechnics: Pyrotechnics in Germany are divided into 4 classes - from F1 to F4. A permit is required to import pyrotechnics of class F3 and F4.
- Dangerous dogs: the law on the prohibition of the transportation and import of dogs prohibits the importation of dogs that are classified as dangerous. We are talking about such breeds as pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, bull terrier, and so on. Exceptions are disabled dogs, guide dogs, service dogs, and so on.
- Rough diamonds: transportation and sale of rough diamonds is allowed only with a Kimberley certificate. But even if it is available, transportation is allowed only for transit purposes.
- Certain food products: wild mushrooms, potatoes, sturgeon caviar, dietary supplements, food and feed of animal origin (meat and meat products, milk and dairy products).
- Animals, plants and products made from them.
- Textile products worth more than 1.5 thousand euros, or more than 1 thousand euros if they are not intended for personal use.
- Pirated counterfeit products, but only in the case of commercial activities - the restriction does not apply to personal use.
Restrictions on export from Germany
Certain restrictions may be imposed on specific categories of goods, for example, on:
- Medicines: German law does not prohibit the export of medicines from Germany, but if they contain narcotic substances or are otherwise restricted in circulation, the passenger must have a certificate with information on the unit and daily doses of the drug signed by a doctor.
- Weapons and ammunition: export from Germany requires a permit and an export license issued in accordance with EU Regulation No. 258/2012. Such a license is not required for hunters and sport shooters.
- Rough diamonds: as mentioned above, you will need a Kimberly certificate to export them.
- Certain species of animals and plants: their export is allowed only with a permit.
- Goods made from certain dead animals and plants: up to 125 grams of sturgeon caviar, up to 4 crocodile skin products, up to 3 giant mollusks, up to 4 dead sea skates, up to 1 kg of cod are allowed to be exported.
Amounts of currency to be declared
When entering Germany from a third country or leaving Germany for such a country, a person who owns an amount of EUR 10 thousand or more must declare these funds.
If the money is in the form of cash, it is subject to a written declaration. If it is a means of payment equivalent to this amount, it is subject to an oral declaration.
In the latter case, we mean traveler's checks, shares, bonds and other securities. Violation of this rule entails administrative liability, including a fine of up to EUR 1 million.
The rest of the rules of customs clearance in Germany can be found on the site.
Germany