Who needs a visa to Germany?
If you are traveling to Germany for tourist purposes, you do not need a short-stay visa for Germany if you are a citizen of the 62 countries exempt from the visa regime. The German tourist visa entitles its holder to stay in Germany for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period. Holders are allowed to travel to Germany and other 25 Schengen countries while the visa is valid.
PLEASE NOTE! The European Union will not issue Schengen visas to citizens who have received Russian passports in the "DPR", "LPR", Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, as well as in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
From January 1, 2024, or when the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) comes into force, Kosovo citizens will not need a visa to enter the EU.
What is a German tourist visa?
A German tourist visa is a short-term Schengen visa for Germany. It allows its holder to travel to Germany for tourist purposes, such as sightseeing and exploring the country. It can be granted with a maximum validity of 90 days within a 180-day period.
German Schengen visa requirements for tourists and visitors
Documents required to apply for a tourist visa to Germany:
- Application form for a tourist visa to Germany.
- Your passport, valid for at least six months.
- Two photos in accordance with the Schengen rules .
- Proof of residence in Germany.
- No Objection Letter/Certificate If you are a student, your school or university should give you this certificate. If you are an employee, your employer or the company you work for should send you this letter. However, if you are not a student and not working, this certificate is not required.
- Cover letter. This personal cover letter should explain the reason why you want to visit Germany, how long you intend to stay and what you plan to do there.
- Your driver's license and/or utility bill in your name. This is required as proof of residence in the country where you plan to apply for a visa.
- Travel medical insurance for Germany. It must be valid for the entire period of your visit and available for all Schengen countries, with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros.
- Confirmation of a round-trip ticket reservation (if available). It should contain the entire tour program and the relevant dates of the visits you plan to make.
- Reserved travel package (if any).
- Confirmation of sufficient financial resources.
- If you are visiting a family member or friend in Germany, you must also submit the following:
- An official declaration of commitment. This document can be obtained from the Federal Office for Foreigners in Germany by a host family member in Germany. With this letter, the host undertakes to cover your living expenses during your visit.
- Identification of the host person (registration card);
- An invitation letter from your host. The letter must state the reason for the invitation, their relationship with you, the length of your stay and their home address in Germany.
- Proof of your relationship.
How to apply for a tourist visa to Germany?
To obtain a tourist visa to Germany, you need to go through the following steps:
- Fill out the application form for a Schengen visa to Germany;
- Gather the necessary documents . A very important part of the process of applying for a tourist visa to Germany is collecting the necessary documents. According to these documents, German visa officers will make a decision on your application.
- Make an appointment for a visa interview. The application for a German tourist visa must be submitted to the German embassy or consulate in the country where you live.
- Pay the visa fee. The fee for applying for a tourist visa to Germany is 80 euros, while for children aged 6-12 you have to pay 40 euros and for children aged 0-6 it is free. But, depending on your nationality, you may need to pay a lower fee.
- Wait for processing . It takes up to 15 days for the relevant authorities to process the application for a German tourist visa. This period can be extended up to 30 days if additional verification of the application is required.
Where should you apply for a Schengen visa for Germany?
In some countries, Germany has outsourced visa applications to private visa centers. Furthermore, if you plan to visit other Schengen countries during your trip, only apply to the German authorities if Germany is your main destination. This means:
- You will spend more days in Germany than in other countries.
- You will spend the same number of days in each country, but enter the Schengen area through Germany.
When is the best time to apply for a tourist visa to Germany?
The best time to apply for a German tourist visa is about a month before the date you plan to travel to Germany. However, the application can be submitted no earlier than six months and no later than two weeks before your planned trip.
What should I do if my visa application is denied?
If your application for a tourist visa to Germany is rejected, you will receive an explanation when you receive your passport. If you believe that the embassy has rejected your application unlawfully, you can always appeal this decision.
Do this by writing an appeal letter against the visa denial and submitting it to the embassy. Usually, the embassy gives you a valid period to appeal the visa refusal. If you do not appeal the decision within this period, you will no longer be able to do so after it expires.
How many times can you enter Germany with a Schengen visa?
German Schengen visas are grouped based on the number of times they entitle you to enter Germany and the number of Schengen countries you can visit with them:
- Single German Schengen visa. This visa allows you to visit Germany and other Schengen countries for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Depending on the number of entries you can make during the validity period of your visa, these are the two single entry Schengen visas for Germany:
- German Schengen "single entry" visa . You can enter Germany and travel within the Schengen countries no more than once during the entire validity period of the visa. Once you leave the Schengen area, you cannot return to it with the same visa.
- German Schengen "multiple entry" visa. If you get this visa, you can enter and leave the Schengen area as many times as you want, as long as you don't violate the 90/180 day rule.
- German Schengen territorial visa with limited validity (LTV). When you are granted such a visa, it means that you are not allowed to travel through other Schengen countries. You must stay only in Germany.
Can I extend my German Schengen visa?
As a rule, a German Schengen visa cannot be extended. The rule, however, does not take into account cases where there are serious reasons why you cannot leave Germany, namely:
- Force majeure. When there are valid reasons that are beyond your control and prevent you from returning home. These include natural disasters, lack of air traffic due to bad weather, etc.
- Humanitarian reasons. If you are unable to travel due to an accident of a family member living in Germany, etc.
- Serious personal reasons. In case of an unforeseen important business or professional event that cannot wait.
- Late entry into the Schengen area. If you are late in entering Germany and have not fully utilized your visa.
PLEASE NOTE: Even in the above cases, no extension will be granted unless you apply for an extension within 90 days of your stay.
Medical insurance
Is travel insurance compulsory in Germany?
For example, if you are applying for a Schengen visa to Germany, travel insurance is mandatory. Along with your visa application, you must provide proof of health insurance.
In fact, every resident of Germany (citizen or foreigner) must have valid health insurance, as it is required by the German healthcare system.
If you come from an EU/EEA country or are exempt from a German visa, you may still need to take out travel insurance for Germany for the following reasons:
- At the point of entry into Germany, you may be asked to show proof of travel health insurance.
- This is a wise decision because you don't know what might happen while traveling abroad. Although Germany has an excellent healthcare system, healthcare prices can be too high for some third-country nationals and if you have travel health insurance, it can significantly reduce the cost of any medical expenses that may arise.
In addition, travel insurance covers not only medical expenses. Trip cancellation, flight delay, loss of personal belongings, etc. can be included in Schengen travel insurance plans.
Health insurance requirements for traveling in Germany
Like German residents, temporary visitors to Germany must also obtain health insurance. As Germany is a Schengen country, visitors must obtain travel health insurance that meets the requirements of the Schengen Agreement.
Therefore, German travel health insurance must meet the following requirements:
- Must have a minimum coverage of at least EUR 30,000 per person.
- It should cover all other Schengen countries.
- It should cover the entire duration of your stay, as well as transit.
- It should cover any unexpected medical expenses, such as emergency medical care and/or emergency hospital treatment, as well as repatriation.
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