Germany Visa Requirements and Application Process | Best guide to get a visa to Germany

To visit Germany, many world nationals may need a visa. Since 1995 when Germany, as an EU Member State, also became a member state of the Schengen Area, travellers can enter Germany with a Schengen Visa.

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Who Needs a Visa to Enter Germany?

You will need a short-stay visa to enter Germany and any other member country of the Schengen zone if you are a:

• Passport holders of a third country that has not reached a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen states
• Passport holder of a third country that has signed a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen states, but you were previously rejected from entering Germany or any other Schengen country.

What Type of Visa Do I Need to Enter Germany?

If you are planning to visit Germany for a short stay trip (up to 90 days), then you have to apply for a Schengen short-stay visa to Germany, also known as a C-type visa, and if you plan to stay in Germany longer than 90 days, you will have to apply for a German long-stay visa, also known a D-type visa.

Depending on your purpose of entry to Germany, you can apply for one of the following short-stay visa types for Germany:

• Germany Airport Transit Visa. Apply for this visa if you need to land at one of the German airports to take a flight to your non-Schengen destination.
• Germany Transit Visa. Apply for this visa if you need to embark on one of the German harbours, to take a vessel that will take you to your non-Schengen destination
• Germany Tourist Visa. Apply for this visa if you wish to visit Germany for vacations, sightseeing, exploring or similar.
• Visa for Visiting Family or Friends in Germany. Apply for this visa if you wish to visit relatives or friends living in Germany.
• Germany Business Visa. Apply for this visa if you need to enter Germany to take part in activities related to business.
• Visa for Official Visit in Germany. Apply for this visa if you must enter Germany for an official visit.
• Germany Medical Visa. Apply for this visa if you need to receive medical care in Germany.
• Germany Visa for Cultural, Sports and Film Crews. Apply for this visa if you need to attend an activity related to culture, sport, religion, or as a part of a film crew.
• Germany Trade Fair & Exhibitions Visa. Apply for this visa if you are planning to participate in a trade fair or exhibition taking place in Germany.
• Germany Training/Internship Visa. Apply for this visa if you want to attend training or do an internship in Germany.

Holding a German visa is not a guarantee that you will be allowed into Germany. There are specific entry requirements that you need to fulfil before the German border official allows you into the country.

What Documents are Required when Applying for a German Visa?

The following list of documents are required for any short-term German Schengen visa application:

• A visa application form. Complete the form with correct information in compliance with the information in the rest of the documents. Here you can easily learn how to fill out the German visa form without any mistakes!
• Declaration. Which is a form issued by the German authorities in your country of residence that you need to sign. Through this paper, you confirm that you have provided all required information to the best of your knowledge and belief.
• Two passport photos. These photos must be identical and taken within the last three months.
• Your passport/Travel document:
  • Valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure date from Germany.
  • No older than 10 years.
  • And it should contain at least two blank pages.
• Copies of your previous visas (if you have any).
• Round-trip Flight Itinerary. A copy of the round-trip airline reservation with passenger details and dates that prove the stay in Schengen does not exceed 90 days.
• Proof of accommodation. A document through which you prove to the German embassy/consulate where you will be staying during your trip in Germany, i.e. A hotel booking. (Check Booking.com or HotelsCombined to find cheap hotels in Germany!)
• Proof of financial funds for your trip to Germany. According to the European Commission information, a foreign applicant applying for a German visa must be able to attest possessing 45€/day to the German Embassy or Consulate for the period of stay in German territory.
• A cover letter. Explain in this letter the reason why you are applying to visit Germany, how long you wish to stay, and other details regarding your trip.
• Proof of civil status. This could be a marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, death certificate of spouse, etc.
• Schengen Visa Travel Health Insurance. Before your application, you should obtain travel health insurance for the whole territory of Germany and all the other Schengen states. Your insurance must cover medical emergencies with a minimum of 30,000€.