Visa Application Process

When applying for a visa, foreign nationals are obligated to prove that they have:

• a passport valid for another three months after leaving Germany
• documents verifying the intended purpose of the stay in Germany
• a health insurance policy valid for all Schengen states providing medical coverage equivalent to the value of at least EUR 30,000 (including return transportation)
• sufficient financial means to cover all costs of the trip to and stay in Germany

For most foreign nationals, visas have to be obtained prior to entering Germany in their respective home country. The German missions abroad (German Embassy or German Consulate General) are responsible for receiving applications and issuing the visa. They provide visa application forms in various languages free of charge.

To facilitate the application process, Germany's Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) also provides online application forms in a number of languages. Applications for short-term visas (Schengen visas) for up to three months may also be submitted online via the application service of the Federal Foreign Office.

Visas are issued by the German mission abroad in the country where the visa application has been made. Foreign nationals applying for a residence permit to take up self-employment or employment receive the permission to enter Germany and to take up work from the German mission abroad.

However, upon entering Germany, foreign nationals with a national visa of this type (residence permit for the purpose of taking up self-employment or employment) have to contact the responsible local Foreigners' Registration Office (Ausländerbehörde) in Germany which issues the residence permit for gainful occupation.

Some foreign nationals may enter Germany without any visa (These exceptions are outlined in the table "Visa Requirements for Foreign Nationals in Germany" at the end of this chapter). Any required visa permitting work (self-employed or employed) can be applied for and issued by the local Foreigners' Registration Office in Germany.

A visa for a short-term stay (Schengen Travel or Schengen Transit Visa) will usually be issued within around two to ten working days.

For visas permitting the holder to work (self-employed or employed) in Germany, a processing time of a few months should be expected. Embassies and Consulates General charge a handling fee of EUR 60 for Schengen Visas, national visas, and hybrid visas (Schengen and national visas) respectively.