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If you need a Germany visa or not depends on:

  • Your nationality
  • The purpose of your visit to Germany
  • Duration of your stay

A few countries are exempt from Germany short-stay visas. For example, the nationals of the EU, EEA, and Schengen Area don’t need Germany short-stay visas. They can travel to the country with their passport for up to 90 days. If they need to stay longer, they need the appropriate visa based on the purpose of their visit.

The nationals of the other countries need a visa for short-stay and long-stay visits to Germany. They should also apply for the appropriate type of visa if they need to stay longer than three months.

Requirements to Apply for a Germany visa

The requirements for a Germany visa are as follows:

Germany Visa Application form

If you apply for a short-term visa, you have to complete a Schengen visa application form. In the case of a long-term stay, you should complete two National visa application forms. You can download the form from Germany’s Embassy or consulate website in your home country. You should give true and exact information. Be careful when you fill the options. Once you complete it, print, sign, and it.

Valid Passport

To get a visa, your passport must be valid for at least six months. It has to have one blank page to attach the Germany visa sticker to it. Remember That your visa will stay at the Embassy during your application process.

Two identical Germany Visa photos

You have to provide two photos for every application form. They must be according to the Germany photo requirements in the right:

  • size
  • color
  • face position

Proof of Residency in Germany

You have to send proof of the place you will stay in Germany to the Embassy/Consulate. This proof can be:

  • Receipt of hotel booking.
  • A rental agreement.
  • A letter of invitation by a host. If so, a copy of his/her ID and Passport. The host has to prove he/she can support you.
  • Proof you own an apartment/house in Germany.

Transportation / Round trip reservation or itinerary

You have to submit proof of your travel means. It could be:

  • A flight ticket
  • A train ticket
  • A ticket of other means of transport

It will also prove the date you will enter and leave Germany.

Germany Travel Health Insurance

You have to submit a document that shows you have bought health insurance valid for Europe. It must cover all your medical emergencies during your stay in Germany.

Proof of Having Funds

You have to prove to have enough money to cover your costs in Germany. It can be:

  • Sponsorship letter from your host/someone else.
  • Bank statement for the last three months.

Required Documents According to your Employment Status

There are other essential documents according to your employment status:

Employed

In case you are employed in a company/organization, you have to submit:

  • Contract of employment. It has to confirm the date you got hired and your position.
  • Bank statement of the past six months.
  • Permission leave from the employer. It has to prove that the company lets you use annual leave during your travel.
  • Certificate of Income Tax or Income Tax Return (ITR).

Self-Employed

In case you are self-employed, submit these documents:

  •  Your business license copy
  • Company bank statement for the past six months.
  • Your ITR.

Unemployed

If you got married to an EU citizen and are unemployed, you must submit these documents:

  • Confirmation of Employment letter. You should prove that your spouse is an employed citizen of Germany. The proof must be:
    • Older than three months.
    • Confirm the position held within the company.
    • The date of employment.
  • Your Spouse’s valid passport.
  • An official certificate of marriage.

Retired

In case you have got retired, submit:

  • Pension statement of the past six months.

Student

Students have to submit:

  • enrollment Proof. A document from an educational institution that confirms you have enrolled there.
  • No objection letter from your university or school. This is a formal letter issued from your educational institution. It confirms you may leave the institution during your trip.

Required Documents for Minors

If your minors (under 18) are traveling with you, you have to submit the following documents for them:

  • Their Birth certificate.
  • Germany’s application form signed by both parents.
  • Family court order. If only one parent has full supervision over the child.
  • Certified copies of passport and ID of both parents.
  • Formal parental permission to travel to Germany, signed by both parents/guardians if the minor will be traveling alone.
  • If minors are traveling with one of the parents, the formal permission signed by both parents is still required.

Please note that the German authorities might ask for more documents and you have to obey.

A Guide for Germany Schengen Visa

If you want to visit Germany, you might need a visa to enter it. How do you know about its visa rules? They change by your nationality. There are different requirements, validity criteria, things you should know about short-stay and long-stay visas. You need an appropriate visa, not to mention a residence permit. In case you want to have more info about Germany visa structure, FAQs, etc., you can visit A complete guide Germany Schengen Visa blog.

The Application Process for Germany Schengen Visa

In case you are going to apply for a Germany visa, you should know about its application process. The visa and immigration rules vary by country. When you go through the application process, it’s wise to consider unimportant details. The Schengen Area members are strict with their immigration rules. If you miss one part, your application could take longer or even rejected. You have to start again and pay the fees again. To avoid mistakes and get more information about the Germany visa application process, you can visit The Application Process for Germany Schengen Visa blog.

How Much Do Germany visas cost?

When you apply for every visa, you have to pay the fee for processing. Germany visa is no exception. If you don’t pay the fee, your application won’t get processed. The fee might change by your nationality and type of visa. To know more about Germany visa fees, you can visit How much do Germany visas cost? Blog.

Germany Short-Stay Visas

If you are going to travel to Germany, you might need a visa. Whether you need a visa or not depends on:

  • Your nationality
  • The purpose of your trip.
  • Duration of your stay

A few nationalities like EU/EEA members are exempt from Germany short-stay visa (up to 90 days). They can enter the country with their passport or travel document. But if they want to stay longer than three months, they have to apply for an appropriate type of visa or residence permit.

The nationals of other countries have to apply for a Germany visa even if they stay less than 90 days. The type of visa depends on the nature of travel. If you want to visit Germany for tourism, you should apply for a tourist visa. In case you need to pass through one of the German airports and are a non-EU, you must apply for a Germany airport transit visa. If you want to know whether you need a Germany visa or not, you can visit All you should know about Germany Short Stay Visas blog.

Germany Visa Types comes in two categories.

  1. Non-Immigrant (short-stay visas)
  2. Immigrant visas (Long-stay visas)

Non-Immigrant (short-stay visas)

Visitor Visa

Airport Transit Visa

Germany Airport Transit Visa allows foreign nationals to switch their flight in one of Germany airports. A few countries like the EU are exempt from it, but many more need it. Airport Transit Visa allows you to stay in the international area of one of Germany airports to catch another flight. You may not leave the area while you wait. To know whether you need this visa, you can visit Who should get Germany Airport Transit Visa blog.

Tourist visa

The Schengen Tourist visa is a type of visa issued by the Schengen states to visit Germany and all the 26 Schengen states. It gets stamped to the travelers’ passport. With a Germany Tourist Visa, you can only travel and do sightseeing over the Schengen area.

Please keep in mind that you may not work or study with a Germany tourist visa. A few countries are exempt from Germany tourist visas. Yet many more need it. To see if you need this visa or not, you could go through How to apply for Germany Tourist Visa? Blog.

Business Visas

Business Visas

A Germany Business visa is a type of short-stay visa. It comes into the Schengen visa group. With a Business visa, you can stay up to 90 days within six months in Germany. If your visa has a time limit, it will get mentioned in the visa sticker. The Germany Business is for people who want to sign contracts, participate in meetings, do business, etc.

Immigrant visas (Long-stay visas)

Student visa

Student visa

The quality or educational centers attracts thousands of foreign students to Germany. To continue your education in this EU country, you might need a visa. If you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and the duration of your course. If you don’t need a Germany short-stay visa (up to 90 days), you don’t need a student visa, yet you should apply for a residence permit. In case you need a Germany short-stay visa, you should apply for a student visa even if your course takes less than 90 days.

Language Course Visa

In case you want to study at a German university, you have to prove your language abilities. The certificates you could provide are as follows:

  • TestDaF
  • GDS
  • DSD

If you don’t have the required certificate, you might have to pass a three-months course in one of the German universities. The language course could last up to three months. The visa to take the required language course in Germany is a Language Course Visa. Whether you need to get this visa depends on your nationality. The EU nationals and a few other countries are exempt from the Language Course Visa.

Internship Visa

In case you want to do an internship or training in Germany, the Internship Visa is your option. The requirements to do the internship depends on the German institution or company offering it. Some might ask you fluent in German, while others will accept your basic language knowledge. You have to find an internship or training before you travel to Germany.

You could check for internships through the internet. Please remember that not all companies pay interns—research before accepting an internship offer. Even if you get paid, you might not be able to cover your expenses by internship payment. If you need an internship visa or not depends on your nationality.

Work visa

The types of Germany work visa are as follows:

Employment Visa

When it comes to working in Germany, most countries need a visa. Yet a few countries are exempt. The Germany Employment Visa provides skilled foreign workers the opportunity to move to Germany and work in their field. It offers the opportunity to work for two years. It’s also possible to extend it. The applicant has the chance to apply for a residence permit to become a citizen of Germany.

Job Seeker Visa

Germany suffers a shortage of workers in a few fields, such as:

  • Engineering
  • Manufacturing
  • The IT sectors
  • Health specialists

So the German government introduced the Job Seeker Visa to provide employment opportunities for German companies and skilled foreign workers. A few countries are exempt from this visa. But many more need it. You can apply for a job seeker visa to look for a job in Germany for six months. Please note you can not work in Germany under a job seeker visa. Remember you can only search for a job. When you find one, the authorities give a residence permit or work visa to live and work in Germany.

Freelancer Visa

A Germany Freelancer Visa lets you work in the country with individuals, businesses, startups, etc. on different contracts. You can have any career. There are no restrictions on your field. You can even work with clients outside the country. There are two categories under a freelancer visa:

  • Freelancing.
  • Business owner.

The rules, permits, insurances, certificates are different for these two categories.

The approved categories of freelancing by the German government are as follows:

  • Accountant
  • Architect
  • Artist
  • Doctor
  • Educator
  • Engineer
  • Guide
  • Healthcare provider
  • Journalist
  • Lawyer
  • Scientist
  • Tax consultant
  • Translator
  • Writer

If your career does not fall into one of the above items, it comes into a business owner.

Family visa

Family Reunion visa

The German residents who want to bring their non-EU families to Germany can do it through the Family Reunion visa. The German authorities support family structure. So they introduced this visa for foreign residents. The nationals of the EU/EEA don’t need to get this visa to bring their families to Germany. Yet, the nationals of the third world countries have to get it. The applicant must be a relative of the resident living in Germany and fulfill a few requirements.

Other Visas

Medical Treatment Visa

Germany is well-known for its high medical services. The nationals of 177 countries travel to Germany every year to get medical treatments. Medical tourism is a €1.2 business in Germany.

A Germany Medical Treatment Visa or Medical Visa allows you to enter Germany to get medical treatment. It grants permission to foreigners to receive medical treatment in Germany as long as they can pay for it. Whether you need a Medical treatment visa or not depends on your nationality. The nationals of the EU are exempt from this visa, for instance.

Researcher Visa

The world knows Germany as the land of invention and innovation. Researchers and scientists see Germany as a gateway to discover the unseen of the mysterious world of science.

The scientists and researchers who want to do research and scientific work in Germany might need the Researcher and guest scientist visa. The nationals of the EU, the US, and a few more are exempt from this visa. Yet many more need it. If you need a researcher visa or not depends on your nationality/citizenship.

Germany EU Blue Card

A Germany EU Blue Card helps non-EU nationals to live and work in Germany. It helps highly skilled employees from third world countries to migrate to Germany permanently. The German government uses it to address the shortage in its labor market. One of the requirements for a blue card is to have an employment contract or binding job offer from Germany. You should also have a university degree got in Germany or comparable to a German higher education certificate. Please note that there are other requirements, as well.

Germany Student Residence Permit

When you want to study in Germany for the long-term under a student visa, you need a Student Residence Permit as well. It’s a permission that allows you to stay in the country while you study.

When you get a visa and travel to Germany, you can apply for a student residence permit. You must register with a residents’ registration office when you find a place to live.

Employment Residence Permit

Employers who want to work in Germany might need a visa and work permit. To get employed, you should have a job offer from a German employer. He/she should apply for a residence permit on your behalf, and you start to apply for an appropriate visa.

Family Residence Permit

If you want to join your family member in Germany, you might need a Family Residence Permit. First, you should apply for a family visa to enter Germany. Once you enter the country to join your family, you should apply for a Family Residence Permit. Please note that not everyone needs this permit. The nationals of EU/EEA and a few more don’t have to get it.

Humanitarian Residence Permit

If you had to leave your country for the following reasons, you could apply for a Germany humanitarian Residence Permit:

  • War
  • Prosecution
  • Victim of a criminal offense.
  • Asylum
  • Etc.

Please note that the Humanitarian Residence can not get extended if the reason behind it no longer exists.

EU Residence Permit

The EU Residence Permit is permission to live in one of the EU countries(in this case, Germany) as a permanent residence. To fulfill the eligibility criteria, you must have lived in one of the EU countries for at least five years. The best point of an EU Residence Permit is that you don’t have to extend it. Its validity is until further notice. It will give you a similar right as an EU citizen. Please note that you must have been living in the EU for five steady years to be eligible for EU Residence Permit.

You should also prove to have enough funds to cover your expenses. Health insurance is also a must.

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