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Germany is one of the top 10 most popular destinations in the world. Tourists and students dream of visiting it. The unemployment rate is low in Germany, and tourist attractions have a worldwide reputation. Some countries don’t need a visa for Germany, but a few of them need Short Stay Visas. They have to go through all the processes to get a visa. In this blog, we will explain if you need a Germany Short Stay Visas or not, the types of short-stay visas, requirements, the application process, fees, FAQs, etc.

Do You Need a Visa for Short Stays in Germany?

If you want to visit Germany, the first question to ask is:

Do You Need a Visa for Short Stays in Germany?

To answer it, think about the purpose of your visit to Germany. Your chances to get a Germany short-stay visa are higher when you visit for:

  • tourism
  •  visiting relatives or friends
  •  business

If you stay in Germany for 90 days in 180 days, then you can apply for a Germany short-stay visa.

Nationals from these countries are free from German short-stay visas:

Schengen statesEuropian UnionEEA

Asia

Brunei DarussalamSingapore
GeorgiaSouth Korea
IsraelUnited Arab Emirates
JapanHong Kong
Malaysia 

North America

Antigua And Barbuda Grenada 
BahamasGuatemala
Barbados  Honduras
Canada  Mexico 
Costa RicaNicaragua 
Dominica   Panama    
El SalvadorUnited States Of America

South America

ArgentinaParaguay
Brazil Peru
ChileUruguay
Colombia Venezuela  

Africa

MauritiusSeychelles

Oceania

Australia Palau
Kiribati Samoa
Marshall IslandsSolomon Islands
MicronesiaTuvalu    
New ZealandVanuatu

Europe

Albania  San Marino
AndorraSchengen states
Bosnia And HerzegovinaSerbia
North MacedoniaUkraine
Vatican City StateUnited Kingdom
MoldovaSchengen states
MonacoEU
MontenegroEEA

Central America

Nicaragua

If you are not a national of citizen of the above list, you need a visa for short-stay visits to Germany.

The nationals of the above countries have to apply for a German long-stay visa if they want to visit Germany for:

  • medical treatment
  • study
  • work
  • employment

Wish to immigrate to Germany as a skilled worker? Read our guide.

All you should know about Germany Short Stay Visas

Short stay Visa Exemptions

If you are one of the nationals of the above list, you may have a chance to be visa-free to short-visit Germany. You don’t need a visa if you belong to these groups:

  • A citizen of EFTA, EEA, or EU countries.
  • You are the child or partner of an EFTA, EEA, or EU country and are traveling together.

You have a Diplomatic, Service, or Special Passport from:

  • Turkey
  • Thailand
  • Philippines
  • Ghana
  • Chad

You have a Diplomatic Passport from:

AlgeriaKenyaPakistan
GeorgiaMalawiRussian
IndiaMoroccoSouth Africa
JamaicaNamibiaTunisia

Do You Need a Visa to Go to Germany from the UK?

The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020. So it is not part of the Schengen Area and EU anymore.

The citizens of third-world countries that live in the UK for at least three months and want to visit Germany need to get a German visa.

The UK nationals will come under the ETIAS program in 2021. For more information about ETIAS, visit this blog.

Do You Need a Visa to Go to Germany from the US?

Some US citizens may need a visa to enter Germany. It depends on:

  • Their status in the US
  • The purpose of their travel to Germany
  • Other factors

If they come into these groups, they need a visa to enter Germany:

  • You have a US passport and want to Germany, NOT for:
    • tourism
    • business
    • airport transit
  • Foreign citizens in the US who have a residence permit that is valid for less than three months beyond their travel date.

Let’s sum up…

It is one of the most favorite destinations in the world.

The countries that need and don’t need a short-stay visa, the exemptions, etc., got covered. Before applying, find out whether you need a short-stay Germany visa or not. You can find your answer easily in this blog.

To find out more about the visa that suits you, go through the menu on the site. You can find all the German types of visas at the left sidebar.

You can check Visa Library to find more information about other countries’ visas.

In case you have some experience, please write it down in the comment section. Your comments let readers choose better and avoid mistakes. Conveying your experiences as comments is a great help for applicants.

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