Germany is one of the unique countries in the world that has a complex of different travel options for everyone. From tourists to businessmen, all have some interests in Germany. If you want to travel to it as a tourist or visitor, you might need a Germany Tourist Visa. In this blog, we will cover the people who need and don’t need this visa, requirements, application, fees, validity FAQs, etc.
If you want to visit Germany for less than three months to see friends/family or do sightseeing, you need a Germany Tourist Visa. It often gets called a Germany visitor visa.
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ToggleWhat is a Germany Tourist Visa?
The Schengen Tourist visa is a type of visa issued by the Schengen states to visit Germany and all the 26 Schengen member countries. It gets stamped to the travelers’ passport. By 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. To do so, you have to apply for a Germany student visa or work visa.
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Germany Tourist visa
Who Needs and Does not a Germany Tourist Visa?
This matter depends on your citizenship or nationality. The nationalities of the 62 members of Schengen states can enter Germany without a visa. The residents of these countries may enter Germany for 90 days in six months without a visa. But if you are the citizens of these countries, you need a Germany tourist visa:
You can know the list of visa waived countries from the article “who needs a Germany visa” from the left sidebar.
The citizens of the mentioned countries can visit Germany without a visa for up to 90 days. Please note that if they need to stay longer, they have to apply for an appropriate type of visa.
If you are not from the above list of countries, then you need a Germany tourist visa.
Video description
Find the links and extra information explained in the video here:
Online visa application form:
https://videx.diplo.de/videx/desktop/index.html#start
Provisit Insurance:
https://www.provisit.com/en/foreigners-in-germany/provisit-visum?vkn=10001&utm_source=germany-visa.org&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=incoming
Cover letter sample:
https://visalibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Sample-of-visa-cover-letter-.pdf
Visitors that need a visa to Germany
In case visitors come in these categories, they need a German tourist visa:
- Their home country doesn’t have a liberalization agreement with the members of the Schengen state.
- If their home country has a visa liberalization agreement with the members of Schengen states, but the border guards reject the traveler to enter Germany visa-free.
The Requirements for a Germany Tourist Visa
German officials follow severe rules and requirements to issue a visa. So it is wise to be careful of all the steps.
This is the list of required documents you have to submit to apply for a German tourist visa:
Visa application form
Two new photos
They must have been taken in the past three months and according to the Schengen visa photo regulations.
Valid passport
It must be valid for more than three months than the date you will stay in Schengen states. It must also have one blank page.
Itinerary or Round Trip reservation
It must contain the flight numbers and dates to specify entry and exit from the Schengen area.
Germany Travel Health Insurance
You have to submit a document that shows you have bought health insurance (€30,000) valid for Europe. It must cover all your medical emergencies during your stay in Germany. You could buy such travel Health insurance from:
- Europ Assistance
- AXA Schengen
- DR-WALTER
A Cover Letter
It will explain:
- Why you want to visit Germany
- How long you will stay in Germany
- What are you going to do in Germany
Proof of Residency in Germany
It must show where you will stay during your visit to Germany.
It could be a hotel booking receipt with:
- name
- complete address
- phone
A rental agreement
You will declare the place you have rented.
Tour organizer letter. In case you travel with a tour agency.
Proof of Having Funds
Proof/evidence that shows you have enough money to cover your expenses during your stay in Schengen:
- Sponsorship letter from your host/someone else.
- Bank statement for the last three months.
Invitation letter from your host in Germany.
You have to provide a copy of your:
- passport
- residence permit for Germany
Proof/evidence of having a relationship with the host residing in Germany.
Letter of commitment
If your host is covering your expenses, he must sign this document, which gets called Verpflichtungserklärung.
Evidence of your employment status
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Requirements based on the applicant’s employment status
Employed
- Contract of employment
- Permission leave from your employer.
- Income Tax Return
Self-employed
- Your business license copy.
- Bank statement of your company in the latest six months.
- Income Tax Return (ITR)
Student
- Proof of enrolment.
- Your university No Objection Letter
Minors
If minors are traveling:
- birth certificate
- proof of adoption
- custody decree if parents are divorced
- death certificate of a parent.
- Letter of consent from parents. It must include passport copies of both parents/ legal guardians.
How to Get a Germany Tourist Visa
- Find out what type of visa you need.
- Complete the Germany Tourist Visa application form
- Gather all the required documents for a Germany Tourist Visa
- Book an appointment for a visa interview
- Participate in the interview. Give true and honest answers.
- Pay the fees
- Wait until your application gets processed.
Where can You Apply for a Germany Tourist Visa?
It depends if you will visit one Schengen country and the rules the German officials have established for visa application in your country. Based on those regulations and laws, you might have to apply at one of the:
- The German embassy
- The German consulate
- Visa center
Yet, If you will only visit Germany, you can apply at:
- German embassy
- consulate
- visa center
When Can you Apply for a Germany Tourist Visa
The earliest time you can apply for a Germany Tourist Visa is six months. Whereas the latest time to apply is two weeks.
The Fees for a Germany Tourist Visa
The cost of a Germany Tourist Visa is €80. Yet, some groups can pay less or are exempted from paying visa fees. Check to see if you are among them or not.
Note that if your visa application gets rejected, you won’t get your payback.
How Long is the Germany Tourist Visa Valid For?
The longest time one may remain in Germany with a Tourist Visa is 90 days. Yet, The German Embassy in your home country determines how long you can stay in Germany and on which dates. Please keep in mind that visa validity is different than the duration you may stay.
The first date you can enter Germany and the last date you have to leave is visa validity. During the duration of your stay in the days, you may stay in Schengen during the validity of your visa. So, the duration of stay is always less than the visa validity.
Let’s sum up…
In this blog, we explained all the information about a tourist Visa.
The countries that need this visa got listed by the continent. The people who don’t need this visa, the requirements for it, the places you can apply, etc., got covered.
You can find all the German visa information in the world here. This article is your ultimate guide for a German tourist.
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 the readers choose better and avoid mistakes. Conveying your experiences as comments is a great help for applicants.
- Published by
- Max-B.
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