Visitor visa

All foreign nationals wishing to travel to Germany require a visa. This does not apply to citizens of other EU states and citizens of Schengen states and some third countries, whose citizens are allowed to travel to Germany without a visa. You can find out whether you need a visa for Germany at auswaertiges-amt.de.

Here you can find information about visas for visiting Germany. It is officially called "Schengen Visa Type C". It is also called a "tourist visa" or "visitor visa". If you want to stay longer in Germany, e.g. to study or work there, you will need a different type of visa. You can find out more about this in our chapter"National visa".

What do I need to know?

What is a Schengen visa type C?

If you only want to visit Germany for a few days or weeks, you need a so-called "Schengen visa type C". This visa allows you to stay in Germany for up to 90 days. This is the right visa if, for example, you want to visit family or friends in Germany, get to know Germany as a tourist or travel to Germany on business.

What requirements do I need to fulfill?

To have a chance of obtaining a Schengen visa, you must meet the following requirements:

You must explain the reason for your trip in a comprehensible and plausible way. You can find out more about this in our chapter"Letter of invitation for a visitor visa".
Your travel and living expenses during your trip are covered. You can prove this, for example, with your bank statements for the last three months, proof of your assets, etc. If you do not have enough money yourself, a person living in Germany can submit a so-called "declaration of commitment" on your behalf. You can find out more about this in our chapter"Declaration of commitment for a visitor visa".
You have travel health insurance with a minimum cover of 30,000 euros for the Schengen area for the entire duration of your trip. Such travel insurance costs approx. 10 euros per week.
The embassy/consulate staff must believe that you will leave the country after your visa expires. Possible proof of your willingness to leave the country could be: a job or place of study in your home country, a purchase contract for an apartment in your home country, underage family members or family members in need of care in your home country, etc. You should submit these documents.

Please note: You must fulfill ALL of the above requirements in order to obtain a visa. It is up to the embassy/consulate to decide whether you will receive a visa. Unfortunately, it is generally very difficult to obtain a visa for people from countries from which many people flee to Germany.

Where and how do I apply for a visa for Germany?

You apply for a Schengen visa in person at the German embassy/consulate in your home country or a neighboring country (if there is no German embassy or consulate in your home country) or the country in which you live. You can find the addresses of all German embassies and consulates on the website of the Federal Foreign Office. You must make an appointment in advance to be able to submit the application.

You can usually download and print out the visa application form from the website of the embassy/consulate. There you will also find a list of all the documents you need to submit. If you are unable to print out the form yourself, you can also obtain the form in your language free of charge on site and fill it in.

Alternatively, you can also complete the form online at videx.diplo.de and then print it out. The website works in many languages.

Do I have to state the reason for my trip?

Yes, when you apply for a Schengen visa, you must briefly describe the reason for your trip (e.g. attending a wedding, going on vacation with friends, etc.) and the conditions of your trip and provide evidence, e.g. hotel bookings or invitations.

What documents do I need for a Schengen visa?

As a rule, you will need at least the following documents for a Schengen visa:

A valid passport
Current biometric passport photos
A completed visa application form
Proof of your accommodation
A letter of invitation from relatives or acquaintances or from an institution or company - if you are visiting someone. You can find out more about this in our chapter"Invitation letter for a visitor visa".
Your travel dates based on your tickets
Proof of your financial means or a declaration of commitment. You can find out more about this in our chapter "Declaration of commitment for avisitor visa".
Schengen visa travel insurance

How much does a Schengen visa cost?

The processing fee for a Schengen visa is 80 euros. You must pay the fee when you submit your application. Important: You will not get the money back if your visa application is rejected.

Please note: There are exceptions to the costs for certain groups of people. You can find more information on this in German in the leaflet from the Federal Foreign Office.

How long does it take to apply for a Schengen visa?

As a rule, you have to wait up to 14 working days until the embassy/consulate has decided on your visa application.

You can apply for your visa up to 6 months before your planned trip. You can make an appointment to submit your application in advance.

What can I do if my visa application is rejected?

If your application is rejected, you will receive a written explanation. You can lodge an appeal against the decision. You can find out where and how you can lodge an appeal in the written reasons for the rejection.

What happens if I stay in Germany after my visa expires?

If you remain in Germany after your visa has expired, you are staying in Germany "illegally". The authorities will ask you to leave the country. If you fail to do so, you may be deported.

A Schengen visa can only be extended in exceptional cases. For example, if you are ill and cannot travel. The immigration authority in the place where you are staying will decide whether your visa will be extended.

Can I apply for asylum with a Schengen visa?

You can enter the country with a Schengen visa and then apply for asylum in Germany. Whether your asylum application is approved depends on the circumstances in your home country. As a rule, people who have a chance of being granted asylum are usually not given a visa in the first place. You can find out more about the asylum procedure in our chapter"Asylum procedure" and"Residence permit for refugees".

Please note: Until a decision has been made on your asylum application, you or the person who has made a declaration of commitment on your behalf must pay all costs (accommodation, food, medicine, etc.) yourself. This also applies to any deportation. You can find out more about this in our chapter"Declaration of commitment for a visitor visa".

Important

You can fill out the visa application form online at videx.diplo.de and then print it out and bring it with you to your appointment at the embassy. The website is available in many languages.

Source: handbookgermany.de