Germany Visa: Types, How To Apply, FAQs & More

Every year, a large number of people visit Germany, and many want to live there permanently. However, most people require a valid visa in order to enter the country. In 2019, German consulates and embassies granted 1.959.401 short-term visas and 324.636 long-term visas to foreign nationals.

Who Needs a German Visa?

If you are a national of one of the 62 visa-exempt countries and traveling to Germany for tourism, you will not require a short-term visa. A German Tourist visa allows its holder to stay in Germany for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Holders are permitted to travel to Germany and the other 27 Schengen countries while their visa is valid. Here are Visa Free Countries for German Passport Holders

Types of Visas for Germany

Due to the several purposes under which one might wish to enter Germany, the German Immigration Authorities have established a few types of visa.

Here are the types of German visas that you can apply for:

• Germany Airport Transit visa – to transit through a German airport.
• Germany Schengen visa – to visit family and friends or for tourism, for medical treatment, for official, cultural or sports visits.
• Germany Business visa – to attend meetings and other business related events.
• Germany Student Visa for prospective students in Germany or those that have already been admitted in a German university.
• Germany Language Course Visa – for prospective students in Germany may need to attend a langue course before being fully admitted to a university.
• Germany Student Internship Visa for students who want to participate in a training program or internship in Germany that lasts longer than 90 days.
• Germany Researcher visa for international scholars and researchers who will participate in a scientific event in Germany.
• Germany Employment Visa for persons that have a job offer in Germany and can be used to work on a paid job.
• Germany Job Seeker Visa for those seeking attractive job opportunities in Germany but do not have a job offer yet.
• Germany Freelancer Visa for foreign freelancers of different fields to enter Germany and work there as a Freelancer.
• Germany Family Reunion Visa for bringing specifically spouses and children of those who have already settled in Germany
• Medical Treatment Visa for every international with health issues to seek medical treatment in Germany.

What Should I do if I Have to Stay in Germany for Longer Than 90 Days?

If you plan to stay in Germany for more than 90 days and are not a national of one of the countries listed above, you should apply for a German long stay visa. Germany long stay visas, as opposed to short stay visas, are issued for stays of more than 90 days and for completely different purposes of travel than short stay visas. You do not need to apply for a German long-term visa if you are a national of:

• EU/EEA/EFTA countries
• Australia
• Israel
• Japan
• Canada
• New Zealand
• South Korea
• United States

Then, if your visa is granted, upon arrival in Germany you will have to get a German residence permit. Here are the types of German residence permits based on the purpose of the visa that has been issued:

• Germany Student Residence Permit – issued to a student who participates in a training program, study at a university and is issued for the length of the course.
• German Employment Residence Permit – issued to those who get a job offer in Germany after actively seeking work under a Job Seeker visa.
• German Family Reunion Residence Permit – issued to family members of German residents for the purpose of family reunification.
• Germany EU Blue Card – residence permit for highly skilled workers and want to work in their area of expertise in Germany.
• EU Residence Permit – issued for these groups of people who want to reside in Germany on another EU country.
• Germany Humanitarian Residence Permit – issued to those who have escaped a situation in their home country.
• Permanent Residence Permit – issued to settle in Germany

How to Apply for a Germany Visa?

The first thing you need to do when applying for a German visa is to find the nearest German mission in your country, and then you can proceed with the following steps:

• Fill out the online visa application form.
• Prepare the required documents.
• Set up an interview date at the embassy/consulate.
• Attend the visa interview.
• Submit your fingerprints.
• Pay the visa application fee.
• Go to Germany.

Keep in mind that the application process for a German visa may be different depending on which country you apply from since each local German mission works differently.

Where to Apply for a Germany Visa?

For a short-stay Germany visa, you have to apply at a German mission in your home country or near you. However, if you are applying for a long-stay visa you have to apply at two different institutions:

• A German mission. For your entry visa (national D visa), you still have to apply in your home country at a German embassy or consulate so you can enter the country.
• Foreigner’s Office. When you enter Germany, you have to register at the Ausländerbehörde (Foreigner’s Office) to get your residence permit.

What If My Application Is Rejected?

If the German embassy rejects your visa application, you will receive the reason behind this decision. If you think this decision is unjust, you can always appeal by writing an appeal letter for visa refusal.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Visa to Germany?

It can take up to 15 business days to process your Germany visa application. If you are applying for a long-term visa, the processing time could take several months.

However, keep in mind that the time it takes to process your visa application is determined by a number of factors, including the staff available at the visa office, the time you apply (off-season or in-season), and whether you submit a completed application.

How Much Does a Germany Visa Cost?

The main applicant must pay €80 for a short-stay visa to Germany. However, fees vary depending on the type of German visa you are applying for and your age. For example, if your child is under 6, their visa application is free, while children aged 6 to 12 pay €40.

You are usually required to pay the fee after your interview; however, in some cases, you can complete the visa payment when you fill out the online visa application form; this varies by country.

It’s important to note that the Germany visa fee is non-refundable, even if your application is denied. Please keep in mind that most foreign German missions do not accept payments from digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay; instead, you must pay in cash or with a credit card.

How Long Can You Stay in Germany With a Visa?

The validity of your German visa changes based on the type of visa you applied for:

Please keep in mind that when applying for a long-term visa in Germany, your initial entry visa (D visa) is only valid for three to six months. After you enter the country, you can obtain a temporary permit for one to three years, depending on the type of visa you have. Following that, you can consider applying for a permanent residence visa.

Germany follows the 90/180 rule for short stays, so you must plan your stay to avoid overstaying penalties. You can use the 90/180 rule calculator shown below.

Germany Visa Extension

You can extend your German visa if you have very compelling reasons that include the following:

• Force majeure – This can be any type of event that is out of your control, such as an earthquake, a storm, or for some reason, you cannot enter your country.
• Personal reasons – Personal reasons include urgent business, which occurred unexpectedly, or family-related issues.
• Humanitarian reasons – Examples of humanitarian reasons include sudden illness, either you or a close family member.
• Late entry – You entered Germany later than when your visa was issued, and you did not use the entire visa period.

How Do I Extend a Germany Visa?

To extend your stay in Germany, you have to apply for your visa extension at the Foreigner’s Office in Berlin, Keplerstr (Ausländerbehörde). For the application process, you need the following documents:

• Your valid passport.
• Your valid visa.
• Germany visa extension form.
• Proof of income.
• Health insurance.
• Any other type of documents related to your visa type.

Please note that you should make an appointment by email with the Foreigner’s Office for your extension. If your request for an extension is successful, your visa will be extended on the same day.

Do I Have to Pay for a Germany Visa Extension?

If you extended your Germany visa for personal reasons or due to late entry, you must pay €30. However, if you have humanitarian or force majeure reasons, you are not required to pay a visa extension fee.

It’s important to remember that a second extension costs €60 for adults and €30 for minors.

Can a Germany Visa Be Revoked?

Yes, your Germany visa can be revoked if the conditions under which it was granted are no longer valid. Your Germany visa can also be cancelled if one of the following occurs:

• You provided false information when you applied for the visa.
• You committed a crime, and are seen as dangerous to Germany and its values.

You can always re-apply for another German visa. Still, getting another German visa may be more challenging because your visa was revoked once because of false information or a crime you committed.