National visa (entry in Germany)

In principle, the visa application must be submitted by the applicant in person to the German diplomatic mission or consular post responsible for his/her place of residence abroad.

In principle, the consent of the competent foreigners authority in Germany is required. The foreigners authority of the place where the foreigner will take up residence is responsible.

If the approval of the foreigners authority is required in the visa procedure, the procedure can take up to three months, occasionally longer, as other authorities (such as the Federal Employment Agency) are often involved in addition to the foreigners authority. The diplomatic mission or consular post may only issue the visa applied for once the foreigners authority has given its consent.

The fees are based on the information on the websites of the German embassies and the Federal Foreign Office.

§ Section 6 (4) Residence Act (AufenthG) (National Visa)

You can appeal against a negative decision in the visa procedure in writing to the diplomatic mission or consular post within one month. In this case, the diplomatic mission or consular post will re-examine the visa application.

If it still cannot be established that you meet the requirements for the issuance of a visa, you will again be informed in detail in writing of the reasons for the rejection of your application in a remonstration decision. You can file a complaint against this decision with the Berlin Administrative Court within one month.

You can also take legal action (instead of remonstrating) against the original negative decision within one month.

Applicants can obtain the visa application form for a long-term stay (over 3 months) free of charge from the respective mission abroad.

• Online appointment allocation Foreigners Department

You can find details on the website of the competent German mission abroad or directly from the competent German mission abroad.

List of countries with visa facilitation or visa exemption

Visa regulations on the website of the Federal Foreign Office

Website of the Federal Foreign Office

The basic requirement for entry into Germany is a visa. There is no visa requirement for:

• EU nationals
• Nationals of the following states:
  • Iceland
  • Liechtenstein
  • Norway
  • Switzerland

• Nationals of the States listed in Annex II to Article 4(1) of Regulation EU 2018/1806 (EU) for a stay not exceeding 90 days per period of 180 days.

However, nationals of a small group of countries (e.g. USA, Canada, Australia) can also enter for a longer stay without a visa and apply for their residence title after entry.

For entry for a longer stay (beyond 3 months), you need a visa (national visa) as a national or citizen of another state. Only for short stays (up to 3 months) is there an exemption from the visa requirement for a number of states. A complete list can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office. During a visa-free short stay, you are not permitted to take up gainful employment. Taking up gainful employment without being in possession of a permit from the Federal Employment Agency or a residence title is a violation of the law, which leads to the illegality of your visa-free stay.