Visa application support
Do I need a Germany visa?
This is the first question that should pop up to your mind when
you decide to make a trip to Germany. Currently the citizens of
62 countries can enter Germany visa free for the purpose of
tourism / visiting and business doing, for periods shorter than
90 days within a 180-day period.
If you are not a national of any of these 62 countries that have
established a visa-free regime with the European Union, then you
will need to obtain a visa first, in order to be permitted to
enter Germany. On the other hand, even if you are a passport
holder of any of these countries, but your purpose is other than
tourism or business, and you need to remain in Germany for more
than 90 days within a 6-month period, then you will still need
to obtain a visa.
Germany Visa Types
Depending on the purpose of your travel to Germany, there are
different types of visas that will apply to your situation.
Whether you are planning to visit Germany, study or work or even
to settle there permanently, you will have to apply for a
different Schengen visa, accordingly.
These are the most frequent Germany visa types:
Tourist & Visitor Visa – for people who wish to enter
Germany with the purpose of visiting friends or relatives, or to
just sightsee and experience the country and its culture.
Family Reunion Visa to Join a Relative or a Partner –
which is a visa for family members of German residents, who wish
to join them in Germany.
Job Seeker Visa – gives to its holder the opportunity to
come to Germany and seek a job.
Studying & Language Learning Visa – for foreigners who wish to
enter the country with the sole purpose of attending a language
course or to continue their studies at an educational
institution in Germany.
Working Visa – for people who have gotten a job in
Germany.
Business Visa – for business people that need to remain
in Germany for a period longer than 90 days within 6 months,
with the purpose of making business.
Airport Transit Visa – which is required for a very
limited number of third-world nationals, that need to pass
through one of the German airports in their way to their final
destination.
Guest Scientist Visa – for scientists or researchers who
have been invited by an institution to carry out a study or
research.
Training/Internship Visa – is a visa that gives the
opportunity to attend a training or internship to nationals of
third-world countries.
Medical Treatment Visa – has been established in order to
permit foreigners with different illnesses and medical
conditions to enter Germany and seek medical treatment
Trade Fair & Exhibitions Visa – for people who are
planning to participate at a trade fair or exhibition.
Visa for Cultural, Film Crew, Sports, and Religious Event
Purpose – for people who are planning to enter Germany, under
the purpose of participating at a Cultural, Sports, and
Religious event or as part of a Film Crew.
Germany Visa Requirements
Although a unified document, requirements for obtaining a
Germany Visa differ from one Schengen country to another.
Germany however is quite demanding on the issue, and it is
recommendable to fulfill each request meticulously to the last
detail. Usually, the German embassy in each country has an
updated checklist of the Germany Visa requirements for each type
of visa.
The following documents are required for any Germany visa
application:
Application Form – duly completed with correct and honest
answers that comply with the information in the other required
documents. Do not forget that you can download the Germany Visa
Application form right here at our website.
Passport – according to the passport requirements of the
German embassy, among which validity of three months beyond your
planned stays in the Schengen.
Photo – which must be taken within the last three months,
and according to the other photo standards set by the German
embassy.
Health Insurance – a document that confirms you have
obtained travel health insurance that covers illnesses and
accidents, and even repatriation in case of death, as well as
the whole Schengen Area with a minimum coverage of € 30.000.
Travel Itinerary – that includes proof of your round trip
flight/travel reservations or other documents that show intended
transport, as well as proof of what you are planning to do in
Germany within the period that you wish to Remain
Proof of Financial Means – which is a document that
proves you have the amount of money to finance yourself during
your planned stay in Germany. This can be a recent bank
statement that shows you have enough funds to spend at least 45€
per each day spent in Germany. If proof of owner financing is
not possible, the applicant can submit a formal declaration of a
third person who is willing to finance their travel and stay in
Germany alongside with proof of their financial means.
Depending on your visa type and in some cases in your country of
residence and nationality, there are also other Germany visa
requirements which you will need to submit as required by the
embassy or consulate where you will be applying in your home
country.
Germany
Visa Application Process
Applying for the Schengen visa includes a sequence of events
in-between yourself and the designated Embassy, in this case the
German Embassy in your home country. Between handing the proper
documentation and getting an answer, here is a step-by-step
guideline of the Germany visa application process.
1. Ask the embassy for a checklist of the required documents for
your visa type you wish to apply for.
2. Fulfill the application form with correct information and
obtain the required documents for your visa.
3. Appoint an interview at the German embassy in your country of
residence. The earliest you can schedule the appointment is six
months prior to your trip.
4. Pay the visa fee and save the receipt in order to show it
later to the consular officer during the interview.
5. Show up on time at the embassy for your meeting with all the
required documents with you arranged in the given order. The
meeting will last around ten minutes, during which the consular
officer will look at your documents and ask you a few questions
regarding your background and purpose of your trip to Germany.
