German Visa

Do I need a visa for Germany?

On webpage of the Federal Foreign Office you can find out whether you need a visa for Germany and the Schengen states of up to 90 days. Foreigners wanting to stay longer than 90 days in Germany, who want to work or study in Germany in any case have to apply for a visa.

Visa requirements – list of countries

I will be on a short stopover in Germany while waiting for my onward flight in the international transit area of a German airport. Do I need a transit visa?

List of countries whose citizens do need a airport transit visa

Please note that an airport transit visa only allows a short stay in the international transit area, neither leaving the airport's international transit area nor overnight stays in a hotel are possible.

Where do I have to apply for my visa?

Visas have to be applied for prior to entry at the German mission abroad covering the place of residence of the applicant.

As a rule the residence is defined as the place a person is living in and working at. It is not necessarily the place your hukou is registered. Residence/normal abode is given if a person has been living at that place for the past six months or is expected to stay at that place for long-term. If the normal abode is not in agreement with the Household Register (Hukou) or place of issue of the passport, the applicant is asked to present proof of his normal abode (ID card???, working contract, police confirmation).

In the case of longer stays, nationals of the USA, Australia, Canada, Israel, New Zealand and Switzerland, as well as EU citizens, who do not need a visa for visits and business trips of up to 90 days can apply for the necessary residence permit from the competent foreigners authority in the planned place of residence in Germany after entering the country without a visa.

How long does my passport have to be valid if I want to apply for a visa for a trip to Germany?

The passport should be valid at least 90 days after expiration of the visa. It should also contain at least two empty pages where the visa can be inserted.

How far in advance of my travel date can I apply for a visa?

Three months. It is important to prepare and submit the visa applications well in advance as the German Consulate General is not able to take into account short-term travel plans due to restricted capacities. There are waiting times for the next free appointment of at least 2-4 weeks. Processing time for a Schengen visa is 5-10 days, for national visa/residence permit at least 2-3 months.

My visa was issued by a German mission abroad. Can I use it to travel to other countries in Europe? Do I have to enter and leave via Germany or can I do so elsewhere?

Yes, you can. Holders of a Schengen visa (text on the visa reads "valid for Schengen states") or holders of a residence permit of a Schengen state can stay in the entire Schengen area according to the validity of their visa (max. 90 days per half year). The Schengen area consists of the following countries: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

However, holding a German Schengen Visa Germany has to be the main purpose of your travel. As the Schengen visa has to be applied for at the foreign mission of the country which is the main destination.

My visa was issued by a mission of another Schengen state. Can I use it to travel to Germany?

Yes. Holders of Schengen visa (text on the visa reads "valid for Schengen states") or holders of a residence permit of a Schengen state can also stay in Germany.

The visa should however have been issued by a mission of the country which is the main destination.

I have a German Schengen visa. Do I have to enter and leave via Germany or can I do so elsewhere?

The entry into and departure from the Schengen area can occur at any border crossing. You do not have to enter Schengen via Germany, however holding a German Schengen Visa Germany has to be the main purpose of your travel.

Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden have acceded to the Schengen Agreement and are thus Schengen states.

These are the "old" EU member states (with the exception of Britain and Ireland) plus Iceland and Norway. The countries that joined the European Union on 1 May 2004 did not immediately accede to the Schengen Agreement.

How long can I stay with my visitor/tourist/business visa in Germany and the Schengen states?

The visa itself stipulates how many days in the given period you can stay in Germany/Schengen. The maximum, should your visa stipulate this, is 90 days.

I want to travel to Germany/the Schengen area several times in the next few months. Can I apply for a visa with longer validity?

The mission abroad decides what type of visa to issue (period of validity, number of days covered) on the basis of the documents submitted. If necessary, it may issue a visa that entitles the holder to enter the Schengen area on multiple occasions within the given period of validity. Such annual or multi-annual visas, which are valid for one or more years, are as a rule only issued to persons who have already been to Germany or other Schengen states several times in the past and whom the mission abroad considers to be particularly trustworthy (e.g. because of their position in the host country). Please note that regardless of the length of validity, visas only entitle the holder to a maximum stay of three months per six-month period, calculated from the date of first entry.

If I am travelling to another country do I need to get the other visa first?

Not necessarily, but we advise. If you are applying for a transit visa we will need to see a visa for the country of your final destination.

We regret that there is not enough space in our visa section for friends and family. Space elsewhere in our buildings is limited too, so we ask the applicant to come alone if possible. But we are able to make an exception for family accompanying applicants aged 16 or under or elderly relatives aged 65 or over, or the applicant's spouses and fiancé(e).

No, you have to apply in person. Visa applications can be submitted at the Consulate General only after scheduling an appointment, scheduled at the Visa Application Centre (www.germanvac-cn.com).

At the Visa Application Centre you can have your documents pre-checked and get general information in visa matters, either in person or by sending an authorized third person. This service is useful, as only complete applications can be processed.

Visa applicants will be asked to come to the Consulate General for interviewing.

There is no fixed answer. Your funds should cover all travel, accommodation and living costs. Please bring as much evidence as possible of your finances, to help us to form a picture of your financial standing. The more evidence you bring, the easier it is for our visa staff to make a positive decision. We would also expect to see the historical provenance of large deposits.

For my visa application I need a formal obligation from a relative/acquaintance living in Germany. What form does such an obligation have to take?

Your relative/acquaintance can usually get the required form for a formal obligation at the German foreigners authority (Ausländerbehörde) of their hometown or from the local agency for public order (Ordnungsamt). Forms are available at the German Consulate General as well.

I am not a German national and want to live in Germany with my German spouse. What do we have to do?

First of all you have to apply for a visa for family reunification (subsequent immigration of spouses) from the competent German mission abroad. Documents required include an authenticated marriage certificate as well as the German passport of the German spouse. Details on the documents to be presented with your visa application are available on the webpage of the German Consulate General in Guangzhou and the website of the German Visa Application Centre.

The German mission will forward the visa application to the foreigners authority in the place where you want to live in Germany for an opinion. The German mission abroad can only issue a visa for entry once the foreigners authority has given its approval. The visa is issued with a validity of 90 days and has to be extended at the local Immigration Office in Germany as final residence permit.

I want to marry my German partner in Germany. What do we have to do to get an entry visa?

First of all find out from the competent registry office in Germany what documents you and your German fiancé/fiancée have to present in order to marry in Germany. As soon as the registry office confirms your documents are complete, you can apply for a visa to marry in Germany.

Details on the documents to be presented with your visa application are available on the webpage of the German Consulate General in Guangzhou and the website of the German Visa Application Centre.

The Consulate General will forward the visa application to the foreigners authority in the place where you want to live in Germany. The German mission abroad can only issue a visa for entry once the foreigners authority has given its approval. The visa is issued with a validity of 90 days and has to be extended at the local Immigration Office in Germany as final residence permit.

The decision on the granting of a visa is taken by the competent German mission abroad. A long-term visa or visa to take up work can however only be issued with the approval of the local foreigners authority in Germany.

My visa application has been rejected without a reason being given. What can I do?

According to Section 77 (2) of the Residence Act, no reason are given when a visa application is rejected. You do however have the option of writing to the Visa Section of the German Consulate General in Guangzhou asking for the reasons leading to the rejection of your application and giving statement why you feel the decision of the Consulate not being correct. This procedure is known as "remonstration". Please note that you have to submit the remonstration yourself.

According to Section 71 (2) of the Foreigners Act, responsibility for visa affairs lies with the competent German mission abroad. The mission bases its decision on the granting of visas on the provisions of the Foreigners Act. Often applications are rejected because the purpose of the visit lacks plausibility and there is insufficient proof of the applicant's readiness to return.

You may apply again at any time, though you may wish to consider the reasons you were refused and whether a fresh application will contain anything new that would lead to a different outcome. If you re-apply but with no change in circumstances, we may invite you not to proceed with your application. Applicants who have previously been refused a visa will need to make an individual appointment, and should not submit their application as part of a group.

You should not experience any problems on arrival in Germany, providing that: 1. you have given the visa officer all information relevant to your visit to Germany. 2. you have not, with or without your knowledge, given false information to support your application, and 3.· there has been no change to your circumstances/itinerary, or reasons for going to Germany, since the visa was issued.

On arrival, a border police officer may ask you to show evidence of your reasons for coming to Germany. This may include travel tickets, evidence of funding, letters from your sponsor or business contacts you are visiting, or schools you will study at. You should carry in your hand luggage copies of all documents that you showed to the visa officer.

The expiry date will be shown on the visa, but remember that this is also the last day on which you are permitted to stay in Germany.

The last day on which you may enter or be in Germany is the expiry date on the visa. Your stay cannot exceed the duration of stay shown on the visa.

German visas are normally valid for single entry only. If you have a multiple entry visa you can use the visa for more than one travel to Germany/Schengen within the validity date shown on the visa. A Schengen visa with multiple entries allows the holder to stay max. 90 days within 6 months.

A visa is normally issued for a specific purpose. If your reason for going to Germany changes, you should inform the visa office that issued your visa. You may be asked to make another visa application.

I am already in Germany? Who should I contact for advice about immigration matters?

If you, or the person you are enquiring about, is already in Germany, you should contact the local Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde).

You must first apply for a replacement passport and then with the new passport reapply to the German Consulate General in Guangzhou for another entry visa. You will have to pay the fee again and produce all supporting documents.

I want to apply for a visa at the German Consulate General in Guangzhou. What steps have to be followed?

1. Prepare all documents given on the visa information leaflets, available at www.kanton.diplo.de or www.germanvac-cn.com according to the purpose of your travelling to Germany.

2. Arrange for an appointment at the Visa Application Centre for an interview at the Consulate. At the Visa Application Centre you can have your documents pre-checked and get general information in visa matters, either in person or by sending an authorized third person. This service is useful, as only complete applications can be processed. The Visa Application Centre is not in a position to refuse visa applications

3. Come to the interview at the Consulate in person and bring all documents necessary. Please come in time 15 minutes before the scheduled appointment. Applicants not showing up on time will not be able to hand in their applications and will have to arrange for a new appointment.

What are the fees to obtain a visa?

The visa fee for Schengen visa is 35 EUR (17,50 EUR for minors), as from 1st January 2007 60 EUR. A national visa for residence/work permit an long-term stay in Germany over 90 days is 30,- EUR (15,- EUR for minors).

Children under six years of age, school pupils and students and accompanying teachers on study or educational trips, as well as researchers, will be exempted by all Schengen states from the visa fees regardless of their nationality.

Spouses of German citizens and parents of German children, as well as spouses/children of EU- or EEA citizens are free of charge.

The fee has to be paid in equivalent Renminbi Yuan when handing in the application in the Consulate General, according to the relevant exchange rate.

An additional service fee of 190,- RMB has to be paid by every applicant in the Visa Application Centre.

Application forms and information leaflets are free of charge - www.kanton.diplo.de. Every applicant has free access to the Visa Application Centre and the Consulate, there is no need to ask agents to handle visa applications for you.

Do I have to come to the interview in person?

Yes. Every applicant, including elderly people and children have to apply in person.

I have to travel to German several times a year on business purpose. Frequent travellers with record of previous travels might apply for multiple entry visa which are issued with one year validity and allow to stay in Germany/Schengen for max. 90 days within 6 months. Please refer to information on Business Visa.

I will travel to Germany on business purpose and would like to travel as tourist after my business visit. Which visa do I apply for?

Business and tourist purpose can both be considered with your application, however you have to give proof of both.

I travel to Schengen as tourist. Where do I apply for my visa?

Apply at the mission of that State of your main destination, where you will spent most nights, this is not necessarily the country of your first enter.