Practical Information
Visa Information
According to information provided by the German Department for Foreign Affairs visa requirements for foreigners visiting Germany are as follows:
EU nationals
EU nationals do not require a visa to enter the Federal Republic of Germany.
Non-EU nationals
Generally speaking, all other foreigners require a visa for stays in Germany. A visa is not required for semi-annual visits of up to 90 days for nationals of those countries for which the European Community has abolished the visa requirement.
You will find an overview on visa requirements here.
Bodies responsible for issuing visas
Under German law (section 71 (2) of the Residence Act), responsibility for issuing visas lies with the missions of the Federal Republic of Germany, i.e. its embassies and consulates-general. In principle, the Federal Foreign Office is not involved in decisions on individual visa applications, nor does it have any knowledge of the status of individual applications being processed by the missions.
Ratione loci competence (local responsibility) for issuing the visa lies with the mission responsible for the area in which the applicant has his/her ordinary residence or domicile.
Ratione materiae competence (subject-matter responsibility) lies with the mission of the Schengen state in whose territory the sole or main destination is situated.
Visa fees
Since 14 May 2008, the fee for all types of visas has been EUR 60.
Exemptions may be possible. Please refer to the fees page for information.
Time required to process a visa application
As a rule, missions require between two and ten working days to decide on an application for a short stay visa. Applications for visas entitling the holder to a longer stay or to take up gainful employment may take several months to process.
During the peak travel season there may be a waiting period for making an application to a German mission. Persons requiring a visa to enter Germany should therefore submit their appli¬cations in good time.
Additional information can be found here at the German Department for Foreign Affairs.
