How to Get Your Visa for Germany

If you’re interested in moving to Germany, there is likely going to be one very large factor standing in the way of that… your visa. You might also be asking yourself… 

✅ Do I need a visa for Germany?
✅ What types of visas can I consider?
✅ How can I apply for a visa?
✅ How long does it take to get a visa?
✅ Is one visa better than another?
✅ How long is a visa valid? 

There are so many questions regarding visa requirements, and while the laws and costs are ever-changing, you’ll find a basic overview of the options you have to get started here in Germany below. 

DO YOU NEED A VISA WHEN COMING TO GERMANY? 

If you are a citizen of the European Union, the EEA (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein), or Switzerland you do not require a visa to live or work in Germany. Even better news, your driver’s license will also be valid here in Germany. 

If you are a citizen of countries like Canada, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, or one of the other 62 countries on the immigration office list, you have a maximum of 3 months to stay (within 180 days) in Germany visa-free. However, you will likely need to fill out a visa waiver form from The European Travel Information and Authorization System (you might know this as ETIAS). This is simply a pre-screening process for visitors who are exempt from the standard visa requirements.

TOO MUCH TO HANDLE? If you’re already reading this and stressing out, I’d recommend checking out an online visa service like iVisa (featured on BBC) – here they’ll do all the paperwork for you. Prices often vary depending on the company you go with, but I do know that iVisa offers some of the best prices.

Many of the citizens from the above-mentioned countries choose to use these 3 months to move to Germany and apply for their visa and residence permit while on location. If this is something you are interested in doing, you’ll find more information in our Welcome Program.

If you are not a citizen of one of the above-mentioned countries on the list, then chances are you are going to need to apply for a short-term visa before you arrive in Germany. To do that, you will need to visit the German Embassy or Consulate nearest to you, in your home country to start the paperwork process. Alternatively, as mentioned you can use an online visa service if you’d like the take the work off your shoulders. 

You can find a full list of embassies and consulates around the world here: https://www.embassy-worldwide.com/country/germany/

There are several different short-term visas you can consider. The most popular option is the tourist/visitors visa, but there are other reasons one may like to come to Germany for up to 90 days: 

• Business  
• Trade fair 
• Event Purposes (sports, filming, etc.)
• Recognition of professional qualifications 
• Internship
• Short-term German course 
• Transit
• Spouse/Relative visit

The above-mentioned visas are all valid for a short-term stay. If you need a long-term visa, keep on reading! 

WHAT TYPES OF VISAS CAN YOU CONSIDER? 

In addition to the short-term visa that some foreign nationals require to enter the country, every citizen located outside of the EU, EEA, and Switzerland will require a long-term visa to stay and work in Germany. There are several visas you can choose from. Simply read the description of each one below, and decide which visa may suit your current situation best. 

If you would like to learn more about which visa may be best for you, join us over in the Welcome Program. 

Employment Visa 

A popular long-term visa for foreign nationals is the employment visa. The employment visa will be exactly what you need if you’ve already landed a job here in Germany and have the job offer to prove it. These are typically positions that require highly qualified employees to fill. Additionally, there are other types of related employment visas like the work and travel visa and au pair visa which one may or may not also qualify for. 

Freelance Visa 

If you plan on starting your own business in Germany, then a freelance visa might be your best option. While it is a great option, this visa is often only valid for a maximum of 3 months. An extension is possible, but you will then be required to apply for your residence permit. If you would like to extend your permit, you will need to prove success in your freelance business, enough so that you can support yourself and your dependents on the income generated.

German Language Course Visa 

Learning the German language can often be one of the best ways to obtain a visa into the country. If you intend on taking an intensive German language course, you may have the opportunity to obtain a visa for up to 12 months. Your visa will be granted for the duration of the program and no longer. 

Student Visa 

If you have already received acceptance into a German school (this may be a university, internship, doctorate, etc.) or are expecting to receive a response/acceptance letter, then the student visa is going to be the visa you will need to apply for. 

Job Seeker Visa 

While the job seeker visa is considered to be a long-term visa, you are capped at a limit of 6 months. This means you have 6 months to find and secure a job before your visa runs out. Once you have secured a job, you will then apply for a long-term work visa.

NOTE: Not everyone is eligible for this visa. You need to have a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a recognized German university (or a foreign degree that Germany recognizes) and you will need to have a minimum of 5 years of working experience in a related field. 

NEW: Chancenkarte/Opportunity Card

As of June 2024, Germany has launched the new Chancenkarte (in English, Opportunity Card) and it’s expected to make some huge changes for Germany and for non-EU citizens wanting to move to Germany.

For more information about the Chancenkarte, continue reading here.

Reunification Visa

If you have family living in Germany and intend on being “reunified” whether temporarily or permanently, you have the option to apply for a family reunification visa. You will need to prove that your family member living in Germany can financially support you for the time you remain in Germany. However, not everyone may qualify for this visa. If you are a spouse of a German resident, a child of a German resident (who is still under the supervision of a parental guardian), or a parent of a German resident who either needs to take care of their child or needs their child to care for them, these are all considered in the reunification visa. Other family members may also be able to apply for the reunification visa, but it can often be much more difficult to obtain unless there is proof of preventing some sort of hardship.

Visiting Scholar Visa 

If you are a scientist or researcher who already has a partnership with a German institution where you will be conducting your research, the visiting scholar visa will be the visa you need. This visa is very particular in regards to what you’re researching, the institution you’re working with, etc. It is best to contact the closest German embassy/consulate to you for more information.

Medical Visa  

If you would like to come to Germany to find and/or receive medical assistance, you would need to apply for a medical treatment visa. 

Once you have decided which visa best suits your current situation, it is best to contact the closest embassy/consulate to you to get the appropriate forms.

NOTE: If you intend to stay longer than 90 days within a 180-day period, then in addition to one of the above visas, you will also be required to obtain a residence permit in Germany shortly after your arrival. 

HOW DO YOU APPLY FOR A VISA? 

Once you’ve figured out which visa you’d like to apply for, it is simply a matter of filling out all of the paperwork that the consulate or embassy has provided to you for that particular visa (or which you have downloaded online from the appropriate embassy websites) and submitting these documents in their original version back to the consulate/embassy. Or, contact an online visa service center which will do the bulk of the work for you.

You will more than likely be required to provide 2 sets of original documents and will need to submit these documents in person (make sure you book an appointment ahead of time).

There are also a few things you’ll have to prove to successfully obtain a visa: 

• You’ll need to have a clear purpose for obtaining the visa 
• You’ll need to have enough funds in the bank to finance yourself in Germany 
• You’ll need a letter of invitation from a German source (friend, family, language school, employment, university, etc.)
• You’ll need a clean record
• You’ll need proof of accommodations (hotel, Airbnb, family, friends, rental, etc.)
• And visa-approved travel health insurance   

And a few things that you’ll need to provide: 

• A completed application form (you may require 2 sets) 
• A valid passport 
• 2 valid passport-size photographs (you can do this online now)

NOTE: Requirements change based on where you are coming from and what type of visa you require. For a full list, make sure you contact the appropriate consulate or embassy. 

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET A VISA? 

The answer to that question is going to entirely rely on what type of visa you have and whether or not you provide all the correct documentation upfront. Other factors may also come into play as we’ve noticed during the pandemic (where visa processing comes to a complete halt) or simply when there is an influx in visa applications being submitted. 

Typically, if you have a work contract in Germany, the visa process should go quite quickly. However, standard times are usually up to 3 months.