Visa and Entry Requirements

The minimal requirement for entry into Germany is valid identification (e.g. identification card or passport).

It is very important to check with the German Embassy or Consulate in your home country as to whether you will need a visa during your stay in Germany. More importantly, it is necessary to find out which entry and residence requirements are to be met as well. These requirements also apply for family members who may be accompanying you. Keep in mind that visa requests can take time to process (up to two months). This means you will need to plan accordingly. The more precise and in depth your application is, the better the chances are that the application will be processed quicker.

Information as to visa (non-) requirements can be obtained at the Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt).

Do not apply for a tourist visa! A tourist visa is only valid three months and cannot be extended. The following documents are necessary in order to apply for a visa:

• Valid passport
• Letter of invitation from the supervising institute of higher education
• Proof of financial support (e.g. savings, scholarship letter, etc.)
• Passport photos (with biometrical features)
• Proof of health insurance

As soon as possible, upon arrival in Germany, a residency permit must be applied for at the Immigration Office (Ausländebehörde), and your residency must be established at the Registration Office (Einwohnermeldeamt).

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Who does not need a visa?

Generally, citizens of the EU and citizens from the following countries do not require a visa for entry into Germany:

• Australia
• Honduras
• Iceland
• Israel
• Japan
• Canada
• Liechtenstein
• Switzerland
• United States of America
• San Marino
• Monaco
• Norway
• New Zealand

The entry requirement is a valid passport. Usually, the passport has to be valid for the entirety of your stay in Germany. If your residency in Germany should extend beyond the three month visa waiver period, then you are required to notify the Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde). In any case, registration with the police via the Registration Office (Einwohnermeldeamt) is an absolute essential.

More Information from the Office of Foreign Relations (Auswärtiges Amt) Addresses of German Foreign Representations Entry Requirements

 

last updated on 19. Januar 2010  E-Mail: Isabelle de PorrasPorras@em.uni-frankfurt.de

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