Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, the Rhine castles and the Christmas markets: Germany draws millions of visitors every year, and for many of them the first step is not booking a flight — it is getting the visa right.
How to get a Germany visa depends on one question first — how long are you staying? A short trip of up to 90 days needs a Schengen visa (Type C). A longer stay needs a national visa (Type D). This guide explains both, step by step, with the documents, fees and waiting times for each, so you can apply with confidence and avoid the mistakes that lead to refusals.
This guide is written for applicants applying from outside Germany and outside the Schengen Area. It is based on the German Federal Foreign Office and the Make it in Germany portal, checked on 6 November 2026. The official sources are linked at the end, because visa fees and rules change and the official pages always win over any guide.
Required Documents — Germany Short Stay Visa Checklist
Gather every item below before you book your appointment. Missing or weak documents are the most common cause of delay and refusal. This checklist is for a short stay (Schengen) visa — a long stay needs a different set of documents, listed in the national visa section further down the page.
| Document | What it must show |
|---|---|
| 1. Valid passport | Issued within the last 10 years, valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure from the Schengen Area, with at least 2 blank pages. Bring your old passports too, with copies of previous visas. |
| 2. Visa application form (VIDEX) | Filled in, printed and signed. One copy. Use the official VIDEX form: hand-written forms are not accepted. |
| 3. Passport photographs | Two recent passport photos, 35 × 45 mm, in colour, with a white background, meeting the Schengen photo rules. |
| 4. Travel medical insurance | At least €30,000 of cover for medical emergencies and repatriation, valid across the whole Schengen Area for your full trip. The policy must state the cover amount and dates. |
| 5. Proof of accommodation | A hotel booking, a rental agreement or an invitation from a host. If you are staying with a host, bring the host's passport or residence permit copy. |
| 6. Proof of travel plans | A flight reservation, rail or ferry ticket, or a clear itinerary. Do not buy a non-refundable ticket before your visa is issued. |
| 7. Proof of funds | Bank statements for the last 3 months showing enough money to cover your trip, plus proof of income or employment. For students, this is a blocked account or a scholarship letter. |
| 8. Employment or study evidence | A letter from your employer stating your role, salary, length of employment and approved leave, or, if you are a student, an enrolment letter and a no-objection certificate. Self-employed applicants bring business registration and tax returns. |
| 9. Purpose-of-visit documents | A letter of invitation, a conference registration or a tour booking — anything that explains why you are going and what you will do there. |
| 10. Visa fee payment receipt | Proof you paid the visa fee when you applied. Keep the receipt and bring it to your appointment. |
At a glance: short stay visa fee €90 for adults, €45 for children aged 6 to 12, free for children under 6 · national visa fee €75 for adults, €37.50 for minors under 18 · Schengen decisions normally within 15 calendar days, extendable to 45 days · a short stay is up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Two Visas, One Country: Short Stay or Long Stay?
Germany is a member of the Schengen Area, so it issues two completely different kinds of visa, and choosing the wrong one is the most common mistake an applicant can make. They are not interchangeable: they have different forms, different fees, different documents and different waiting times.
They also behave differently once you hold them. A Schengen visa issued by Germany lets you travel across the Schengen Area and stay for up to 90 days in any 180 days, while a national visa lets you live in Germany and can lead to a residence permit. The national visa is usually valid for 3 to 6 months at first and allows entry for a long stay. For stays of 90 days or less, you apply for a Schengen visa; for stays of more than 90 days, you apply for a national visa.
Who Needs a Germany Visa, and When to Apply
Whether you need a visa at all depends on your nationality. The German Federal Foreign Office publishes a list of countries whose citizens need a visa to enter Germany, and a list of countries whose citizens do not. If you hold a passport from a country on the visa-required list, you need a visa even for a short visit. If you hold a passport from a visa-free country, you can enter Germany and the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa, as long as your passport is valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure and was issued within the last 10 years.
Even visa-free travel has a new step at the border: since 10 April 2026 the EU's Entry/Exit System has been recording entries and exits at Schengen's external borders, so your passport will be scanned and your entry recorded, and you must still meet the 90/180-day rule.
How to Apply for a Short Stay Visa, Step by Step
Step 1: Check Germany Is Your Main Destination
Germany is the right mission to apply to if it is your main destination — the country where you will spend the most time. If you will spend the same number of days in more than one country, apply to the country where you will enter the Schengen Area first. If you apply to the wrong mission, your application will be refused or sent back.
Step 2: Fill In the VIDEX Form
Germany's short-stay form is called VIDEX. Fill it in online, print it, sign it and bring it to your appointment. The form asks for your personal details, your travel dates and your travel history, and every answer must match your passport and your supporting documents exactly.
Step 3: Buy Your Travel Insurance
Buy travel medical insurance before you apply. It must cover at least €30,000 for medical emergencies and repatriation, be valid across the whole Schengen Area, and cover your full trip. The policy must state the cover amount, the dates and the countries it covers. If it does not, your application will be delayed.
Step 4: Gather Your Documents and Book Your Appointment
Gather every document on the checklist above, then book your appointment at the German mission or through its appointed visa service provider. Book early: appointments fill up weeks ahead, and in busy seasons you may wait a month or more. Take your original documents and one photocopy of each, and be ready to give your fingerprints and a photo at the appointment.
Step 5: Attend Your Appointment and Give Your Biometrics
At the appointment you will hand in your documents, pay the visa fee and give your fingerprints and a photo. Your fingerprints are stored for 59 months, so if you have given them for a Schengen visa in the last 59 months, you may not need to give them again — but the mission will decide. Answer the visa officer's questions honestly and keep your answers short and consistent with your documents.
Step 6: Wait for a Decision
The mission will usually decide within 15 calendar days. That can stretch to 45 days if it needs more documents, if it needs to check with other Schengen countries or if your case is complicated. Do not chase the mission for an update unless the 15 days have passed, and do not book non-refundable travel until your visa is issued.
Step 7: Collect Your Visa and Check It Before You Travel
When your passport is ready, check the visa straight away: your name, your passport number, the dates, the number of entries and the length of stay. If anything is wrong, tell the mission at once. A mistake on the visa can stop you boarding your flight or entering Germany.
How Much Does a Germany Visa Cost?
Germany's visa fees are set by law and are paid when you apply. The table below shows the fees for the two main visa types. Fees are paid in the local currency where you apply, so the amount in your currency will change with the exchange rate. The visa fee is separate from the visa service provider's fee, which is charged on top.
| Cost | Amount (per person) |
|---|---|
| Short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) — adults | €90 |
| Short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) — children aged 6 to 12 | €45 |
| Short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) — children under 6 | Free |
| Long-stay national visa (Type D) — adults | €75 |
| Long-stay national visa (Type D) — minors under 18 | €37.50 |
| Student visa (national visa) | €75 |
| Work visa (national visa) | €75 |
| Family reunion visa (national visa) | €75 |
| Visa service provider fee (where one is used) | Around €29, on top of the visa fee |
If your application is refused, the visa fee is not refunded, and the service provider's fee is not refunded either.
Proof of Funds and Accommodation
Proof of funds is one of the most common reasons for a refusal, so get it right. For a short stay, the mission wants to see that you can pay for your trip — your travel, your accommodation and your daily costs — without working in Germany.
For a short stay, bring bank statements for the last 3 months, plus proof of income or employment. The statements must be in your name, show a steady balance and match the trip you have planned. If someone else is paying for your trip, bring a sponsorship letter and that person's bank statements and proof of income.
For a long stay, the rules are stricter. Students must show a blocked account (Sperrkonto) with €11,904 for a year of study, which is €992 per month, or a scholarship that covers the same amount. Workers must show a work contract and a salary that meets the visa rules. Family members must show that the person in Germany can support them.
Accommodation: a hotel booking is enough for a short stay, but for a long stay you will need a rental agreement or a letter from your host. If you are staying with a host in Germany, the host can provide a formal declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) from the local foreigners' office (Ausländerbehörde).
How Long Can You Stay? Short-Stay and Long-Stay Rules
A short-stay Schengen visa lets you stay in Germany and the rest of the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The 180 days is a rolling window: on any day, count back 180 days and add up all your Schengen days in that window. If the total is more than 90, you have overstayed.
A long-stay national visa is different. It is usually valid for 3 to 6 months at first and allows entry for a long stay. Once you arrive in Germany, you must apply for a residence permit before the visa expires. The residence permit, not the visa, is what lets you live in Germany for the long term.
Long-Stay Visas: Work, Study and Family Reunion
Germany has separate long-stay routes for work, study and family reunion, and each one asks for different documents. The sections below give an overview of each route — the exact documents and fees are set by the German mission that covers the country where you live, so check its website before you apply.
Work in Germany — the EU Blue Card and the Skilled Worker Visa
Germany has two main work routes. The EU Blue Card is for highly qualified workers with a university degree and a job offer paying at least €50,700 a year in 2026, or €45,934.20 a year for shortage occupations such as IT, engineering and healthcare. The Skilled Worker Visa is for workers with a recognised qualification and a job offer in Germany. Both routes lead to a residence permit, and after a few years you can apply for permanent residence. If you do not have a job offer yet, the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) lets you come to Germany for up to a year to look for work, if you meet the points and funds requirements.
Study in Germany — the Student Visa
To study in Germany for more than 90 days you need a student visa, a place at a German university or language school, and proof of funds — usually a blocked account with €11,904 for a year, or €992 per month, or a scholarship. You apply before you travel, and once you arrive you register and apply for a residence permit for study. Students can work part-time, but the hours are limited and the rules are strict.
Joining Family in Germany — the Family Reunion Visa
If your spouse, parent or child lives in Germany, you can apply for a family reunion visa to join them. You will need proof of the family relationship, proof that the person in Germany has a residence permit and enough income and housing, and, for a spouse, basic German (A1 level) unless an exemption applies. Children under 16 do not need to show German, and the rules for parents joining adult children are stricter.
What Documents Does a National Visa Need?
A national visa needs a different set of documents from a short stay. The table below is a general checklist — the German mission that covers the country where you live will have its own list, so use its checklist as well.
| Document | What it must show |
|---|---|
| 1. Valid passport | Issued within the last 10 years, valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure, with at least 2 blank pages. |
| 2. Application form | The national visa application form, filled in, printed and signed. There are two copies for a long stay. |
| 3. Passport photographs | Two recent passport photos, 35 × 45 mm, in colour, with a white background. |
| 4. Travel medical insurance | At least €30,000 of cover, valid for your first days in Germany, until your German health insurance starts. |
| 5. Proof of funds | A blocked account, a scholarship letter or a work contract, depending on the visa type. |
| 6. Proof of purpose | A university admission letter, a work contract, a job offer or a marriage certificate, depending on the visa type. |
| 7. Proof of accommodation | A rental agreement, a hotel booking for your first days or a letter from your host. |
| 8. German language certificate | If your visa type needs it — A1 for a spouse, B1 or B2 for some work visas — bring the certificate from a recognised provider such as the Goethe-Institut. |
After You Arrive: Registration and Residence Permit
Once you arrive in Germany on a national visa, you must register your address (Anmeldung) at the local registration office within 14 days, and apply for a residence permit at the local foreigners' office (Ausländerbehörde) before your visa expires. Bring your passport, your rental agreement, your health insurance and your visa. The residence permit is usually issued as a card, and it is what lets you stay in Germany for the long term.
Common Reasons Germany Visa Applications Are Refused
Germany refuses visas for a small number of reasons, and most of them are avoidable. The most common are:
- Weak or missing proof of funds — the mission is not convinced you can pay for your trip or your stay.
- Unclear purpose of travel — the mission does not believe the reason you gave for going, or your documents do not match it.
- No travel insurance, or insurance that does not cover €30,000, the whole Schengen Area or your full trip.
- A passport that is too old, expires too soon or has no blank pages.
- A previous overstay, a previous refusal or false information in an earlier application.
- Applying to the wrong mission, or applying too late for your travel date.
A refusal is not the end of the road. You can appeal, or you can reapply with stronger documents. Read the refusal letter carefully: it tells you the reason, and that is the point you need to fix. If you reapply with the same documents, you will get the same answer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting a Germany Visa
Do I need a visa for Germany?
It depends on your nationality. Citizens of many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea, can enter Germany and the Schengen Area without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Citizens of other countries need a visa even for a short visit. Check the Federal Foreign Office list for your country before you book.
How long does a Germany visa take?
A short-stay Schengen visa normally takes 15 calendar days from your appointment, but it can take up to 45 days if the mission needs more documents or needs to check with other Schengen countries. A national visa takes longer — usually 6 to 12 weeks, and sometimes more. Apply as early as you can: six months before travel for a Schengen visa, and at least three months before travel for a national visa.
Can I work in Germany on a short-stay visa?
No. A short-stay Schengen visa is for tourism, business visits, family visits and short courses. It does not let you work in Germany. If you want to work, you need a work visa or an EU Blue Card, and you must apply before you travel.
How much money do I need to show for a Germany visa?
For a short stay, there is no fixed daily amount in the rules, but the mission wants to see enough to cover your travel, accommodation and daily costs. Bring bank statements for the last 3 months, and make sure the balance matches your trip. For a long stay as a student, you must show a blocked account with €11,904 for a year, or €992 per month.
Can I visit other Schengen countries on a Germany visa?
Yes, if you hold a Schengen visa issued by Germany. It lets you travel across the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, as long as Germany is your main destination. A national visa also lets you travel in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180 days, in addition to your stay in Germany.
Sources and Disclaimer
Sources (checked 6 November 2026)
- German Federal Foreign Office — Visas for Germany (Schengen fee €90, national visa fee €75, 15 calendar days as a rule for Schengen decisions, apply six months to 15 days before travel, Consular Services Portal for long-stay visas, Schengen applications not yet accepted online)
- Make it in Germany portal (EU Blue Card thresholds €50,700 / €45,934.20 for 2026, blocked account €11,904 / €992 per month, Opportunity Card)
- European Commission — Applying for a Schengen visa (90 days in any 180-day period, main destination rule, €30,000 insurance minimum, 15 days extendable to 45 days)
Visa fees and rules change — always re-check the Federal Foreign Office page and your responsible German mission's website before you apply or pay.
This article is general information, not legal advice. If your case is complicated — a previous refusal, a long stay, work, study or family reunion — get advice from the German mission or a qualified immigration adviser before you apply.