Travelling to Germany

Germany Visa: Requirements, Types, Fees & How to Apply

Start your application

It depends on your passport. Most non-EU nationals need a short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) to visit Germany for tourism, business, or family visits. A visa-free stay is usually limited to 90 days in any 180-day period for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens. A visa does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.

Germany visa at a glance

Government fee
EUR 90 adult / EUR 45 child 6-12 — passed through at cost, no markup
Official processing
15 calendar days (legal decision period up to 45 calendar days)
Validity / stay
Single or multiple entry · up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Visa types
3

Do you need a visa for Germany?

Some nationalities can enter Germany visa-free for short stays under a bilateral agreement or visa-exemption list. Check the Germany visa authority or Federal Foreign Office visa-exemption list for your nationality before traveling. If your nationality is not visa-exempt, you need a visa.

Germany visa types

Schengen visa (Type C)
Tourism, business, family visits — Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Multiple-entry Schengen visa
Several short visits within validity — Varies by nationality
Long-stay visa
Study, work, family reunification — Over 90 days

Who is eligible

Eligibility for a Germany visa depends on your nationality. Filipino and Indian passport holders both require a Schengen visa (Type C) for short stays. Other visa-required nationalities follow the same Schengen rules, but document checklists and application centers can vary by country of residence.

If Germany is not your main Schengen destination, apply through the consulate of the main Schengen country you'll visit longest.

What you need

Documents required for a Germany visa

What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.

  • Valid passportSchengen visa (Type C) — tourist/business · 6+ months validity after departure, 2+ blank pages.
  • Schengen visa application formSchengen visa (Type C) — tourist/business · completed and signed.
  • Passport photoSchengen visa (Type C) — tourist/business · 35x45 mm, white background.
  • Travel medical insuranceSchengen visa (Type C) — tourist/business · minimum EUR 30,000 coverage.
  • Bank statementsSchengen visa (Type C) — tourist/business · 3-6 months.
  • Flight reservationSchengen visa (Type C) — tourist/business · return flight; do not purchase non-refundable tickets before approval.
  • Hotel bookingSchengen visa (Type C) — tourist/business · confirmed accommodation.
  • Cover letterSchengen visa (Type C) — tourist/business · explaining trip purpose and itinerary.
  • Employment letterSchengen visa (Type C) — tourist/business · proving job and income.
  • Income tax returnsSchengen visa (Type C) — tourist/business · 3 years, where applicable.
  • Valid passportLong-stay visa · 6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages.
  • Long-stay visa application formLong-stay visa · completed and signed.
  • Passport photoLong-stay visa · 35x45 mm, white background.
  • Proof of accommodation in GermanyLong-stay visa · Proof of accommodation in Germany.
  • Proof of financial meansLong-stay visa · sufficient for the stay.
  • Employment contract or enrollment letter (where applicable)Long-stay visa · Employment contract or enrollment letter (where applicable).
  • Medical insuranceLong-stay visa · where required by the visa category.
  • Valid passportTransit visa · 6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages.
  • Transit visa application formTransit visa · Transit visa application form.
  • Confirmed onward ticket to a third countryTransit visa · Confirmed onward ticket to a third country.
  • Visa for the final destination (where required)Transit visa · Visa for the final destination (where required).
  • Proof of sufficient funds for the transit periodTransit visa · Proof of sufficient funds for the transit period.

Germany visa fees and processing time

Government fee
EUR 90 adult / EUR 45 child 6-12 — passed through at cost, no markup
Expedify processing fee
Shown before you start
Validity / stay
Single or multiple entry · up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Official processing
15 calendar days (legal decision period up to 45 calendar days)

Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.

How it works

How to apply for a Germany visa

The official route, step by step.

  1. Confirm you need a visa

    Check the Germany visa-exemption list for your nationality. If you're exempt, you don't need this process.

  2. Confirm Germany is your main Schengen destination

    If Germany is not your main destination, apply through the consulate of the main Schengen country you'll visit longest.

  3. Get the current form and checklist from the Embassy of Germany or VFS Global for your country. Requirements differ by country

    use their list, not a generic one.

  4. Gather your documents

    see the checklist in Required documents for a Germany visa above (passport, form, photo, insurance, itinerary, accommodation, proof of funds).

  5. Book an appointment at VFS Global or the German consulate for your area

    Book an appointment at VFS Global or the German consulate for your area.

  6. Submit your application

    in person at the consulate or VFS Global center. Pay the government visa fee.

  7. Wait for processing

    the official ETA is 15 calendar days (up to 45). Apply at least 4–6 weeks before travel. Don't book non-refundable flights until approved.

  8. Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued

    Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued.

Start your application
Two ways to do this

Applying yourself vs. with Expedify

The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.

Research

Apply yourself
Check Germany's requirements yourself
With Expedify
We confirm what you need for your route

Document check

Apply yourself
Common errors cause refusals
With Expedify
Pre-reviewed before submission

Appointments

Apply yourself
You book and attend yourself
With Expedify
We prepare your application and guide you

Status tracking

Apply yourself
You check the embassy portal
With Expedify
We track and notify you at every step

Government fee

Apply yourself
Same
With Expedify
Same — passed through at cost, no markup

At the border: what to expect

A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into Germany is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.

Entry requirements

  • Valid passport with your Schengen visa or exemption stamp.
  • Return or onward travel ticket.
  • Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
  • Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
  • Travel medical insurance (minimum EUR 30,000 coverage).

Conditions of stay

  • Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than your visa's maximum.
  • A tourist visa is not a work permit — no employment.
  • No full-time study on a tourist visa.
  • You should enter through Germany or spend the majority of your stay there if holding a Germany-issued Schengen visa.
  • Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Before you apply

Common reasons a Germany visa is refused

Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.

  • Incomplete or inconsistent documentation

    see the checklist and methodology notes for your nationality.

  • Insufficient financial means

    see the checklist and methodology notes for your nationality.

  • Unclear travel purpose

    see the checklist and methodology notes for your nationality.

  • Weak ties to home country

    see the checklist and methodology notes for your nationality.

  • Missing biometrics or appointment confirmation

    see the checklist and methodology notes for your nationality.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Germany visa questions, answered.

Keep exploring

More for your Germany trip

How we reviewed this page

Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review

About this service

Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.