Good to know
- Do you need a visa for Germany depends on your nationality, the purpose of your trip, and the length of your stay in Germany
Who Needs a Visa for Germany
The visa requirements for Germany vary depending on the traveler’s nationality, the purpose of their trip, and the duration of their stay.
Citizens of many countries must obtain a visa before traveling to Germany. It’s necessary to check the specific visa requirements for your nationality and the purpose of travel.
The three options for visas are:
- Visa for Germany is Required for All Types of Visits
- Visa is Required Except for Entry Into Germany
- Without Any Visa Requirements for Germany
1. Visa for Germany is Required for All Types of Visits
Here you will find countries whose citizens need a visa for all types of visits.
For citizens of listed countries, a visa for Germany is required for all types of visits, including tourism, business, study, and work.
| Country | Original name | Remark |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | افغانستان | – |
| Algeria | الجزائر | – |
| Angola | Angola | – |
| Armenia | Հայաստան | – |
| Azerbaijan | Azərbaycan | – |
| Bahrain | البحرين | – |
| Bangladesh | বাংলাদেশ | – |
| Belarus | Беларусь | – |
| Belize | Belize | – |
| Benin | Bénin | – |
| Bhutan | འབྲུག་ཡུལ་ | – |
| Bolivia | Bolivia | – |
| Botswana | Botswana | – |
| Burkina Faso | Burkina Faso | – |
| Burundi | Burundi | – |
| Cambodia | កម្ពុជា (Kampuchea) | – |
| Cameroon | Cameroun | – |
| Cape Verde | Cabo Verde | – |
| Central African Republic | République centrafricaine | – |
| Chad | تشاد (Tshād) | – |
| China (VR) | 中国 | 1 |
| Comoros | جزر القمر (Juzur al-Qamar) | – |
| Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo) | République démocratique du Congo | – |
| Congo (Republic of the Congo) | République du Congo | – |
| Cuba | Cuba | – |
| Djibouti | جيبوتي (Jībūtī) | – |
| Dominican Republic | República Dominicana | – |
| Ecuador | Ecuador | – |
| Egypt | مصر (Mişr) | – |
| Eritrea | إرتريا (Iritriyā) | – |
| Eswatini (ex Swaziland) | Eswatini | – |
| Ethiopia | ኢትዮጵያ | – |
| Fiji | Viti | – |
| Gabon | Gabon | – |
| Gambia | Gambia | – |
| Ghana | Ghana | – |
| Guinea | Guinée | – |
| Guinea-Bissau | Guiné-Bissau | – |
| Guyana | Guyana | – |
| Haiti | Haïti | – |
| India | भारत (Bhārat) | – |
| Indonesia | Indonesia | – |
| Iran | ایران (Īrān) | – |
| Iraq | العراق (Al-‘Irāq) | – |
| Ivory Coast | Côte d’Ivoire | – |
| Jamaica | Jamaica | – |
| Jordan | الأردن (al-‘Urdunn) | – |
| Kazakhstan | Қазақстан (Qazaqstan) | – |
| Kenya | Kenya | – |
| Kosovo | Kosova/Kosovë | – |
| Kuwait | الكويت (al-Kuwayt) | – |
| Kyrgyzstan | Кыргызстан (Kyrgyzstan) | – |
| Laos | ປະເທດລາວ (Pathet Lao) | – |
| Lebanon | لبنان (Lubnān) | – |
| Lesotho | Lesotho | – |
| Liberia | Liberia | – |
| Libya | ليبيا (Lībiyā) | – |
| Madagascar | Madagasikara | – |
| Malawi | Malawi | – |
| Maldives | ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ (Dhivehi Raajje) | – |
| Mali | Mali | – |
| Mauritania | موريتانيا (Mūrītānyā) | – |
| Mongolia | Монгол улс (Mongol Uls) | – |
| Morocco | المغرب (al-Maghrib) | – |
| Mozambique | Moçambique | – |
| Myanmar (Burma) | မြန်မာ (Myanma) | – |
| Namibia | Namibia | – |
| Nauru | Nauru | – |
| Nepal | नेपाल | – |
| Niger | Nijar | – |
| Nigeria | Nigeria | – |
| North Korea | 조선민주주의인민공화국 | – |
| Oman | عمان | – |
| Pakistan | پاکستان | – |
| Palestinian territories | فلسطين | – |
| Papua New Guinea | Papua Niugini | – |
| Philippines | Pilipinas | – |
| Qatar | قطر (Qaṭar) | – |
| Russian Federation | Российская Федерация | – |
| Rwanda | Rwanda | – |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | São Tomé e Príncipe | – |
| Saudi Arabia | العربية السعودية | – |
| Senegal | Sénégal | – |
| Sierra Leone | Sierra Leone | – |
| Somalia | Soomaaliya | – |
| South Africa | South Africa | – |
| South Sudan | South Sudan | – |
| Sri Lanka | ශ්රී ලංකාව | – |
| Sudan | السودان | – |
| Surinam | Suriname | – |
| Syria | سوريا | – |
| Tajikistan | Тоҷикистон | – |
| Tanzania | Tanzania | – |
| Thailand | ประเทศไทย (Prathet Thai) | – |
| Togo | Togo | – |
| Tunisia | تونس (Tūnis) | – |
| Turkmenistan | Türkmenistan | – |
| Türkiye (ex Turkey) | Türkiye | – |
| Uganda | Uganda | – |
| Uzbekistan | Oʻzbekiston | – |
| Vanuatu | Vanuatu | 2 |
| Vietnam | Việt Nam | – |
| Yemen | اليَمَن (al-Yaman) | – |
| Zambia | Zambia | – |
| Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe | – |
1) Holders of SAR passports (passports of the Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions) are exempt from the visa requirement. Generally, they are not allowed to stay in Germany for more than 90 days per half year without a visa. In addition, they may not take up gainful employment during this period.
2) For holders of a passport issued from 25.05.2015.
2. Visa is Required Except for Entry Into Germany
Citizens of some countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand, can enter Germany as tourists or for business objectives for up to 90 days without a visa.
Citizens of the countries on this list do not need a visa when coming to Germany as visitors, but they do need one for everything else.
| Country | Original name | Remark |
|---|---|---|
| Albania | Shqipëria | 1, 4 |
| Andorra | Andorra | 1, 3 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Antigua and Barbuda | 1 |
| Argentina | Argentina | 1 |
| Australia (as well Cocos Islands, Norfolk Island, Christmas Island) | Australia | 1, 2 |
| Bahamas | The Bahamas | 1 |
| Barbados | Barbados | 1 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Bosna i Hercegovina | 1, 4 |
| Brazil | Brasil | 1, 3 |
| Brunei Darussalam | بروني دارالسلام (Burunī Dārussalām) | 1 |
| Chile | Chile | 1 |
| Costa Rica | Costa Rica | 1 |
| Dominica | Dominique | 1 |
| El Salvador | República de El Salvador | 1, 3 |
| Georgia | საქართველო | 1, 4 |
| Grenada | Grenada | 1 |
| Guatemala | Kʼicheʼ Kaqchikel / Guatemalajya | 1 |
| Honduras | Honduras | 1, 3 |
| Hong Kong | 香港 (Xiānggǎng) | 1, 5 |
| Israel | ישראל (Yisra’el) | 1, 2 |
| Japan | 日本 (Nippon) | 1, 2 |
| Canada | Canada | 1, 2 |
| Kiribati | Kiribati | 1 |
| Colombia | Colombia | 1 |
| South Korea | 대한민국 (Daehan Minguk) | 1, 2 |
| Macau | Macau | 1, 5 |
| Malaysia | مليسيا | 1 |
| Marshall Islands | Aorōkin M̧ajeļ | 1 |
| Mauritius | English: Mauritius French: Maurice Creole: Moris Hindi: मॉरीशस (Mauritius) Urdu: موریشس (Mauritius) Chinese: 毛里求斯 (Máolǐqiúsī) Tamil: மொரிசியஸ் (Morisiyas) Arabic: موريشيوس (Muryishyus) | 1 |
| Mexico | México | 1 |
| Micronesia | Micronesia | 1 |
| Moldova | Република Молдовеняскэ (Republica Moldovenească) | 1, 4 |
| Monaco | Principauté de Monaco | 1, 3 |
| Montenegro | Crna Gora | 1, 4 |
| New Zealand (including Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau) | New Zealand | 1, 2 |
| Nicaragua | República de Nicaragua | 1 |
| North Macedonia | Северна Македонија (Severna Makedonija) | 1, 4 |
| Palau | Belau | 1 |
| Panama | Panamá | 1 |
| Paraguay | Tetã Paraguái / Paraguái | 1 |
| Peru | Perú | 1 |
| Solomon Islands | Solomon Islands | 1 |
| Samoa | Samoa | 1 |
| San Marino | San Marino | 1, 3 |
| Serbia | Србија | 1, 7 |
| Seychelles | Sesel / République des Seychelles | 1 |
| Singapore | سيڠاڤورا | 1 |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | St. Kitts and Nevis | 1 |
| Saint Lucia | Saint Lucia | 1 |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 1 |
| Taiwan | Taiwan 台灣 | 1, 8 |
| Timor-Leste (East Timor) | Timór Lorosa’e (Tetum) | 1 |
| Tonga | Tonga | 1 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Trinidad and Tobago | 1 |
| Tuvalu | Tuvalu | 1 |
| Ukraine | Україна (Ukrayina) | 1, 4 |
| Uruguay | Tetã Paraguái Tava Mirî / Uruguay | 1 |
| Vatican City | Città del Vaticano | 1 |
| Venezuela | República Bolivariana de Venezuela | 1 |
| United Arab Emirates | الإمارات العربية المتحدة | 1 |
| United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 1, 2, 6 |
| United States of America (including US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico) | United States of America | 1, 2 |
1) Holders of national passports from countries that do not require a visa to enter Germany may not stay in Germany without a visa for more than 90 days per period of 180 days. In addition, they may not take up gainful employment during this period. Important: Germany has concluded bilateral agreements on visa-free travel with certain states, which under certain circumstances, allow a longer stay in Germany beyond 90 days per period of 180 days.
2) Residence titles (even for stays over 90 days) can be applied after visa-free entry.
3) Residence titles (even for stays over 90 days) can be applied after visa-free entry if no gainful employment is taken up.
4) The visa waiver applies only to holders of biometric passports.
5) Holders of SAR passports (passports of the Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions) are exempt from the visa requirement. Generally, they are not allowed to stay in Germany for more than 90 days per half year without a visa. In addition, they may not take up gainful employment during this period.
6) Citizens of the British Overseas Territories / British Nationals Overseas are also exempt from the visa requirement.
7) The visa exemption applies only to holders of biometric passports, unless issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate (Serbian: Koordinaciona uprava).
8) The visa exemption applies only to holders of passports issued by Taiwan, which contain an identity card number.
3. Without Any Visa Requirements for Germany
Citizens of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) do not need a visa to enter Germany, stay in Germany, or work in Germany.
Citizens of the countries on this list do not need a visa for Germany at all.
| Country | Original name |
|---|---|
| Belgium | Belgique/België |
| Bulgaria | България |
| Denmark | Danmark |
| Estonia | Eesti |
| Finland | Suomi |
| France (including French Guiana, French Polynesia, Guadeloupe, Martinique, New Caledonia, Reunion, Saint Pierre and Miquelon) | France |
| Greece | Ελλάδα (Elláda) |
| Ireland | Éire |
| Iceland | Ísland |
| Italy | Italia |
| Croatia | Hrvatska |
| Latvia | Латвия / Latvija |
| Liechtenstein | Liechtenstein |
| Lithuania | Lietuvos Respublika |
| Luxembourg | Groussherzogtum Lëtzebuerg |
| Malta | Malta |
| Netherlands | Nederland |
| Norway | Norge |
| Austria | Österreich |
| Poland | Polska |
| Portugal | Portugal |
| Romania | România |
| Sweden | Sverige |
| Switzerland | Schweiz |
| Slovak Republic | Slovenská republika |
| Slovenia | Slovenija |
| Spain (including Spanish territories in North Africa with Ceuta and Melilla) | España |
| Czech Republic | Česká republika |
| Hungary | Magyarország |
| Cyprus | Κύπρος (Kýpros) |
German Diplomatic Mission in Your Country
On the web page of the German Federal Foreign Office, you can find the address and other information of the German Diplomatic Mission in your country (as of 1 May 2023).
Must-Read Info
Read the articles Learning German, Register Your Address and Health Insurance (Krankenversicherung) in Germany because you will need it soon after moving to Germany.
