This website uses cookies and asks your personal data to enhance your browsing experience.

Our Articles

Types of Visas in Germany

Types of Visas in Germany


Germany issues visas for short-term stays or for long-term stays. It must be noted that certain nationalities will need to apply for a visa when arriving in Germany regardless of the period of their stay. Visas in Germany also vary based on the scope for which they are issued (work, travel, transit visa, business and so on).

Our immigration lawyers in Germany can present the categories of visas a person can obtain in this country and can also offer in-depth information on the formalities that have to be met based on the nationality of the applicant. Foreigners can also rely on our lawyer for advice on the types of documents that have to be prepared when applying for a German visa.

Who needs a visa in Germany?

The Germany migration rules vary greatly based on the nationality of an applicant. Thus, when referring to citizens of the European Union (EU), the requirement for having a visa is not applicable, given that Germany is a member state of the EU. The same rule applies to the citizens of Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Liechtenstein and this regulation is in force regardless of the duration of the stay in this country.

Other nationalities outside the ones mentioned above will generally have to apply for a visa designed for their specific situation. Foreigners have to be aware that the visa application process must contain a very clear reason, from ones prescribed by the Federal Foreign Office. However, the legislation in Germany stipulates that there are several nationalities from third countries that do not need to apply for a visa.

Our immigration lawyer in Germany can provide an extensive presentation with regard to all the nationalities that are exempted from this rule. For example, when referring to long-term stay visas, the visa exemption is available for citizens of countries such as the United States of America, Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, and others. There are exemptions on the issuance of the visa for short-term stays as well.

We are at your service if you are interested to move to Germany from Canada.

What are the main categories of visas in Germany?

Germany provides a wide category of visas. When referring to the duration of the visa, a short-term visa available for foreigners is the Schengen visa. This document allows a foreigner the opportunity to arrive in Germany for up to 90 days in a period of 180 days and to travel within the Schengen zone.

This document can be requested for legal grounds such as holiday, business trips or visiting relatives living in Germany. The Schengen visa is issued as a single-entry visa, a double-entry visa or for multiple entries within the given period of time.

Certain nationalities must obtain an airport transit visa. This type of document allows the citizens of countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and others to transit a German airport when traveling to a destination outside the Schengen area. This type of visa does not provide the right to exit the airport, visit the country or moving to Germany.

Those interested in Germany immigration can, however, apply for a national visa, which is issued only for long-term stays. Considering that this is a visa specially designed for long-term stays in this country, the holder of the visa should also complete the necessary formalities related to the issuance of a residence permit. The national visa can be obtained for a wide range of reasons, such as:

• family reunification purposes – joining a spouse, partner or a family member that lives in Germany;
• employment purposes – obtain a job offer in Germany or work in this country as a freelancer;
• studies purposes – enroll as a student in one of the German universities or other higher education institutions available here;
• participate in research or academic projects or participating in training projects;
• business purposes – starting a business in Germany as a foreign investor under the German investment visa;
• working as au pair or seeking refuge or asylum.

German visa fees and processing time

The fees required to pay for a German visa application can vary depending on the type of visa. In the situations of applying for the airport transit visas or short-stay visas, you are required to pay a 90€ fee. If you need a long-stay visa, a 75€ visa fee is required for payment. There are also some exemptions from paying the visa fee – children under the age of 6 can apply for free, for example. Payment of these fees is mandatory when considering to move to Germany.

The processing time when applying for a German visa stands between 10 to 15 working days, depending on the number of applicants from that period. You should consider that there might be delays in this matter based on how large the number of applicants is.

If you are interested to immigrate to Germany and make this process easier for you, get in touch with our specialized immigration law firm.

Residence permit requirements in Germany

For people who just need to stay in Germany temporarily, there is the German temporary residence permit. There are specific conditions for each category of temporary residency visas. Under many of them, one can also qualify for a German residence permit for permanent stay. You can enquire about this option with our immigration lawyers in Germany.

If you are looking to settle in Germany for more than 90 days, it is essential to check the requirements in order to obtain a German residence permit based on your purpose to stay: work, study, business or engage in other activities in this country. Find below the main demands to consider in order to obtain this kind of permit:

  • proof that presents no criminal record;
  • valid passport issued by your national country;
  • official proof that you own a valid German health insurance;
  • pass a health check submitted by the authorities that admits you are able to work in Germany;
  • bank statement that shows you are able to support yourself and your family;
  • if you are planning to accept a job or relocate for work: obtain a letter from your employer that presents the job offer;
  • in the situation of applying for study purposes: present proof of being admitted into the university you applied for;
  • if you are planning to join your spouse: present official document that attests your marriage.

Relocation to Germany can become more easier with the support from our specialized immigration law firm in this country.

Can I obtain German citizenship?

You can acquire German citizenship in one of four ways generally. These are naturalization, descent, adoption and marriage. Each comes with its requirements, hence you need to pay attention to the pathway you choose. In some cases, it can become difficult to become a citizen of Germany.

By far, naturalization in Germany is the most employed and straightforward. Below you can find the eligibility criteria required to successfully obtain German citizenship using the naturalization process:

  • you are in the possession of a valid residence permit in Germany or you simply already have the right to reside here;
  • you owned German residency for the past 5 years before submitting the application;
  • you must present official proof of knowing and understanding the German language through an international recognized language test;
  • you are employed and you can present your income proof that allows you to support yourself and your family in Germany;
  • you have an understanding of the German social and legal system;
  • you can show proof of no criminal record or being convicted;
  • based on the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany, you must commit to the democratic order imposed by the authorities in order to be a legitimate German citizen.

Considering your intention to apply for citizenship in Germany, you can benefit from relevant support to make this process more efficient. Get more information from our immigration lawyers in Germany in this matter.

Visa issuance statistics in Germany

Our immigration lawyer in Germany can help you obtain one of the visas issued in Germany. This country has one of the highest demands for visas and residence permits at a European level and those interested in Germany immigration must know that a short-term visa can be processed in a period of approximately 10 days. In the last years, the following trends are observed:

• in 2023, Germany issued 1,233,561 short-term Schengen visas;
• compared to 2022, this marked an increase in demand, as in that year the consular missions issued 816,307 visas;
• in 2022, the number of national visas issued in Germany was of 393,083;
• in 2022, there was a total of 152,336 national visas issued in Germany with the purpose of work and employment activities;

Our lawyer can provide you with legal representation and tailored advice on the visa application procedure and can also offer step-by-step information on the process of obtaining a residence permit, a document used for relocation to Germany. We can also advise on citizenship matters.

We invite you to contact our immigration lawyer in Germany for additional information on the types of visas issued in this country.