Apply for national visa
Description
Depending on your citizenship, you will need a national visa for stays in Germany longer than 90 days. The procedure and requirements also depend on the purpose for which you want to stay in Germany (for example, employment, family reunification, study and training).
For nationals of EU countries and some other countries (for example Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, USA, Canada, Australia) there is no visa requirement. As a rule, they can enter the country for a longer stay without a national visa and apply for their residence title at the aliens' registration office after entering the country. A complete list of countries with an indication of the respective visa requirements can be found on the website of the German Foreign Office.
In certain cases you have to prove knowledge of the German language. The issuance of the national visa is governed by the same regulations that apply to the issuance of the residence title that you must apply for in Germany after the visa expires (for example, residence permit, EU Blue Card).
The requirements depend on your nationality and the purpose of your stay. They are regulated in detail in the provisions of the Residence Act and other legal ordinances.
Details on the documents to be submitted can be found on the websites of the German missions abroad.
- Standard rate: EUR 75.00
- for minors up to their 18th birthday: EUR 37.50
In certain cases the fee can be reduced or waived completely.
Please submit your application in good time. You will find information on the appointment situation and on booking appointments on the websites of the German missions abroad.
Depending on the individual case between a few days and several months
Contact persons for national visas are the visa offices of the German missions abroad.
- Forms: yes
- Online procedure possible: no
- Written form required: yes
- Personal appearance required: yes
You must apply for a long-stay visa at the mission responsible for you.
- Find out about the application procedure and the documents to be submitted on the website of the mission responsible for you.
- Make an appointment with the mission abroad
- Download, print and fill out the visa application form. At the agreed appointment, please appear in person at the diplomatic mission or consular post. Please bring the completed application and all required documents with you.
- An employee of the diplomatic mission or consular post will conduct an interview with you. For security reasons, this will take place at the counter.
- In certain cases, after your application has been accepted, the diplomatic mission or consular post will contact the Aliens' Registration Office or, in the case of employment, the Federal Employment Agency in Germany, which is responsible for the place where you wish to live or work. In these cases, the foreign mission can only issue the visa if the Aliens' Registration Office or the Federal Employment Agency agrees.
- The visa will be affixed to your passport in the form of a label.
- Only if a visa cannot be issued to you, you will receive a written decision. You then have the following legal remedies:
- You may raise your objections in writing (remonstrate) with the diplomatic mission or consular post within one month. The diplomatic mission or consular post will then reconsider your visa application.
- If your application is still rejected after the second review, you can file a complaint with the Berlin Administrative Court within one month.
- You can also file a lawsuit directly with the Berlin Administrative Court within one month.
- If you are already in Germany: Please contact the foreigners authority responsible for you. They are responsible for residence law issues and will decide on your application.
Foreign Office
20.08.2020
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
