Country
Passport Required?
Visa Required?
Return Ticket Required?
Germany is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen
Agreement.
Passport valid for at least 3 months beyond length of stay
required by all except:
(a) 1. EU nationals holding
a valid national ID card;
(b) holders of national ID cards
issued to nationals of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco,
San Marino and Switzerland.
Required by all except the following for periods not
exceeding 3 months:
(a) nationals referred to in the chart
and those referred to under passport exemptions above;
(b)
nationals of American Samoa, Andorra, Argentina, Bermuda,
Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Chile, Cook
Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador,
El Salvador, Estonia, Guam, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong
(SAR), Hungary, Israel, Korea (Rep. of), Latvia, Lithuania,
Macau (SAR), Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Caledonia,
New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue, Norway, Panama, Paraguay,
Poland, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic,
Slovenia, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela and US Virgin
Islands for stays of up to 3 months;
(c) passengers
continuing their journey by the same or first connecting
aircraft, provided holding confirmed onward tickets and travel
documents. However, the following nationals always need
a visa even if transiting by the same aircraft; Afghanistan,
Angola, Bangladesh, Congo (Dem. Rep. of), Ethiopia, Eritrea,
Gambia, Ghana, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Nigeria,
Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic and
Turkey. Visitors should check with the Embassy (or Consular
section at Embassy).
A transit visa is not required by some nationals if in
possession of a residence permit or visa for an EU country.
Contact your nearest German Embassy or Consulate for more
information.
A uniform type of visa, the Schengen visa, is issued
for tourist, business and private visits. As prices are
subject to frequent change, visitors are advised to contact
their local Embassy directly.
Spouses and children of EU nationals (providing spouse’s
passport and the original marriage certificate is produced),
and nationals of some other countries, receive their visas
free of charge (enquire at Embassy for details).
Short-stay (single- and multiple-entry): valid for 6
months from date of issue for stays of maximum 90 days per
entry or for 1 year from date of entry for stays of maximum 90
days in one half-year. Transit (single- and
multiple-entry): valid for a maximum of 5 days per entry,
including the day of arrival. Visas cannot be extended and a
new application must be made each time.
Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Address
section. Travellers visiting just one Schengen country
should apply to the Consulate of that country; travellers
visiting more than one Schengen country should apply to the
Consulate of the country chosen as the main destination or
the country they will enter first (if they have no main
destination). All first-time applicants must apply in person.
Tourism: (a) Passport with at least 3 months
validity beyond period of visa, with one blank page to affix
visa stamp. (b) Application form(s); number dependent on
nationality of applicant. (c) Photo(s); number dependent on
nationality of applicant. (d) Proof of adequate means of
support during stay (eg bank statement or travellers cheques).
(e) Proof of medical insurance. (f) Proof of purpose of visit
and/or a hotel reservation and/or a return ticket. (g) Fee
(payable in cash or by postal order). (h) If studying in
Germany, a letter from place of study. (i) Self-addressed,
special delivery envelope (if passport/visa is not to be
collected in person). Applicants under 18 years of age must
submit a letter from their place of study or legal guardian.
Business: (a)-(i) and, (j) Letter from employer, or
official invitation from overseas business associate
explaining nature and duration of stay. If self-employed a
letter from a solicitor, accountant, bank manager or local
Chamber of Commerce.
For UK residents applying in the UK, visas will normally be
issued within 2 days; however, applications from some
nationals can take up to 8 days to process. If the stay is
likely to be for more than 3 months, applications should be
made at least 10 weeks in advance of the intended date of
departure. Visa applications by non-residents have to be
referred to the German Embassy in the applicant’s home
country, and may take several days or weeks to be issued.
Nationals of EU and EFTA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein,
Norway and Switzerland) and nationals of the USA may apply for
a permit from the local immigration office in Germany, no
later than 3 months after entry. For further details on
temporary residence in Germany, enquire at the Consulate (or
Consular section at Embassy).
EU nationals do not need a visa or a work permit to work in
Germany. A residence permit must, however, be obtained for
stays of over 3 months (see above). Non-EU nationals must
obtain a visa/residence permit before entering Germany. There
are special regulations for nationals of EU countries,
Australia, Canada, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Liechtenstein, New
Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and the USA. An information
sheet, Working and Living in Germany, is obtainable
from the German Embassy (see address section).
Beethovenstrasse 69, 60325 Frankfurt/M, Federal Republic of
Germany
Tel: (69) 974 640. Fax: (69) 751 903.
E-mail:
[email protected]
Website:
http://www.germany-tourism.de/
Tick-borne encephalitis is present in forested areas
of southern Germany. Vaccination is advisable. HIV
testing is required for foreigners staying more than 180
days in Bavaria. Foreign tests are not accepted. Rabies
is present; look out for ‘Tollwut’ signs. For those at high
risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you
are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more
information consult the Health appendix.
Private insurance is recommended for specialist medical
treatment outside the German National Health Service, which
can be very expensive. Surgery hours are generally 1000-1200
and 1600-1800 (not Wednesday afternoon, Saturday or Sunday).
The emergency telephone number is 112; additionally, there is
an emergency call-out service out of surgery hours
(1800-0700). Chemists are open Mon-Fri 0900-1800 and Sat
0900-1200. All chemists give alternative addresses of services
available outside the normal opening hours. There are 350
officially recognised medical spas and watering places with
modern equipment providing therapeutic treatment and
recreational facilities for visitors seeking rest and
relaxation. A list of the spas and health resorts and various
treatments can be ordered from the German National Tourist
Office, or directly from Deutscher Heilbaederverband e.V.
(German Spas Association), Schumannstrasse 111, 53113 Bonn
(tel: (228) 201 200; fax: (228) 201 2041).
Jan 1 2002 New Year’s Day. Jan 6
Epiphany*. Mar 29 Good Friday. Apr 1 Easter
Monday. May 1 Labour Day. May 9 Ascension Day.
May 20 Whit Monday. May 30 Corpus Christi*.
Aug 15 Assumption of the Virgin Mary*. Oct 3 Day
of Unity. Oct 31 Day of Reformation*. Nov 1 All
Saints’ Day*. Nov 20 Day of Prayer and Repentance*.
Dec 25-26 Christmas. Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day.
Jan 6 Epiphany*. Apr 18 Good Friday. Apr 21
Easter Monday. May 1 Labour Day. May 29
Ascension Day. Jun 9 Whit Monday. Jun 19 Corpus
Christi*. Aug 15 Assumption of the Virgin Mary*. Oct
3 Day of Unity. Oct 31 Day of Reformation*. Nov
1 All Saints’ Day*. Nov 19 Day of Prayer and
Repentance*. Dec 25-26 Christmas.
Destination Guide – Germany
Passport and Visa Application
Health
Holidays
Note
Passports
Visas
Note
Types of visa and cost
Note
Validity
Application to
Application requirements
Working days required
Temporary residence
Work permits
Addresses
Other risks
Health care
Public Holidays
Note
| British | yes | no | no |
| Australian | yes | no | no |
| Canadian | yes | no | no |
| USA | yes | no | no |
| Other EU | 1 | no | no |
| Japanese | yes | no | no |
| Deutsche Zentrale fuer Tourismus e.V. (DZT) |
|
|
|
|
| Health Precaution | Special Precaution | Certificate |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Fever | no | no |
| Cholera | no | no |
| Typhoid and Polio | no | n/a |
| Malaria | no | n/a |
| Food and Drink | no | n/a |
|
*Epiphany, Corpus Christi, Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Day of Reformation, All Saints’ Day and Day of Prayer and Repentance are not observed in all areas. Consult the German National Tourist Office for details. |