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Visa & Entry
In order to enter Germany you usually need a visa and, for a longer stay, a residence permit. You should apply to the German Embassy or a German Consulate in your own country or current country of residence for your visa at the earliest possible opportunity.Depending on the duration and purpose of your stay you will need a Schengen Visa (research visit lasting up to three months) or a National Visa (research visit lasting more than three months).
If your marital partner or children are intending to accompany you it is recommendable to apply for everyone at the same time even if they are only going to join you in Germany at a later date. Please note that many Visa Sections only accept applications if you have made an appointment in advance, and that processing applications can take several weeks. So do make an appointment as soon as possible and enquire which documents you have to bring with you.
Depending on your country of origin and the length of your stay the entry regulations differ. Here we have bundled the information relating to specific countries to make it easier for you to follow. If in doubt, however, be sure to approach a German diplomatic mission to find out whether you need a visa or not. This is the only place you will be able to obtain legally binding information.
Nationals of EU States, the European Economic Area and Switzerland
If you are an EU national or come from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland you will not normally need a visa. You may enter Germany on your national identity card. If you intend to stay in Germany for more than three months you must register at the “Einwohnermeldeamt” (Residents’ Registration Office) and obtain a “Freizügigkeitsbescheinigung” (Freedom of Movement Certificate) or a residence permit if you are a national of the Swiss Confederation.
Nationals of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea and the USA
If you are a national of one of these states you do not need a visa to enter Germany. However, for visits lasting more than three months you will require a residence permit which you can apply for once you have entered Germany.
Nationals of all other non-EU States
Short visits lasting up to three months
If your research stay in Germany is not scheduled to last longer than 90 days in a sixth month period, a Schengen Visa will usually be all you need to enter the country (C-Visa). However, you should bear in mind that Schengen Visas cannot be extended beyond the three month period, nor can they be redesignated for other purposes. You will have to leave Germany at the end of three months at the latest.
In order to obtain a Schengen Visa you will have to prove that you will be able to support yourself financially during your stay in Germany. For all Schengen States you will also be obliged to provide evidence of travel health insurance cover amounting to at least 30,000 euro. When completing the application for the Schengen Visa please be sure to state “scientific work” or “research” as the purpose of your stay. The Schengen Visa entitles you to move freely between and stay in any of the so-called Schengen States, i.e. the states that have signed the Schengen Agreement.
Visa exemptions for short visits:
Nationals of some countries are allowed to enter Germany for visits of up to three months without a visa. You can fi nd a list of these states (table of countries whose citizens require/do not require visas to enter Germany) on the website of the Federal Foreign Office. Please note, however, that you will not be able to apply for a residence title for a longer stay once you have entered Germany, and that you will have to leave the country after three months at the latest. If you are planning a longer stay you must apply for a German visa that will allow you to remain in the country for a longer period of time while you are still in your own country or current country of residence.
Visits lasting more than three months:
If you are planning to stay in Germany for more than three months you must apply for a National Visa for Germany (D-Visa) while you are still in your own country or current country of residence. Please note that this applies even if you are already staying in another European Union country. Do not under any circumstances enter Germany on a “Visitor’s or Tourist Visa” (Schengen Visa). This type of visa cannot be extended and only entitles you to stay in Germany for a maximum of three months. You would then have to return to your own country at your own expense and apply for the right visa there. The same is true for members of your family. The National Visa only entitles you to stay in Germany. If you intend to travel to other Schengen States during the first three months of your stay, to attend a conference for example, you should state this in your visa application. In this case you may be issued with a so-called hybrid visa (Category C+D Visa).
To apply for a D-Visa you will usually require the following documents:
Passport (valid for the entire duration of your stay)
Proof of your intended activity (e.g. fellowship, employment contract, letter of invitation or hosting agreement from the university)
Proof that you will be able to support yourself financially if this is not evidenced by the documentation above
Adequate health insurance cover
Details of proposed accommodation in Germany
Marriage and birth certificates of family members
Application form (available from diplomatic missions)
Depending on the individual Embassy the documents required may differ. Please contact the relevant diplomatic mission at the earliest opportunity in order to ascertain which documents you will need for your visa application.
National Visas are usually issued for a period of three months. Once you have entered Germany you must present this visa to your local “Ausländerbehörde” (Immigration or Foreigners’ Office) to apply for a residence permit.
Researcher Visa according to § 20:
When the immigration laws were reformed in 2007, a new residence title was introduced especially for researchers known as a “Researcher Visa” or “Researcher” residence permit (§ 20 Residence Law). A Researcher Visa has several advantages, not least for researchers who bring their families with them. It is designed to simplify entry and residency issues, expedite procedures and facilitate mobility within the EU. It makes it easier for marital partners to obtain a work permit.
Only specially licensed universities and research institutes are eligible to participate in this process. In order to obtain a Researcher Visa foreign researchers and host universities still have to conclude a Hosting Agreement in which, according to the law, certain conditions like minimum salary have to be fulfilled. If you are eligible for this process your host institute will send you a Hosting Agreement which you can then present when you apply for a Researcher Visa at the German diplomatic mission responsible for your area or at the local Immigration Office when you apply for a “Researcher” residence permit.
Insider Infos
Fee Remission: If you are in receipt of publicly-funded fellowship from a German funding organisation, such as the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation or the DAAD, you are exempt from paying fees both for your visa and residence permit.
Online Application Form: If you only need a visa for a short visit of up to 90 days (Schengen Visa) you can complete the application form online. When you have filled in the form completely you must print it out and present it to the German diplomatic mission in person together with all the other application documents required. As yet, it is not possible to apply for longer visits online.
The Schengen States: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.