Germany sees a number of visitors every year and plenty of people who want to live there long-term. However, most people need to have a valid visa in order to enter the country. In 2019, German consulates and embassies issued 1.959.401 short-term visas and 324.636 long-term visas to foreign nationals.
Who Needs a Visa for Germany?
If you are traveling to Germany for the purpose of tourism, then you will not need a short-stay visa to Germany if you are a national of the 62 visa-exempt countries. A German Tourist visa entitles its holder to stay in Germany for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period. Holders are permitted to travel to Germany and the other 25 Schengen countries while the visa is valid.
Types of Visas for Germany
Due to the several purposes under which one might wish to enter Germany, the German Immigration Authorities have established a few types of visa.
Here are the types of German visas that you can apply for:
1. Germany Airport Transit visa – to transit through a German airport.
2. Germany Schengen visa – to visit family and friends or for tourism, for medical treatment, for official, cultural, or sports visits.
3. Germany Business visa – to attend meetings and other business-related events.
4. German Student Visa for prospective students in Germany or those that have already been admitted in a German university.
5. Germany Language Course Visa for prospective students in Germany may need to attend a langue course before being fully admitted to a university.
6. Germany Student Internship Visa for students who want to participate in a training program or internship in Germany that lasts longer than 90 days.
7. Germany Researcher visa for international scholars and researchers who will participate in a scientific event in Germany.
8. Germany Employment Visa for persons that have a job offer in Germany and can be used to work on a paid job.
Germany Job Seeker Visa for those seeking attractive job opportunities in Germany but do not have a job offer yet.
9. Germany Freelancer Visa for foreign freelancers of different fields to enter Germany and work there as a Freelancer.
10. Germany Family Reunion Visa for bringing specifically spouses and children of those who have already settled in Germany
11. Medical Treatment Visa for every international with health issues to seek medical treatment in Germany.
What Should I do if I Have to Stay in Germany for Longer Than 90 Days?
If you will stay in Germany for longer than 90 days and are not a national of one of the countries mentioned above, you should apply for one of the German long-stay visas. The German long-stay visas, contrary to short-stay visas are issued for stays that exceed 90 days and under a completely different purpose of travel than the purpose of short-stay visas. You will not need to apply for a German long-stay visa only if you are a national of:
EU/EEA/EFTA countries
Australia
Israel
Japan
Canada
New Zealand
Republic of South Korea
the United States of America
Then, if your visa is granted, upon arrival in Germany you will have to get a German residence permit. Here are the types of German residence permits based on the purpose of the visa that has been issued:
1. Germany Student Residence Permit – issued to a student who participates in a training program, studies at a university, and is issued for the length of the course.
2. German Employment Residence Permit – issued to those who get a job offer in Germany after actively seeking work under a Job Seeker visa.
3. German Family Reunion Residence Permit – issued to family members of German residents for the purpose of family reunification.
4. Germany EU Blue Card – residence permit for highly skilled workers who want to work in their area of expertise in Germany.
5. EU Residence Permit – issued for these groups of people who want to reside in Germany on another EU country.
6. Germany Humanitarian Residence Permit – issued to those who have escaped a situation in their home country.
Permanent Residence Permit – issued to settle in Germany
How to Apply for a German Visa?
The first thing you need to do when applying for a German visa is to find the nearest German mission in your country, and then you can proceed with the following steps:
Fill out the online visa application form.
Prepare the required documents.
Set up an interview date at the embassy/consulate.
Attend the visa interview.
Submit your fingerprints.
Pay the visa application fee.
Go to Germany.