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Going to Germany? Take a moment to have a look at our FAQs before you call or contact us.

Please read the Information carefully and use the contact form for inquiries to specific questions . If the information requested is readily available on our website, we may not reply to your message.

My visa has been issued by the german consulate, could i use this visa to make a sidetrip to other european countries (for example to france or austria).

Yes , you can. According to the Schengen agreement, visas are also valid for Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Please note, however, that you always have to apply at the consulate of the country which is your primary destination. If you intend to visit several of the above-mentioned countries but do not have a primary destination, you should apply at the consulate of the country which is your first point of entry.

I have already made a trip to Germany with a visa (“Schengener Staaten” is mentioned on the visa sticker) issued by the German Consulate. I think the visa is still valid and I am planning now a business trip to Italy for example. Can I use this visa?

Yes, you can. Please check your visa's validity, its number of entries and the maximum duration of stay (both are mentioned on your visa sticker) carefully.

My flight itinerary requires an overnight stay at a German airport. Do I have to apply for an airport transit visa or a regular visa?

Airport transit visa are only good for short stopovers while you are waiting a few hours for your onward flight in the airport's international transit area. However, hotel accommodation is only available outside the transit area. Please apply for a regular tourist visa if you want to stay at the airport overnight.

My flight itinerary requires airport transit in Germany, however I do not have a confirmed onward flight (e.g. Buddy Pass) from Germany. Do I have to apply for an airport transit visa or a regular visa?

If you do not have a confirmed onward flight from Germany you have to apply for a regular tourist visa.

I am planning to apply for a visa at the German Consulate, how long should my passport be valid?

Your passport should be valid for at least 3 months upon conclusion of your trip.

This website tells me that I have to show my bank statement when applying for a visa. I do not have a bank account / my balance is low and the trip will be paid by my friends/relatives in Germany. What do I have to submit?

Ask your friends/relatives to sign an official affidavit of support (called “Verpflichtungserklärung” in German).

I cannot get a national passport from my country of origin but I do hold a U.S. “Permit to Re-Enter”. Can I use this permit to travel to Germany?

We expect you to submit your national passport. However, in rare instances, a U.S. “Permit to Re-Enter” can be accepted if it is evident that you cannot get a national passport from your country of origin. Please be informed that visa applications of “Permit to Re-Enter”-holders may take up to two weeks to be processed.

I cannot get a national passport from my country of origin but I do hold a “Travel Document for Refugees”. Can I use this document to travel to Germany?

Holders of the “Refugee Travel Document” (Form I-571) which is issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are not required to obtain a visa to enter the Federal Republic of Germany for purposes of business, tourism, or to visit friends if they stay no longer than 90 days. The Travel Document must be valid for at least three months after entering Germany.

Please be advised that this regulation applies to Germany only. If you plan to transit or travel to other Schengen countries you have to contact the responsible consular mission of the respective countries to find out about their visa regulations. Please also note that holders of the very similar document called “Permit to Re-Enter” (Form I-327) do not fall under this rule. Holders of a “Permit to Re-Enter” must apply for a visa.

If you are in doubt whether you are a holder of a “Permit to Re-Enter” or a “Refugee Travel Document” please refer to the data page of the document in your possession issued by DHS. More information on the type of document issued to you can be found above and below the photo in your document.

How can my friends/relatives in Germany get an official affidavit of support (so-called “Verpflichtungserklärung”)?

Your friends can get this document at the local Aliens' office at their place of residence in Germany. Please bring the original of this affidavit when applying for your visa.

I want to visit my friends/relatives. My own funds are sufficient so I am paying for the trip myself. What kind of invitation should I submit?

Just ask your friends/relatives to send you an informal invitation. Name, address and a copy of the friend's/relative's passport. A copy of the residence permit is an additional requirement if your friend/relative in Germany is not a German national. If your friends/relatives pay for your travel expenses you will need to submit an official affidavit of support.

I have my own business and therefore cannot bring an employment letter. What documents should I submit?

Please include your business registration, your tax returns and your latest bank statement to complete your Application.

Why am I required to have a health insurance coverage for Germany?

Imagine you have an accident during your stay in Germany. Please check carefully whether your medical insurance will also cover costs for medical treatment abroad. If yours does not, you need to submit a health insurance covering your stay in Europe when applying for the visa. In general all major US medical insurance companies cover costs for emergency medical treatment abroad.

My U.S. Resident Alien Card/U.S. visa has expired and has to be renewed/extended. How can I apply for a visa to Germany?

We can only accept applicants holding a vaild U.S. Resident Alien Card/U.S. visa. If yours has expired, please contact the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service first for renewal/Extension.

US Immigration and Naturalization Service

I am planning to move to Germany with my German wife and have to apply for a residence permit. The application process requires me to show my US marriage certificate and an apostille. What is an apostille good for and where can I get one?

Your application for a residence permit has to be approved by the Aliens' Office at your intended place of residence in Germany. The Aliens' Office will check whether your U.S. marriage certificate is a proper American public document. An apostille is needed as a confirmation.

My spouse is a German national. We both plan to establish a joint residence in Germany. Do I get a German work permit immediately after we move to Germany?

Yes, you do. The residence permit will be issued by the Aliens' Office after your arrival in Germany. It will include a permit to work.

I have heard that Germany has a shortage of IT specialists. I am an IT-expert and would be interested to work in Germany. How can I find an employer and how can I apply for a residence and work Permit?

The Federal Employment Agency has set up an online job fair where you can introduce yourself and present your curriculum vitae. Companies also post job openings in this online fair. Of course, you may also apply directly to a company in Germany. As soon as you have a written formal notice that a work permit will be issued, you can apply for an entrance visa at the German Embassy or Consulate which has jurisdiction for your place of residence.

My US employer is sending me to work in Germany for a few years in its office. May my wife and children accompany me?

Yes, in general they may. Aliens eligible to obtain a residence and work permit may be accompanied by members of their family. Please submit your marriage certificate and your children's birth certificates when applying for their residence Permit.

I am a legal resident alien in the US and would like to work in Germany for a few years. However, I do not have any contact with an employer in Germany yet. How can I apply for a residence and work Permit?

First things first: It is essential to find an employer in Germany who is willing to make you a job offer. Once you got a job offer, please apply for a residence and work Permit.

I am a member of the US Armed Forces and will be stationed in Germany. Do I need to apply for a visa?

Under the NATO Status of Forces Agreement, members of the US Armed Forces and their dependents are exempt from German laws and regulations relating to aliens. When entering Germany, they must be in possession of a copy of their orders and a military identification card. Dependents should have a military identification card and a valid passport containing certification or a stamp by the military authorities indicating their dependent status.

We want our child under the age of 18 to travel to Germany. How do we apply for a visa?

Please apply for a regular visa to visit friends/relatives in Germany or a regular tourist visa. A birth certificate of your child is an additional requirement. Children under 18 are considered minors by EU law. Therefore, the visa application needs to be signed by the persons exercising permanent or temporary parental authority or legal guardianship - usually both parents. Please make sure that you include a family court order if only one parent has full custody. The application form has to be signed by the legal guardian(s) during the visa interview. Alternatively, their signature can be certified by a notary public.

I am a visitor to the US with a B1/B2 visa and would like to spend two weeks in Germany after my trip to the US. Where do I apply for a visa?

We can only accept visa applicants of legal resident aliens in the US. If you are only visiting you need to apply at the German Embassy or Consulate in your home Country.

How long will I have to wait for my visa?

The processing time for visa applications (short stay) takes up to 15 days. If long-term residence permits or visa for employment in Germany are applied for, the processing time will be up to several months.

Please Note: Although the information on this website has been prepared with utmost care, we can not accept any responsibility for inaccuracies contained herein.

How can I file a complaint about the conduct of the consular staff or the visa application process?

Applicants for a Schengen visa may submit a complaint regarding the conduct of the consular staff or the application process, by using the contact form on our website.

In the drop down menu of the contact form, please choose the option “Complaints regarding the Schengen visa application process in …”. Please note that complaints can only be submitted in German or English. Complaints in a different language cannot be investigated.

You may enter one of the two following options in the subject line:

• Complaint about the conduct of the consular staff
• Complaint about the process of the visa Application

We will investigate your complaint.

Important note: Visa applicants cannot use the contact form to file an appeal (“Remonstration”) against decisions made in terms of refusal, annulment or cancelation of a visa.

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Germany Tourist Visa for US Passport Holders Not Required

When you are travelling to Germany with a U.S. Passport, a Tourist Visa is not required .

No Visa required for a stay of up to 3 Months

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Germany Tourist Visa for Non-US Passport Holders Required

When you are travelling to Germany with a Non-US Passport, a Tourist Visa is required .

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Requirements for u.s. citizens to obtain visa to enter germany, get a business visa for germany.

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Germany Business Visa for US Passport Holders Not Required

When you are travelling to Germany with a U.S. Passport, a Business Visa is not required .

Germany Business Visa for Non-US Passport Holders Required

When you are travelling to Germany with a Non-US Passport, a Business Visa is required .

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Germany Student Visa for US Passport Holders Not Required

When you are travelling to Germany with a U.S. Passport, a Student Visa is not required .

No visa required for a stay of up to 90 days, if staying over 90 days check travel recommendations below.

Germany Student Visa for Non-US Passport Holders Required

When you are travelling to Germany with a Non-US Passport, a Student Visa is required .

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Germany Diplomatic Visa for US Passport Holders Not Required

When you are travelling to Germany with a U.S. Passport, a Diplomatic Visa is not required .

No Visa required for a stay of up to 90 Days

Germany Diplomatic Visa for Non-US Passport Holders Required

When you are travelling to Germany with a Non-US Passport, a Diplomatic Visa is required .

Consular Jurisdiction

Nationality, travel information.

Get the most up-to-date information for Germany related to German travel visas, German visa requirements and applications, embassy and consulate addresses, foreign relations information, travel advisories, entry and exit restrictions, and travel tips from the US State Department's website .

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No vaccinations required.

Get more health information for travelers to Germany: CDC WHO

About Germany

Read about the people, history, government, economy and geography of Germany at the CIA's World FactBook .

Other Links

• Current Affairs, Reference Data and Internet Links
• Destination Germany on Lonely Planet
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• U.S. Department of State Consular Information Sheet

A Brief History of Germany

As Europe's largest economy and second most populous nation (after Russia), Germany is a key member of the continent's economic, political, and defense organizations. European power struggles immersed Germany in two devastating World Wars in the first half of the 20th century and left the country occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the advent of the Cold War, two German states were formed in 1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). The democratic FRG embedded itself in key Western economic and security organizations, the EC, which became the EU, and NATO, while the Communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. The decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War allowed for German unification in 1990. Since then, Germany has expended considerable funds to bring Eastern productivity and wages up to Western standards. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other EU countries introduced a common European exchange currency, the euro.

Learn more about Germany in our World Atlas

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High hopes dashed: US forces, military civilians in Germany still barred from marijuana use following legalization law

Germany legalized cannabis use April 1, 2024, opening doors for regulated clubs and individuals to grow and consume small amounts. U.S. service members and their families in Germany remain under strict DOD policies prohibiting involvement with the drugs, though, officials say.  (Will Cox/Army National Guard)

U.S. service members, Defense Department workers and family members stationed in Germany remain barred from using marijuana despite Germany’s new law legalizing the drug, the U.S. Army in Europe said in a statement.

Marijuana enthusiasts across the nation Monday celebrated the new law, which legalizes cultivation, possession and consumption.

However, strict regulations remain in place under the Uniform Code of Military Justice for service members, while DOD and Europe-based military regulations forbid its use for contractors, Defense Department civilians and others in Germany under the Status of Forces Agreement.

The regulations forbid “using, buying, selling, possessing, delivering, advertising, having custody of, manufacturing, storing, packaging, testing, or concealing any controlled substance,” U.S. Army Europe and Africa said Friday in response to a query.

Even with Germany’s doors to marijuana consumption opening, military housing and private off-base residences of U.S. service members stand as islands of prohibition.

It remains unclear how regulations barring marijuana possession and use would be enforced off-base. But the consequences of running afoul of drug regulations are potentially severe, even for family members. They include the loss of command sponsorship and early repatriation to the United States without their sponsor, USAREUR-AF said.

The Army in Europe’s regulation also explicitly prohibits personnel from knowingly introducing drugs or related paraphernalia into a military area or facility.

The finer points regarding marijuana use by local employees in Germany and additional guidance for U.S. personnel are “still being negotiated and will be addressed in the future,” the Army statement said.

The Drug-free Workplace Act of 1988 directs that any organization that receives a federal contract of $100,000 or more or receives a federal grant of any size must establish a drug-free workplace policy, the U.S. Army in Europe said.

For German service members, similar limitations continue to apply. Despite the legalization nationwide, marijuana is still off limits for soldiers under military law, according to the German service members association DVBW.

More than 4.5 million adults in the country consumed marijuana at least once within a period of 12 months despite its previously outlawed status, according to a 2021 survey by Germany’s health ministry.

The Association of German Criminal Police Officers has supported ending the ban on marijuana since 2018 and has repeatedly called for the decriminalization of all use of the drug.

The new liberal approach includes an amnesty program for previous cannabis-related offenses, signaling a significant shift in the country’s drug policy.

Marijuana was most commonly used in the 18- to 24-year-old age group. Under the new law, the purchase, possession and cultivation of marijuana by minors remains prohibited, according to a government statement.

Laws regarding driving under the influence of marijuana will be adapted similarly to those related to alcohol and driving motor vehicles on public roads under the influence of cannabis remains prohibited, Westpfalz Police said.

The limit values for THC in the blood are being examined and determined by the German transportation ministry.

Under the newly enacted legislation, German residents are allowed to carry up to 25 grams, or about an ounce, of marijuana and cultivate up to three plants for personal use.

German residents also can store up to 50 grams, or 1.7 ounces, of homemade marijuana under their own roofs. Privately cultivated marijuana may not be sold or passed on to third parties.

Additionally, adults over the age of 18 can join “cannabis clubs” starting in July, a move aimed at regulating consumption and cultivation within a controlled environment, according to Germany’s health ministry. These private associations can only share their crop with members under non-commercial distribution agreements.

The law also allows for regional pilot projects with commercial supply chains, which is under review by the European Commission, according to a government website on the changes. Once approved, commercial retail dispensaries and coffee shops based on the Dutch model may be in Germany’s future.

In the U.S., 24 states have legalized recreational use of marijuana, including states with a significant military presence, such as California and Virginia.

However, the drug remains illegal under federal law.

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A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter the United States generally must first obtain a U.S. visa, which is placed in the traveler’s passport, a travel document issued by the traveler’s country of citizenship.

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