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Germany visa requirements · checked 13 October 2026

Flag of GermanyVisa & Entry Requirements for Germany

Most travellers need a visa for Germany: 105 of 198 passports must apply at an embassy or consulate, while 93 passports enter visa-free.

Germany is part of the Schengen Area: EU citizens travel freely, and Swiss and EEA nationals enter with a valid identity card or passport; nationals of the countries and territories on the EU's visa-exempt list (Annex II of Regulation (EU) 2018/1806) can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period (the ETIAS travel authorisation is not yet in operation), and nationals of the countries on its visa-required list (Annex I) need a Schengen short-stay visa (standard fee €90 under the Visa Code), applied for before entry at the German mission abroad covering their place of residence.

Check your passport

93
Passports visa-free
105
Embassy visa required

Flag of GermanyVisa for Germany — requirements summary

  • Visa-free: 93 (47%)
  • Visa required: 105 (53%)

All travellers must meet the entry rules set by Germany, and they depend on your nationality. Find your passport below — you may be able to enter visa-free, or need an eVisa, a visa on arrival or a visa from an embassy.

PassportRequirementMax stayDetails
Flag of AfghanistanAfghanistan Visa required — Details →
Flag of AlbaniaAlbania Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of AlgeriaAlgeria Visa required — Details →
Flag of AndorraAndorra Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of AngolaAngola Visa required — Details →
Flag of Antigua and BarbudaAntigua and Barbuda Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of ArgentinaArgentina Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of ArmeniaArmenia Visa required — Details →
Flag of AustraliaAustralia Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of AustriaAustria Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of AzerbaijanAzerbaijan Visa required — Details →
Flag of BahamasBahamas Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of BahrainBahrain Visa required — Details →
Flag of BangladeshBangladesh Visa required — Details →
Flag of BarbadosBarbados Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of BelarusBelarus Visa required — Details →
Flag of BelgiumBelgium Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of BelizeBelize Visa required — Details →
Flag of BeninBenin Visa required — Details →
Flag of BhutanBhutan Visa required — Details →
Flag of BoliviaBolivia Visa required — Details →
Flag of Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of BotswanaBotswana Visa required — Details →
Flag of BrazilBrazil Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of BruneiBrunei Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of BulgariaBulgaria Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of Burkina FasoBurkina Faso Visa required — Details →
Flag of BurundiBurundi Visa required — Details →
Flag of CambodiaCambodia Visa required — Details →
Flag of CameroonCameroon Visa required — Details →
Flag of CanadaCanada Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of Cape VerdeCape Verde Visa required — Details →
Flag of Central African RepublicCentral African Republic Visa required — Details →
Flag of ChadChad Visa required — Details →
Flag of ChileChile Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of ChinaChina Visa required — Details →
Flag of ColombiaColombia Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of ComorosComoros Visa required — Details →
Flag of Costa RicaCosta Rica Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of Côte d'IvoireCôte d'Ivoire Visa required — Details →
Flag of CroatiaCroatia Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of CubaCuba Visa required — Details →
Flag of CyprusCyprus Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of CzechiaCzechia Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of DenmarkDenmark Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of DjiboutiDjibouti Visa required — Details →
Flag of DominicaDominica Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of Dominican RepublicDominican Republic Visa required — Details →
Flag of DR CongoDR Congo Visa required — Details →
Flag of EcuadorEcuador Visa required — Details →
Flag of EgyptEgypt Visa required — Details →
Flag of El SalvadorEl Salvador Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of Equatorial GuineaEquatorial Guinea Visa required — Details →
Flag of EritreaEritrea Visa required — Details →
Flag of EstoniaEstonia Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of EswatiniEswatini Visa required — Details →
Flag of EthiopiaEthiopia Visa required — Details →
Flag of FijiFiji Visa required — Details →
Flag of FinlandFinland Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of FranceFrance Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of GabonGabon Visa required — Details →
Flag of GambiaGambia Visa required — Details →
Flag of GeorgiaGeorgia Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of GhanaGhana Visa required — Details →
Flag of GreeceGreece Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of GrenadaGrenada Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of GuatemalaGuatemala Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of GuineaGuinea Visa required — Details →
Flag of Guinea-BissauGuinea-Bissau Visa required — Details →
Flag of GuyanaGuyana Visa required — Details →
Flag of HaitiHaiti Visa required — Details →
Flag of HondurasHonduras Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of Hong KongHong Kong Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of HungaryHungary Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of IcelandIceland Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of IndiaIndia Visa required — Details →
Flag of IndonesiaIndonesia Visa required — Details →
Flag of IranIran Visa required — Details →
Flag of IraqIraq Visa required — Details →
Flag of IrelandIreland Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of IsraelIsrael Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of ItalyItaly Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of JamaicaJamaica Visa required — Details →
Flag of JapanJapan Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of JordanJordan Visa required — Details →
Flag of KazakhstanKazakhstan Visa required — Details →
Flag of KenyaKenya Visa required — Details →
Flag of KiribatiKiribati Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of KosovoKosovo Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of KuwaitKuwait Visa required — Details →
Flag of KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan Visa required — Details →
Flag of LaosLaos Visa required — Details →
Flag of LatviaLatvia Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of LebanonLebanon Visa required — Details →
Flag of LesothoLesotho Visa required — Details →
Flag of LiberiaLiberia Visa required — Details →
Flag of LibyaLibya Visa required — Details →
Flag of LiechtensteinLiechtenstein Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of LithuaniaLithuania Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of LuxembourgLuxembourg Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of MacauMacau Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of MadagascarMadagascar Visa required — Details →
Flag of MalawiMalawi Visa required — Details →
Flag of MalaysiaMalaysia Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of MaldivesMaldives Visa required — Details →
Flag of MaliMali Visa required — Details →
Flag of MaltaMalta Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of Marshall IslandsMarshall Islands Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of MauritaniaMauritania Visa required — Details →
Flag of MauritiusMauritius Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of MexicoMexico Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of MicronesiaMicronesia Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of MoldovaMoldova Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of MonacoMonaco Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of MongoliaMongolia Visa required — Details →
Flag of MontenegroMontenegro Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of MoroccoMorocco Visa required — Details →
Flag of MozambiqueMozambique Visa required — Details →
Flag of MyanmarMyanmar Visa required — Details →
Flag of NamibiaNamibia Visa required — Details →
Flag of NauruNauru Visa required — Details →
Flag of NepalNepal Visa required — Details →
Flag of NetherlandsNetherlands Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of New ZealandNew Zealand Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of NicaraguaNicaragua Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of NigerNiger Visa required — Details →
Flag of NigeriaNigeria Visa required — Details →
Flag of North KoreaNorth Korea Visa required — Details →
Flag of North MacedoniaNorth Macedonia Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of NorwayNorway Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of OmanOman Visa required — Details →
Flag of PakistanPakistan Visa required — Details →
Flag of PalauPalau Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of PalestinePalestine Visa required — Details →
Flag of PanamaPanama Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea Visa required — Details →
Flag of ParaguayParaguay Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of PeruPeru Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of PhilippinesPhilippines Visa required — Details →
Flag of PolandPoland Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of PortugalPortugal Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of QatarQatar Visa required — Details →
Flag of Republic of the CongoRepublic of the Congo Visa required — Details →
Flag of RomaniaRomania Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of RussiaRussia Visa required — Details →
Flag of RwandaRwanda Visa required — Details →
Flag of Saint Kitts and NevisSaint Kitts and Nevis Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of Saint LuciaSaint Lucia Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesSaint Vincent and the Grenadines Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of SamoaSamoa Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of San MarinoSan Marino Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of Sao Tome and PrincipeSao Tome and Principe Visa required — Details →
Flag of Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia Visa required — Details →
Flag of SenegalSenegal Visa required — Details →
Flag of SerbiaSerbia Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of SeychellesSeychelles Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of Sierra LeoneSierra Leone Visa required — Details →
Flag of SingaporeSingapore Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of SlovakiaSlovakia Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of SloveniaSlovenia Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of Solomon IslandsSolomon Islands Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of SomaliaSomalia Visa required — Details →
Flag of South AfricaSouth Africa Visa required — Details →
Flag of South KoreaSouth Korea Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of South SudanSouth Sudan Visa required — Details →
Flag of SpainSpain Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of Sri LankaSri Lanka Visa required — Details →
Flag of SudanSudan Visa required — Details →
Flag of SurinameSuriname Visa required — Details →
Flag of SwedenSweden Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of SwitzerlandSwitzerland Freedom of movement — Details →
Flag of SyriaSyria Visa required — Details →
Flag of TaiwanTaiwan Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of TajikistanTajikistan Visa required — Details →
Flag of TanzaniaTanzania Visa required — Details →
Flag of ThailandThailand Visa required — Details →
Flag of Timor-LesteTimor-Leste Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of TogoTogo Visa required — Details →
Flag of TongaTonga Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of TunisiaTunisia Visa required — Details →
Flag of TürkiyeTürkiye Visa required — Details →
Flag of TurkmenistanTurkmenistan Visa required — Details →
Flag of TuvaluTuvalu Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of UgandaUganda Visa required — Details →
Flag of UkraineUkraine Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of United KingdomUnited Kingdom Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of United StatesUnited States Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of UruguayUruguay Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of UzbekistanUzbekistan Visa required — Details →
Flag of VanuatuVanuatu Visa required — Details →
Flag of Vatican CityVatican City Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of VenezuelaVenezuela Visa-free 90 days Details →
Flag of VietnamVietnam Visa required — Details →
Flag of YemenYemen Visa required — Details →
Flag of ZambiaZambia Visa required — Details →
Flag of ZimbabweZimbabwe Visa required — Details →

Flag of GermanyGermany visa types, fees and processing times

Schengen short-stay visa

Embassy
Fee
90 EUR
Max stay
90 days
Extension
Possible

Children aged six to under 12: €45; under six: waived.

Documents (4)
  • Valid passport
  • Photo
  • Medical insurance
  • Supporting documents
Official application site →

Schengen short-stay visa — European Union and Armenia visa facilitation agreement

Embassy
Fee
35 EUR
Max stay
90 days
Extension
Possible

Set by the EU–Armenia visa facilitation agreement (Article 6); waived for pensioners and children under 12, among other listed categories.

Official application site →

Schengen short-stay visa — European Union and Azerbaijan visa facilitation agreement

Embassy
Fee
35 EUR
Max stay
90 days
Extension
Possible

Set by the EU–Azerbaijan visa facilitation agreement (Article 6); waived for pensioners and children under 12, among other listed categories.

Official application site →

Schengen short-stay visa — European Union and Belarus visa facilitation agreement

Embassy
Fee
35 EUR
Max stay
90 days
Extension
Possible

Set by the EU–Belarus visa facilitation agreement (Article 6); €70 when the applicant asks for a decision within two days and the consulate accepts; waived for children under 12, among other listed categories. Council Decision (EU) 2021/1940 suspends some of the agreement's provisions.

Official application site →

Schengen short-stay visa — European Union and Cabo Verde short-stay visa agreement

Embassy
Fee
67.50 EUR
Max stay
90 days
Extension
Possible

Set by the EU–Cabo Verde visa facilitation agreement as amended (Article 5) at 75% of the fee charged under the applicable legislation; children aged 12 to under 18 are charged 50% of that fee, and children under 12 are exempt, among other listed categories.

Official application site →

Schengen short-stay visa for Russian nationals

Embassy
Fee
90 EUR
Max stay
90 days
Extension
Possible

Standard fee under the Visa Code (Article 16): children aged six to under 12 pay €45 and children under six pay nothing. The EU–Russia visa facilitation agreement is suspended in whole for Russian citizens (Council Decision (EU) 2022/1500). The European Commission says Russian nationals will no longer be able to receive multiple-entry visas, while allowing exceptions for limited and justified cases such as independent journalists and human rights defenders.

Documents (4)
  • Valid passport
  • Photo
  • Medical insurance
  • Supporting documents
Official application site →

National visa (category D)

Embassy
Fee
75 EUR
Extension
Possible

The Federal Foreign Office describes national category D visas as issued for long-term visits of more than three months. The Residence Ordinance (AufenthV § 46) sets the fee at €75, also for multiple entries. Long-stay visas have a period of validity of no more than one year (Regulation (EU) No 265/2010).

Official application site →

Student visa

Embassy
Fee
75 EUR
Extension
Possible

A national (category D) visa; the Residence Ordinance (AufenthV § 46) sets the fee at €75. Long-stay visas have a period of validity of no more than one year (Regulation (EU) No 265/2010).

Official application site →

Work visa

Embassy
Fee
75 EUR
Extension
Possible

A national (category D) visa; the Residence Ordinance (AufenthV § 46) sets the fee at €75. Long-stay visas have a period of validity of no more than one year (Regulation (EU) No 265/2010).

Official application site →

Flag of GermanyEntry requirements for Germany

Travel insurance

Schengen visa applicants must prove they hold adequate and valid travel medical insurance, valid throughout the Schengen Area for the whole intended stay, with minimum coverage of €30,000. The Federal Foreign Office advises visitors who do not need a visa to take out health insurance before the trip that also covers return transport to their home country.

Visa Code (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009), consolidated text — EUR-Lex✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Return or onward ticket

Under the Schengen Borders Code, the non-exhaustive list of supporting documents a border guard may request (Annex I) includes, as regards return, a return or round-trip ticket. The UK government says British visitors may need to show a return or onward ticket at German border control.

Regulation (EU) 2016/399 — Schengen Borders Code (EUR-Lex)✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Proof of funds

Under the Schengen Borders Code (Article 6(1)(c)), non-EU visitors must have sufficient means of subsistence for the intended stay and for the return, or be in a position to acquire such means lawfully. Germany's Federal Foreign Office says proof may have to be provided, that the amount depends on the type and length of stay, and that there are no fixed daily rates.

Regulation (EU) 2016/399 (Schengen Borders Code), consolidated text 10 July 2024 — EUR-Lex✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Arrival cards and declarations: EES — Entry/Exit System (biometric registration)

The UK Foreign Office says that on short stays in the Schengen Area you may need to register biometric details such as fingerprints and a photo in the EU Entry/Exit System, that on your first visit you may be asked to do this at a special booth before the immigration desk, that there is no cost for EES registration, and that you need take no action before you arrive at the border.

UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — Germany travel advice: entry requirements✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Arrival cards and declarations: ETIAS — European Travel Information and Authorization System

The 30 European countries covered by ETIAS will require visa-exempt travellers to have an ETIAS travel authorisation. It is currently not in operation and no applications are being collected; the EU will announce the start date several months before launch. The official ETIAS website is travel-europe.europa.eu.

ETIAS — Official EU website✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Overstay penalties

Whoever stays in Germany without the required residence title while enforceably obliged to leave, with no departure period granted or the period expired, and whose deportation is not suspended, is punishable by imprisonment of up to one year or a fine. Committing this negligently is an administrative offence punishable by a fine of up to three thousand euros.

gesetze-im-internet.de (Federal Ministry of Justice) — Residence Act § 95 Penal provisions✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Customs allowances

Cash of €10,000 or more (or its equivalent in other currencies) must be declared to customs when entering or leaving the EU.

Your Europe (EU) — travelling with cash✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Flag of GermanyGermany visa requirements statistics

198
Passports covered
105
Most common: Visa required
93
Least common: Visa-free
47%
Visa-free access

Visa-free stays by length

  • 90 days · 63 passports

Understanding Germany visa requirements

We track the entry rules of Germany for 198 passports. The most common situation is visa required, which applies to 105 passports (53%). 47% of passports can enter without a visa. The least common is visa-free (93 passports).

Entry categories for Germany

  • Visa-free entry: 93 passports can enter without a visa, for up to 90 days.
  • Visa required: 105 passports must apply at an embassy or consulate.

What else you need to enter Germany

  • Passport validity: Under the Schengen Borders Code (Article 6(1)(a)), a non-EU visitor's passport must remain valid for at least 3 months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen Area (this may be waived in a justified case of emergency) and must have been issued within the previous 10 years.
  • Travel insurance: Schengen visa applicants must prove they hold adequate and valid travel medical insurance, valid throughout the Schengen Area for the whole intended stay, with minimum coverage of €30,000.
  • Return or onward ticket: Under the Schengen Borders Code, the non-exhaustive list of supporting documents a border guard may request (Annex I) includes, as regards return, a return or round-trip ticket.
  • Proof of funds: Under the Schengen Borders Code (Article 6(1)(c)), non-EU visitors must have sufficient means of subsistence for the intended stay and for the return, or be in a position to acquire such means lawfully.

Open your passport in the table for the exact rules — maximum stay, fees, how to apply and the official source. Entry rules change at short notice: confirm with the embassy of Germany or its official immigration website before you travel.

Flag of GermanyFrequently asked questions about Germany visas

Do I need a visa for Germany?

Most travellers need a visa for Germany: 105 of 198 passports must apply at an embassy or consulate, while 93 passports enter visa-free. It depends on your passport — check yours.

Do US citizens need a visa for Germany?

No. The United States is on the EU's visa-exempt list (Annex II of Regulation (EU) 2018/1806), whose nationals can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Germany is among the countries that will require visa-exempt travellers to have an ETIAS travel authorisation, which is not yet in operation; the official ETIAS website gives the application fee as EUR 20.

How much does a Germany Schengen visa cost?

The Schengen short-stay visa costs €90 for adults and €45 for children aged six to under 12. Under EU visa facilitation agreements, nationals of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus pay €35 and nationals of Cabo Verde 75% of the standard fee. A national visa (category D) costs €75 under the Residence Ordinance, also for multiple entries. The Federal Foreign Office says Schengen visa holders can stay in the entire Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any period of 180 days.

Is ETIAS required to enter Germany?

ETIAS is currently not in operation and no applications are being collected; the EU will announce the start date several months before launch. The official ETIAS website gives the application fee as EUR 20.

How can I move to Germany for work?

Germany's Federal Foreign Office says that if you intend to commence work in Germany you have to apply for a visa with the competent German mission abroad before entering Germany; only nationals of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States may apply for the necessary residence title after arrival. A national visa (category D) costs €75 under the Residence Ordinance (AufenthV § 46). No official source we could read here sets out the conditions of the EU Blue Card or the Opportunity Card.

How long can I stay in Germany without a visa?

Nationals of the countries on the EU's visa-exempt list can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and the Federal Foreign Office says visits to the Schengen Area by non-EU/EEA nationals are restricted to 90 days in any period of 180 days. EU law says no entry visa may be imposed on EU citizens; Swiss nationals enter on a valid identity card or passport under the EU–Swiss agreement, and the EEA Agreement incorporates the EU free movement directive.

Do UK citizens need a visa for Germany?

UK citizens can visit Germany visa-free for 90 days. Full rules for United Kingdom passport holders.

Do Indian citizens need a visa for Germany?

Indian citizens need a visa for Germany. Full rules for India passport holders.

What documents do I need to enter Germany?

Passport validity: Under the Schengen Borders Code (Article 6(1)(a)), a non-EU visitor's passport must remain valid for at least 3 months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen Area (this may be waived in a justified case of emergency) and must have been issued within the previous 10 years. Travel insurance: Schengen visa applicants must prove they hold adequate and valid travel medical insurance, valid throughout the Schengen Area for the whole intended stay, with minimum coverage of €30,000. Return or onward ticket: Under the Schengen Borders Code, the non-exhaustive list of supporting documents a border guard may request (Annex I) includes, as regards return, a return or round-trip ticket. Proof of funds: Under the Schengen Borders Code (Article 6(1)(c)), non-EU visitors must have sufficient means of subsistence for the intended stay and for the return, or be in a position to acquire such means lawfully.

How many countries can visit Germany without a visa?

93 of 198 passports can enter Germany visa-free (47%). and 105 need a visa from an embassy.

Data: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset, AXG Sp. z o.o. (CC BY 4.0) — official sources are linked on each passport page. Gaps filled from the Passport Index dataset (MIT).

Germany passport cover

Travelling from Germany?

Where can Germany citizens travel visa-free?

Germany passport holders can visit 125 countries without a visa. Open a country for the exact rules.

Map and full list →