Hondurans Can Seek German Residence After Arrival, but Not to Work in Germany

Citizens of six countries, including Honduras, can enter Germany and apply for a residence permit from inside the country instead of going through a German embassy or consulate before travelling, according to visa guidelines published by the German Federal Foreign Office. The arrangement carries one firm condition: the applicant must not intend to take up employment.

Key facts

• Countries covered: Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco and San Marino
• What is allowed: entry to Germany followed by a residence permit application from within the country
• Main condition: the applicant must not intend to work in Germany
• If you plan to work: a national D visa must be obtained before travelling
• D visa processing times: from about two weeks for certain employment categories to up to six months for self-employed applicants

Who can apply for a residence permit after arrival?

Nationals of Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco and San Marino may enter Germany without arranging a visa in advance and then request their residence permit from within the country. The Federal Foreign Office's guidelines set this route out for these six nationalities specifically.

A broader group of passport holders has a simpler arrangement. Citizens of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States can enter Germany without a visa for any purpose and apply for their residence permit after arrival, without the employment restriction that applies to the six-country group.

What is the condition?

The six-country route is closed to anyone who intends to take up employment in Germany. Nationals of those countries who plan to work there must obtain a national visa, known as a D visa, before making the trip.

Germany's guidelines state that employment may only begin once a residence permit explicitly authorising that work has been issued. Arriving without a visa and then seeking employment without the proper permit would put a person in breach of German immigration rules.

How does the D visa route work?

For people who fall outside both groups, and for six-country nationals who intend to work, a national D visa is the required route. This long-stay visa lets the holder travel to Germany and then apply to the local immigration office, the Ausländerbehörde, for a residence permit.

Processing times for D visas vary considerably, from roughly two weeks for certain employment categories to as long as six months for self-employed applicants. Selected categories of long-stay D visas can now also be applied for online through the Federal Foreign Office's Consular Services Portal.

What this means for travellers

Honduran, Brazilian, Salvadoran, Andorran, Monégasque and Sammarinese citizens planning a stay in Germany that does not involve work can skip the pre-travel visa step and file for their residence permit after entering. Anyone in these groups who has a job lined up in Germany needs to secure a D visa before departure.

The Federal Foreign Office has not announced any changes to these arrangements, and no new dates or deadlines accompany the published guidelines.