Germany · Tourist Visa
Tourist and visitor visa requirements, visa-free entry, duration, and application steps.
AI-drafted, editorially reviewed. Confirm specifics with the official authority.
Germany is in the Schengen Area, so short tourist or business visits follow Schengen rules: up to 90 days within any 180-day period across the whole area. Many nationals are visa-exempt; others need a Schengen (type C) visa from the German mission. A new ETIAS travel authorisation is being introduced for visa-exempt visitors — verify the current requirement before booking.
Germany is part of the Schengen Area, so short tourist or business visits follow Schengen rules: up to 90 days within any 180-day period across the whole area. Nationals of many countries are visa-exempt for short stays; others need a Schengen (type C) visa from the German mission. A new ETIAS travel authorisation is being introduced for visa-exempt visitors — check the current requirement.
- Schengen short stays are limited to 90 days within any 180-day period across the whole Schengen Area.
- Many nationals are visa-exempt for short visits; others need a Schengen (type C) visa.
- A new ETIAS travel authorisation is being introduced for visa-exempt travellers — verify the current rule before booking.
- Tourist/Schengen visitors cannot take employment.
- The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) has operated at Schengen external borders since 10 April 2026: non-EU visitors are registered biometrically on entry and exit instead of having passports stamped.
- 1
Check your Schengen visa requirement
Check on the Federal Foreign Office site whether your nationality needs a type C visa, and whether ETIAS already applies to visa-exempt travellers.
- 2
Apply at the right mission
Apply at the German mission if Germany is your main destination or your first point of entry to the Schengen Area. Book the appointment early — slots can be scarce.
- 3
Prepare the standard Schengen file
Typically: application form, passport, photos, travel itinerary, accommodation, proof of funds and Schengen-compliant travel medical insurance.
- 4
Attend the appointment and give biometrics
Submit the file in person; fingerprints are collected for most first-time Schengen applicants and reused for a period afterwards.
- 5
Count your days correctly
The 90/180 limit is a rolling calculation across all Schengen countries combined, not per country and not per calendar period. Track your entries and exits.
- Visa requirement and ETIAS status checked
- Correct Schengen mission identified
- Appointment booked
- Itinerary, accommodation and funds documented
- Schengen-compliant travel medical insurance held
- Passport valid per Schengen rules
- 90/180 day count tracked across all Schengen states
- Federal Foreign Office — Schengen visa
Official short-stay (Schengen) visa guide.
- ETIAS (official EU site)
Official EU travel-authorisation information.
Frequently asked questions
How does the 90/180-day rule work?
On any given day you may not have spent more than 90 days inside the Schengen Area during the preceding 180 days. It is a rolling window across all Schengen countries combined, so time in France or Spain counts against your German stay too.
Do I need travel insurance for a Schengen visa?
Yes — type C applicants must hold travel medical insurance meeting the Schengen minimum coverage and valid across the area for the whole stay. Check the current requirement on the Federal Foreign Office site.
What is ETIAS and does it replace a visa?
ETIAS is a travel authorisation being introduced for travellers who are already visa-exempt — it is not a visa and does not replace one for visa nationals. Because the rollout is phased, confirm the current requirement on the official EU site before you book.
Government portals
- Federal Government of Germany — Germany's Federal Cabinet official website — policy, legislation, news, and government programs
- Federal Office for Migration (BAMF) — German visas, EU Blue Card, asylum, integration courses, and permanent residency
- Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) — Tax ID (IdNr) registration, tax identification lookup, withholding tax refunds — the key authority for foreign taxpayers in Germany