Temporary Residence with a Visa

Are you the citizen of a state from which you can only enter Germany with a visa? Then you must initially apply for this at the German diplomatic mission (embassies, consulates) stating the intended purpose of your stay.

A national visa is needed if

• you will stay in Germany for longer than three months and
• if you want to reside in Germany for a purpose of stay specified in the German Residence Act.

Tip: You will find  a list of countries with visa requirements and those that are exempt from visa obligations for entry into the Federal Republic of Germany (opens in a new tab)on the Federal Foreign Office website.

Citizens of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of American can also enter the Federal Republic for a longer stay without a visa and must apply for a residence permit no later than 3 months after entry in such cases.  

• Passport or replacement passport
• Proof of the above-mentioned conditions (e.g. letter of commitment from a third party confirming that you can provide for yourself)
• Proof that the special conditions for the intended residence permit exist.

§§ 5.6 German Residence Act (AufenthG)
Schengen borders code
EU visa regulation
Visa code

A Schengen Visa is for a short stay up to three months within a period of six months from the date of the first entry.

It entitles you to short stays in

• Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands Norway, Austria, Portugal, Sweden, Spain
• Also Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary as well as
• Switzerland
• Liechtenstein

Tip: You will find a  list of countries with visa requirements and those that are exempt from visa obligations for entry into the Federal Republic of Germany (opens in a new tab) on the Federal Foreign Office website.

• Your identity has been established and you meet the passport requirement,
• you can provide for yourself,
  there is no reason to deport you and
• there is no entitlement to a residence permit so far:
  your stay does not disrupt or jeopardise the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany.

• Passport or replacement passport
• Proof of the above-mentioned conditions (e.g. letter of commitment from a third party confirming that you can provide for yourself)

• §§ 5,6 German Residence Act (AufenthG)
• Schengen borders code
• EU visa regulation
• Visa code