Although Germany has visa facilitation agreements with over 60 countries (including the US, Canada, Australia, UK, Japan, etc.), there are still many countries worldwide whose citizens need to obtain a visa even for short tourist trips.
This visa is known as a German Schengen Visa, and allows the holder to visit Germany and all other countries in the Schengen Area for the duration it is issued (max. 90 days).
You have to apply for a Schengen visa if you plan to visit Germany for a period shorter than three months, for either visiting family or friends or sightseeing.
Learn how to apply for a Schengen visa for tourism, as well as the visa requirements, fees, duration, and more.
What is a Tourist/Visitor Visa to Germany?
A Schengen Tourism / Visitor visa to Germany is a visa established by the Schengen states, which allows its holder to visit Germany and all of the 27 Schengen member countries. It is issued in the form of a sticker affixed to the passport of the traveller.
The Schengen visa for tourism purposes or visiting friends and family members limits you to only travelling and sightseeing throughout the Schengen area.
Please note that as a holder of a Schengen tourist visa, you are not allowed to work or study; thus, you must apply for a student visa or work visa (national visa) or other visa types according to your purpose of entry if you wish to enter Germany for other than tourism.
Do I Need to Apply for a Schengen Visa to Visit Germany?
Whether you need a short-stay visa to Germany or not, it all depends on your nationality/citizenship, according to the common visa policies established by the Schengen states. There is a list of more than 60 countries whose citizens do not need to apply for a visa to enter the Schengen area and Germany.
Here are the categories of travellers that would need and those who don’t need a visa to visit Germany:
Visitors that do not need a visa to visit Germany | Visitors that need a visa to visit Germany |
Citizens of the Schengen Area | Do not have a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen member states |
Citizens of one of the countries that have established a visa-free regime with the Schengen states* | Have a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen countries, but the traveler was rejected from entering visa-free by border guards |
Holders of visas from other Schengen countries | |
Holders of national visas issued by one of the member states | |
Holders of permanent residence permits issued by one of the Schengen countries |
*From 2025 onwards, all travelers from this category will be required to apply for an ETIAS before traveling to any of the Schengen member states, in order to be allowed to enter the territory.
How to Obtain a German Tourist/Visitor Visa?
To get a German Tourist/Visitor visa, you will have to follow the application process steps listed below:
- Collect the required documents. See the list below!
- Figure out where you need to apply. For example, this could be the German embassy/consulate/visa centre in your home country.
- Appoint an interview. You may appoint it online or in person at the German consulate/embassy.
- Pay the visa fee.
- Attend the interview. The interview may last around 20 minutes, during which the visa consular will ask you questions about your trip and require your documents.
- Wait for a response on your application.
Germany Tourist/Visitor Visa Application Requirements
The required documents for a German tourist visa are as follows:
- Application form completed in English or German. The form should be fully, honestly and correctly completed, printed and signed at the end.
- Declaration of Accuracy of Information.
- Passport-size photographs. Please note that these photos should be identical and fulfil the visa photo requirements. Get your German visa-compliant photo at MyBiometricPhotos.com.
- Valid national passport. The passport should be no older than 10 years and have at least one blank page to affix the visa sticker on it and fulfil the other passport requirements.
- Personal bank statements for the last three months.
- Schengen Travel Insurance. You should submit a confirmation letter from your health insurance stating coverage for emergency medical treatment with a minimum of €30,000. We recommend PROVISIT VISUM by DR-WALTER – It is very cheap, and it is accepted by German consulates worldwide. You can cancel it free of charge, subject to the presentation of proof that a visa has been refused! PROVISIT VISUM provides the mandatory insurance certificate required when you apply for a Schengen visa.
- Proof of accommodation. This can be a hotel booking for your whole stay in the Schengen region or a letter of invitation from a family member or friend residing in any of the Schengen countries.
- Proof of flight reservation. You can use the visa consultation services like this one or find one online.
- Proof of financial means. This could be:
- A bank statement not older than three months or
- A letter of sponsorship from another person – Declaration of Commitment “Verpflichtungserklärungen”.
- Leave a letter from your company (if employed)
- No-objection certificate.
- If you are a student, your school or university should issue this certificate to you.
- If you are an employee, your employer or the company where you work should issue this letter.
- If you are not a student and you do not work either, this certificate is not required.
- A Cover Letter. This personal cover letter should explain why you wish to visit Germany, how long you intend to remain there, and what you will be doing there, amongst others.
- Invitation Letter. A letter of invitation from the person the applicant is visiting in Germany, which may take the form of sponsorship or private accommodation. The invitation letter should also include the address, period of stay and contact details of the host.
- Proof of civil status. That could be a marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, spouse’s death certificate, ration card (if applicable), etc.
- Your driver’s license and/or utility bill in your name. This is required as proof of residence in the consulate where you plan to apply for the visa.
- For minors:
- If travelling unaccompanied by the parent(s), a consent letter signed by both parents
- The form signed by both parents
- Copy of the parent(s)’ passports data page
Where to Apply for a Germany Tourist/Visitor Visa?
If Germany is your only Schengen destination, depending on how the German authorities have regulated visa applications in your country, you may have to apply at:
- The German embassy
- The German consulate
- Visa centre
However, if you plan to visit more than only Germany, you can apply at the German embassy/consulate/visa centre in your home country only if Germany is your main destination. That means:
- You will visit other countries but will be spending more days in Germany than in any other.
- You will spend equal days in every country you visit, but you will enter the Schengen through Germany.
If none of the above statements applies to you, despite that you plan to visit Germany, among other countries, you may have to apply at the embassy of another Schengen member state.
When to Apply for a Tourist/Visitor Visa to Germany?
The earliest you can file your Schengen visa application is, at most, six months before your intended trip to Germany. Whereas the latest you can do so is two weeks before your trip to Germany.
However, you are highly recommended to apply for a tourist visa at least 3 weeks before your travel date to avoid any processing delays.
Visa Fees for a Tourist/Visitor Visa
You will need to pay a visa fee for your application to be processed. The cost of a Schengen visa as of 2020 is €80. However, some categories are exempt from paying the visa fee or have to pay a reduced fee. Make sure you check if you belong to any of them before you pay the fee.
Please note the visa fees will not be reimbursed in case of visa rejection, and the price is subject to change at any time.
How Long Does it Take to Process a Germany Short Stay Visa for Tourism?
Short-stay visas to Germany take around ten days to be processed. However, when the embassy is processing many visa applications, tourism visas may take a bit longer since business visas or others are treated with more priority. This is the main reason why you are suggested to file your application for a German tourism/visitor visa as soon as possible.
How Long Can You Stay in Germany With a Schengen Visa?
The longest time you can remain in Germany with a tourist Schengen visa is three months, according to the 90/180 rule. However, the German embassy in your home country is the one that decides how many days you can spend in Germany and within which dates. Therefore, please understand that there is a slight difference between visa validity and the duration of stay.
Visa validity is the first date you can enter the Schengen Area and leave on the last day. Whereas the duration of stay is the number of days you can spend in the Schengen within the validity of your visa. Therefore, the validity of a visa has always been longer than the duration of the stay. Do not violate the validity of your visa or the duration of your stay; otherwise, you may face a ban or deportation.
Can a German Schengen Visa Be Converted Into a Residence Permit?
A Schengen visa can be converted into a residence permit only if some requirements are fulfilled while in Germany. For more information, please read “Converting Schengen Visa Into a Residence Permit“.
If you still have questions about a visa to Germany, please read the Frequently Asked Questions about a Germany Visa and their answers, so you may find what you need.