Entry for the purpose of tourism

You are very welcome in Germany.

You will need a visa for tourist purposes to enter Germany. Please apply for this at a German diplomatic mission in your country of origin. Visas for tourist or visitor stays for a maximum of 90 out of 180 days are usually issued as Schengen visas in accordance with the provisions of the Schengen Convention. They are then valid not only for the federal territory, but for the entire Schengen area. Schengen visas cannot be extended.

If you are planning a longer stay in Germany, you should apply for a national visa. Under certain conditions, this also entitles you to move freely within the territory of the other Schengen states for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.

Exceptions

Exceptions apply to the following countries

• Albania
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• China
• Hong Kong
• Macau
• Macedonia
• Moldova
• Montenegro
• Serbia
• Taiwan
• and British overseas territories.

Although you generally require a visa, you may enter the country without a visa if you hold a biometric passport. This entitles you to a short stay of up to 90 out of 180 days. You will still require a visa for a stay beyond this period. The same applies to holders of a BN(O) or SAR passport from Hong Kong, Macau, China and the British Overseas Territories.

Passports from Taiwan must contain an identity card number. A Serbian biometric passport must not have been issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate.

Entry under other conditions

Whether you can enter under other conditions depends on the type of residence permit you have in the EU or EEA country in which you are currently staying.

1. If you are a family member of an EU or EEA citizen, but are neither an EU, EEA nor Swiss citizen yourself, the regulations for entering Germany are based on your nationality. You will then receive a residence card from the immigration authorities in Germany.
2. If you have a right of residence that entitles you to EU-wide mobility, you do not need a visa to visit Germany. If you intend to stay longer than 90 out of 180 days per year, you should check whether an appropriate visa is required and can be issued in the country where you are currently staying. You must then apply for a residence permit in Germany after entering the country.
3. However, if you have a permanent right of residence in another EU member state, you can generally enter Germany without a visa and apply for a residence permit from the local immigration authority.