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Immigration and work
Short-stay visas -
Schengen visa and transit visa
If you are entering Germany for a short-term stay - for example for a holiday, a family visit or a business trip - you will need a visa in most cases. There are different types of visas, depending on the duration and purpose of your stay. In the following, you will find out which visa you need, how to apply for a visa and what you can do if your visa is rejected.
The most important facts in a nutshell:
- With the Schengen visa, short-term holiday or business trips and family visits to Germany are possible.
- If you are only passing through Germany on your way from a foreign country requiring a visa to another country, you may need a transit visa.
- If your visa has been refused, you can appeal against it or file a complaint with the administrative court.
Visa types - transit visa, Schengen visa
Various types of visas can be considered for short-term stays in the Federal Republic of Germany - depending on the purpose of your stay.
Transit visa (A and B visa)
If the Federal Republic of Germany is not your destination, but you are coming from a foreign country requiring a visa and are planning a stopover in Germany, you often need a transit visa.
You do not need this transit visa for stopovers if you stay in the transit area for up to 24 hours.
However, please note that you may have to leave the transit area at some airports in order to reach your connecting flight in another terminal. In this case, you will need a transit visa. In some cases, there are further special regulations for individual countries. Therefore, please ask the German embassy/consulate responsible for you.
Schengen visa (C visa)
For a short-term stay in the Federal Republic of Germany you usually have to apply for a Schengen visa (C visa).
However, this only applies to entry from abroad where a visa is required. This entitles you to stay in the entire Schengen area for up to 90 (three months) days per 180 days. The Schengen visa is the most important visa for anyone entering the Federal Republic for a short-term family visit, holiday or business trip.
Therefore, the following article mainly refers to the Schengen visa. However, it is not permitted to take up work with a Schengen visa. For this, you usually have to apply for a national visa (see the article on longer-term stays).
How can I apply for the visa?
You must apply for the Schengen visa at a German mission abroad (embassy, consulate). However, German missions abroad are only responsible if your main travel destination is also the Federal Republic of Germany.
You will need the following documents to submit your application:
- Proof of the purpose of your stay (e.g. hotel booking).
- Proof of financing and health insurance during the stay
- Proof of willingness to return to your home country
- Passport
- Biometric passport photos
- Completed application form (usually online)
Proof of funding can be provided, for example, by a third party's undertaking to pay for your costs, or by paying a sufficient amount into a blocked account or by bank account statements.
As a rule, you will also be asked to provide proof of your accommodation. For proof of your health insurance, a confirmation letter from the health insurance company is usually sufficient.
Make sure that your passport is not older than 10 years and is still valid for at least three months after you plan to leave the Schengen area.
To apply, you usually have to make an appointment at the mission responsible for you, where you appear in person and bring your documents with you. The diplomatic mission or consular post will then examine the application and issue the visa or, if necessary, inform you by letter that the visa has been refused.
How long does it take to process my application? The processing time of visa applications can vary greatly. In favourable cases, you can collect your visa just a few days after submitting your application. However, please note that a processing time of about three months is not uncommon either! Therefore, submit your application as early as possible.
What does the application cost?
A fee of €80.00 is charged for the visa. This applies to both the Schengen and the transit visa. The visa fee is waived completely for children under six years of age and is reduced for children between six and twelve years of age (€40.00). You must already pay this fee when applying at the consulate or embassy.
My visa application was rejected - what can I do?
You must be informed of the rejection of your visa application in writing. However, this letter often lacks a statement of reasons. In many cases, a competent lawyer can determine the background of the rejection. In many cases, the reason for the refusal is that the financing of the stay or the readiness to return is doubted.
Legal action can be taken against the refusal of your visa: Either by remonstrating against the decision or by filing a complaint with the administrative court for the granting of the visa within one month. Remonstration in this context means submitting counter-appeals to the diplomatic mission or consular post at which the visa was applied for. You should have your lawyer check whether and, if so, which legal remedy makes sense in your case.
Short & sweet
If you are travelling to Germany from a foreign country requiring a visa and are planning a short-term holiday, business trip or family visit, you will need a Schengen visa. This allows you to move freely throughout the Schengen area for up to 90 days. However, it does not allow you to take up employment. You must apply for the visa at a German mission abroad. If the application is rejected, you can appeal against it or file a complaint with the administrative court. The chances of success of these legal remedies can be assessed by an expert lawyer in each individual case.