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IMPORTANT: Select a location.To obtain application forms, location-specific information and contacts, select a town or zip code.

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Your selected location: Rhede (Ems) (268...)

Which place to enter?

The location is used to determine the responsible office for the selected administrative service. In most cases you can enter your place of residence to find the competent authority. However, there are also cases in which a different location must be specified. Here are some examples:

Birth certificateYou want to get married and need a birth certificate. You live in Hanover, but you were born in Celle. You must therefore state your place of birth, i.e. Celle.

Business registrationYou would like to register a business in Braunschweig. Your place of residence is Hanover. You must therefore state the location of your future business, i.e. Braunschweig.

Apply for a building permitYou would like to build a house in Wunstorf and therefore apply for a building permit. Her place of residence is currently Hanover. You must indicate the place where the house is to be built. In this case it is Wunstorf.

Applying for a visa for a short stay in Germany and the Schengen area

Read aloud

If you are a national of a country listed in Annex I of the Visa Regulation of the European Union (Regulation (EU) 2018/1806), you need a visa for short stays of up to 90 days per 180-day period in the Schengen area. You can find the regulation including Annex I in the Legal basis section.

If Germany is your only destination or main destination (in the Schengen area), you can apply for a visa at a German mission abroad (embassies and consulates); the same applies if you do not have a main destination but intend to enter the Schengen area via Germany's external borders.

The German diplomatic mission abroad to which you must submit your application depends on your place of residence. In many countries, the application can also be submitted to a service provider. In countries where Germany does not have a mission abroad, it may be possible to apply for a visa to travel to Germany at another Schengen partner.

The visa generally entitles the holder to stays of up to 90 days within a period of 180 days, for example for visits, business and tourist stays.

EU agreements with individual third countries make it easier for their nationals to apply. Information on this can be found on the list of countries with visa facilitation.

If you are a national of a country listed in Annex II of the Visa Regulation of the European Union (Regulation (EU) 2018/1806) and you do not wish to pursue gainful employment, you do not need a visa to enter the Schengen area.

Legal basis

Which documents are required?

  • Application for a Schengen visa, category C
  • a valid travel document, e.g. passport
  • biometric photograph
  • a completed and signed application form
  • Proof of appropriate and valid travel health insurance
  • proof of the purpose of your trip and the conditions of your stay in Germany
  • Proof that you can pay for your stay and your return journey
  • Details of the documents required for a visa application can be found on the website of the responsible German diplomatic mission abroad and in the information sheets posted there

Requirements

  • You will need a valid travel document.
  • You must submit a completed and signed application form.
  • You must be able to substantiate the purpose of your trip and the conditions of your stay.
  • You must be able to demonstrate that you are leaving the Schengen area before your visa expires.
  • You must not be the subject of an alert for refusal of entry in the Schengen Information System (SIS).
  • You must not pose a threat to public policy, internal security, public health or the international relations of one or more member states of the Schengen area.

Process flow

As a rule, you must submit the application documents in person:

  • You can find the application form and detailed information on which documents you need to enclose with the application on the website of the German diplomatic mission in your place of residence.
  • Please book an appointment for the application in good time.
  • You can submit the complete application form and the required supporting documents either directly to the German diplomatic mission abroad or to an external service provider.
  • When you submit your first application, your fingerprints will be taken (these must be saved every 5 years).
  • The visa will be affixed to your passport in the form of a label.
  • Only if you cannot be granted a visa will you receive a written decision, which will also inform you of the legal remedies available to you against this decision.

Appeal

  • Remonstration (to be lodged with the German diplomatic mission or consular post deciding on the Schengen visa application)
  • Complaint (to the Berlin Administrative Court)

Applications / forms

Forms available: Yes

Written form required: Yes

Informal application possible: No

Personal appearance required: Yes

Online services available: Yes

What else should I know?

Persons listed in Article 6 of the EU Visa Regulation (e.g. holders of diplomatic passports, civilian flight or ship personnel) are exempt from the visa requirement.

Author

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Competent authority

The missions abroad of the Federal Republic of Germany (embassies, consulates general) designated by the Federal Foreign Office are responsible for visa matters abroad. You can find all the necessary information about your German representation on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.

Who should I contact?

Contact persons for Schengen visas are the visa offices of the German diplomatic missions abroad.

Source: Serviceportal Niedersachsen (Portalverbund des Bundes und der Länder)

Further Links

Read aloud

Single points of contact of the state of Lower Saxony, Single points of contact of the countries of Europe, advice and assistance for EU citizens and their families.
Access information on the single point of contact for the state of Lower Saxonyvisit Website Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEsVisit advice and assistance for EU citizens and their families