The Guide to German Visas
You’re seeking a German visa, but do you know which you qualify for? There is no shortage of German visa types, which is why it’s so tricky to understand which one you qualify for (not to mention how to obtain your German visa if you meet those qualifications).
To straighten out some of that famous German red tape in your mind—which, if you’re in the process of relocating, is likely in little knots by now—we’ve prepared this Guide to German visas. On a high level, German visas can be categorized into three groups:
Let’s break down the many types of visas within these categories, so you understand what’s available. Since Jetztpat focuses on relocation, we’ll expand on the topic of Residence Permits—more on that later.
The Guide to German Visas
Short Stay Visas (<90 Days)
Also known as the “Schengen Visa”, a Short Stay Visa allows you to travel to Germany and within the so-called Schengen Region for 90 days within a period of 180 days. If you obtain one of these visas, you have the ability to use it in the Schengen Region, which consists of the following 26 countries: Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
The types of Short Stay Visas are:
Airport Transit Visa – visa to pass through German (or Schengen) airport on your way to a non-Schengen country, required by citizens of certain countries.
Business Visa – visa to do business in Germany (or Schengen) for up to 90 days, required by citizens of certain countries.
Tourist Visa – visa to tour Germany (or Schengen) for up to 90 days, required by citizens of certain countries.
Visitor Visa – visa to visit family or friends in Germany (or Schengen) for up to 90 days, required by citizens of certain countries. There are additional requirements for a Visitor Visa, such as a letter of invitation.
ETIAS – not a visa at all, but rather a visa waiver pre-screening program for people intending to visit the EU. If you are from one of 62 eligible countries, you can obtain this type of “non-visa”.
Long Stay Visas (90 Days-12 Months)
Long Stay Visas, also known as the D Visa, are usually issued for 3 months but can be issued for up to 12 months. There are a number of reasons you may want to stay in Germany for a few months, from working to studying to being with family. Of course, each of these scenarios requires a different visa.
D Visa types include:
Student Visa
Employment Visa
Job Seeker Visa
Family Reunion Visa
Researcher Visa
Freelancer Visa
Language Course Visa
Student Internship Visa
Medical Treatment Visa
The reasons to choose each visa are clearly defined by their name.
As a general rule of thumb, you’ll need one of these German visas to do the above activities for 3-12 months if you are a non-EU and non-EEA national. If you are from the EU, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland, you don’t need a visa to enter Germany for any purpose (due to that Schengen Agreement mentioned above).
For more information on each of the D Visas, visit the Federal Foreign Office site.
Residence Permits (Long Term + Extensions)
At Jetztpat we’re here to help you relocate to and thrive in Germany. As such, we spend most of our time helping people obtain the visas—or Residence Permits—that allow them to stay in Germany for an extended period of time.
As with the visas above, there are a number of different types of Residence Permits. While for shorter stays, choosing the type of German visa often depends on the country you’re from and your reason for traveling, choosing the right Residence Permit depends on a number of additional criteria – such as your profession, your salary, where you studied, etc.
There are different types of Residence Permits to choose from. The 5 main types are:
Germany Temporary Residence Permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) - most common type of residence permit, typically valid for 12 months but can be extended
Germany ICT (Intra-corporate transfer to the European Union) Card - for third-country nationals working for a another branch of an undertaking established outside of the EU
Germany Mobile ICT Card - for third-country nationals holding an EU ICT permit issued by another EU member state, on assignment in Germany for more than 90 days, as managers, specialists or trainees, within the same group of companies.
Germany EU Blue Card - residence permits for qualified professionals with job offers in Germany for more than EUR 56,800 (in 2021). EU Blue Card allows you to relocate within the EU after a given period of time.
Germany Permanent Settlement Permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) - allows you to live and work in Germany as long as you need, but requires additional approvals in terms of time lived in Germany, language proficiency, etc. You can receive a Permanent Settlement Permit after 21-33 months if you have an EU Blue Card and 5 years if you have a Temporary Residence Permit.
The two more common Residence Permits are the Temporary Residence Permit and the Germany EU Blue Card (sometimes called German Blue Card, sometimes called EU Blue Card, and sometimes just called Blue Card). The main differences between the two lie in the rights for your spouse to work in Germany, the right to work in another EU state, and, since the Blue Card is focused on specialized knowledge, a governmental “double-check” to make sure there are no German workers qualified to do the job. Learn more about the German Residence Permit vs. Blue Card here.