Applying for a Visa at a German Embassy or Consulate
If you want to apply for a visa before arriving in Germany, you must apply at your local German Botschaft (embassy) or Konsulat (consulate). On this page, you can access our comprehensive visa guides which provide step-by-step application information for all the main visas for Germany!
If you are on this page, it is likely you are looking to apply for a visa for Germany. From completing the application documents correctly to ensuring you have suitable insurance coverage, visas often strike fear into expats looking to move to Germany. While visas are definitely one of the more complicated factors when moving abroad, Germany offers a wide range of options that allow you to work, live and study on a long-term basis! Use our guides linked below to find out exactly how, where and when to apply for different visas for Germany.
German visa guides for applying at your local German embassy or consulate
If you already know which visa you want to apply for, then the next step is find your local German embassy or consulate. To identify where this might be, see our German embassy/consulate directory.
Once you have identified where to apply, you can start preparing your application. We recommend using our visa guides, which will help you through the application process at your local German embassy or consulate:
✔️ How to apply for a Work Visa
✔️ How to apply for an EU Blue Card
✔️ How to apply for a Working Holiday Visa
✔️ How to apply for a Job Seekers Visa
✔️ How to apply for a German Language Visa
✔️ How to apply for an Au Pair Visa
We’ve also put together some country-specific guides for the German Working Holiday Visa:
✔️ Applying for the German Working Holiday Visa in Argentina
✔️ Applying for the German Working Holiday Visa in Australia
✔️ Applying for the German Youth Mobility Visa in Canada
✔️ Applying for the German Working Holiday Visa in Chile
✔️ Applying for the German Working Holiday Visa in Hong Kong
✔️ Applying for the German Working Holiday Visa in Israel
✔️ Applying for the German Working Holiday Visa in Japan
✔️ Applying for the German Working Holiday Visa in New Zealand
✔️ Applying for the German Working Holiday Visa in South Korea
✔️ Applying for the German Working Holiday Visa in Taiwan
✔️ Applying for the German Working Holiday Visa in Uruguay
✔️ Applying for the German Working Holiday Visa in Brazil
If you are unsure about whether you need to apply for a visa before or after entering Germany or you want to find out which visas you are eligible for, then read on…
Where can I apply for a visa for Germany?
🌎 Before looking at the different visa types for Germany, it is important to establish exactly where you can apply for a visa for Germany, as this is dependent on your nationality:
✅ If you are an EU citizen or a national of the EEA states of Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland, you can enter Germany with just a valid passport or ID card.
You are entitled to live and work in Germany without a visa. If you fall into this category, our visa guides are not relevant to you, although you may benefit from our other guides for Germany.
✅ If you are from Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, Israel, New Zealand, the UK, or the US, you can apply for a visa for Germany either before or after arriving in Germany.
Citizens of these countries can enter Germany visa-free for a 90-day period and then apply for a visa directly at an Ausländerbehörde (immigration office) in Germany. If you would prefer to apply for your visa after arriving in Germany, you can find our guides for this here.
*One exception is the Working Holiday Visa for Korean citizens, which must be applied for in South Korea.
Alternatively, you can apply for a visa at a German consulate or embassy prior to arriving in Germany as detailed on this page.
✅ If you are from Brazil, you can apply for non-work-related visas in Germany.
This includes the German Language Visa and Student Visa. Work-related visas must be applied for before entering Germany.
✅ Citizens from all other countries not listed above must apply for a visa before entering Germany at a German embassy or consulate overseas.
You are not permitted to enter Germany without a visa. You must first be approved for a national visa by a German embassy or consulate before you can enter Germany. Follow the guides above for extensive guidance on applying for a visa for Germany at a German embassy or consulate.
What visa can I apply for at the German consulate or embassy?
We have established above that only citizens of Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, Israel, New Zealand, the UK, and the US can apply for a visa at an Ausländerbehörde (immigration office) after arriving in Germany.
For everyone else, your only option is to apply for a visa for Germany at your local German embassy or consulate before moving to Germany. To find your local embassy or consulate, check out our directory of where you can apply for German visas around the world. Below are some of the most popular options amongst expats applying for visas at German embassies or consulates overseas.
1️⃣ Working Visa for Germany
Visa length: Up to three years depending on the length of your work contract. The Working Visa can be renewed.
Age restriction: None
Main application requirements if applying at a German embassy or consulate:
A solid job offer and work contract from a company based in Germany.
German public health insurance.
A university degree that is officially recognised in Germany.
Related resources
👍 Complete guide to applying for a Working Visa at a German Consulate or Embassy
👍 Our favourite German public health insurance for your Working Visa application
👍 How to check if your university degree is officially recognised in Germany
2️⃣ EU Blue Card for Germany
Visa length: Up to 4 years depending on the length of your work contract. The EU Blue Card for Germany can be extended.
Age restriction: None
The main application requirements if applying at a German embassy or consulate:
A university degree that is officially recognised in Germany.
A job offer from a German-based company with a minimum annual salary of €58,400 or a job offer from a German-based company with a minimum annual salary of €45,552 if you work in a shortage occupation.
German public health insurance.
Related resources
👍 Complete guide to applying for an EU Blue Card at a German Consulate or Embassy
👍 How to check if your university degree is officially recognised in Germany
👍 Our favourite German public health insurance for your EU Blue Card application
3️⃣ Working Holiday Visa / Youth Mobility Visa
Visa length: One year (although Canadian citizens can apply twice)
Age restriction: Only persons aged 18 – 30 (35 for Canadians) can apply for the Working Holiday Visa.
Who can apply for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany: Citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Argentina, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Israel and Chile.
Only citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan and Israel can apply for the Working Holiday Visa after arriving in Germany. Citizens of other countries, must apply for the visa at a German embassy/consulate before arriving in Germany. See our guides above for further details of how to apply for a Working Holiday Visa at a German embassy or consulate overseas.
Main application requirements if applying at a German embassy or consulate:
Travel/expat insurance for the full duration of the visa
Proof of funds (the amount varies depending on where you apply)
Related resources
👍 Complete guide to applying for a Working Holiday Visa at a German Consulate or Embassy
👍 Our favourite travel/expat insurance for your Working Holiday Visa application
👍 What you need to know about the German Working Holiday Visa
👍 Where should you apply for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany and why
4️⃣ Job Seekers Visa
Visa length: Six months
Age restriction: None
Main application requirements if applying at a German embassy or consulate:
A university degree that is officially recognised in Germany.
Travel/expat insurance for the full duration of the visa.
Proof of funds to show that you can support yourself throughout the 6-month visa duration.
Related resources
👍 Complete guide to applying for a Job Seekers Visa at a German Consulate or Embassy
👍 How to check if your university degree is officially recognised in Germany
👍 Our favourite travel/expat insurance for your Job Seekers Visa application
5️⃣ German Language Visa
Visa length: Up to one year
Age restriction: None
Main application requirements if applying at a German embassy or consulate:
A contract from a language school in Germany showing you are enrolled in an ‘intensive’ language course (i.e. at least 18 lesson hours per week).
Travel/expat health insurance for the entirety of the visa.
Proof of funds to show that you can support yourself throughout the visa duration.
Related resources
👍 Complete guide to applying for a German Language Visa at a German Consulate or Embassy
👍 Our favourite travel/expat insurance for your German Language Visa application
6️⃣ Student Visa
Visa length: 1–2 years. The Student Visa for Germany can be renewed.
Age restriction: None
Main application requirements if applying at a German embassy or consulate:
Certificate of enrollment or conditional approval for studying at a German university.
German public health insurance.
Proof of funds to show that you can support yourself throughout the visa duration.
Related resources
7️⃣ Au Pair Visa
Visa length: Up to one year.
Age restriction: Only persons aged 18 – 26 can apply for this visa.
Main application requirements if applying at a German embassy or consulate:
An au pair contract from a host family in Germany.
Medical insurance to cover you for the duration of the visa.
Related resources
👍 Complete guide to applying for an Au Pair Visa at a German Consulate or Embassy