Visas for Germany: Our Guides
There is a wide range of fantastic visas that allow you to work, live, study and travel in Germany. To help you explore your visa options, we have pooled our knowledge and put together complete visa guides to help you on your way! Below, you will find our guides for applying for a wide variety of visas either before or after arriving in Germany.
Work Visa for Germany
EU Blue Card for Germany
Job Seekers Visa for Germany
Working Holiday Visa for Germany
We have also put together guides on how to apply for a German Working Holiday Visa at specific German embassies or consulates around the world:
Freelance Visa for Germany
Language Visa for Germany
Student Visa for Germany
Au Pair Visa for Germany
Where can I apply for a visa for Germany?
🌎 When looking at the different visa guides for Germany, it is important to understand 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 moving to 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.
Alternatively, you can apply for a visa at a German consulate or embassy prior to arriving in Germany.
*One exception is the German Working Holiday Visa for Korean citizens, which must be applied for in South Korea.
✅ 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.