Foreigners require a national visa for a longer-term stay (over 90 days) in Germany.
The following do not require a visa
- EU nationals and
- Citizens of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America.
- Nationals of Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco and San Marino who do not wish to pursue gainful employment with the exception of the activities listed in Section 17 (2) AufenthV.
Nationals of these countries can also enter Germany for a longer stay without a national visa and apply for their residence permit at the immigration authority within 90 days of entering the country.
The procedure and requirements depend on your nationality and the purpose of your stay in Germany (e.g. gainful employment, family reunification, study and training).
In certain cases, you must provide proof of German language skills. The issue of the national visa is governed by the same regulations that apply to the issue of the residence permit that you must apply for in Germany before the visa expires (e.g. residence permit, EU Blue Card).