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Germany, officially known as the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country located in Central Europe. Here are five important facts about Germany:

1. Economic Powerhouse: Germany has one of the largest and strongest economies in the world. It is known for its engineering prowess, technological innovation, and high-quality manufacturing. Key industries include automotive manufacturing, machinery, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Germany is also a major exporter, and its economy plays a crucial role in the European Union.

2. Rich Cultural Heritage: Germany has a rich cultural heritage and has made significant contributions to various fields, including literature, philosophy, music, and art. The country has been home to influential figures such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Albert Einstein. Germany is also famous for its annual Oktoberfest celebration, showcasing traditional Bavarian culture.

3. Historic Landmarks: Germany is home to numerous historic landmarks and architectural marvels. The Brandenburg Gate and the Berlin Wall in Berlin, the Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, and the Cologne Cathedral are just a few examples. The country's history is evident in its well-preserved medieval towns, such as Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Bamberg.

4. Strong Education System: Germany is renowned for its excellent education system. It is home to many prestigious universities, offering a wide range of academic disciplines. German universities have produced numerous Nobel laureates and are highly regarded for their research and innovation. Germany also offers tuition-free or low-cost education for both domestic and international students.

5. Love for Football: Football, or soccer, is an integral part of German culture. The country has a deep passion for the sport, and its national team has achieved great success, winning multiple FIFA World Cup championships. Germany has a strong domestic league, the Bundesliga, which is known for its talented players, passionate fans, and world-class stadiums.

 

Immigration Details

To immigrate to Germany, there are several visa options available depending on your purpose of stay. Here are the main pathways and their requirements:

1. Short-Term Visa:
- Purpose: This visa allows you to stay in Germany for up to 90 days for tourism, business, or family visits.
- Requirements: You will need to provide proof of travel insurance, accommodation arrangements, sufficient funds to cover your stay, and a valid travel document.
- Duration: Up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

2. Job Seeker Visa:
- Purpose: This visa is for individuals who want to search for employment opportunities in Germany.
- Requirements: You must have a recognized qualification, sufficient funds to cover your stay, and proof of travel health insurance.
- Duration: The initial job seeker visa is valid for six months. If you find a job during that time, you can apply for a work visa or a Blue Card.

3. Employment Visa:
- Purpose: This visa is for individuals who have a job offer from a German employer.
- Requirements: You need a job offer from a German company, proof that the job cannot be filled by a German or EU citizen, and proof of qualifications or professional experience.
- Duration: The duration of the employment visa depends on the employment contract.

4. Blue Card:
- Purpose: The Blue Card is designed for highly skilled professionals who have a job offer in Germany.
- Requirements: You must have a recognized university degree, a binding job offer with a specified minimum salary, and proof of health insurance.
- Duration: The initial Blue Card is granted for four years, or for the duration of the employment contract if shorter.

5. Study Visa:
- Purpose: This visa allows you to study at a recognized German educational institution.
- Requirements: You need an acceptance letter from a German university or educational institution, proof of sufficient funds to cover living expenses, and health insurance.
- Duration: The study visa is valid for the duration of your study program.

6. Self-Employment Visa:
- Purpose: This visa is for individuals who want to establish a business or work as a freelancer in Germany.
- Requirements: You need to present a viable business plan, proof of sufficient funds to support yourself, and evidence of relevant qualifications or experience.
- Duration: The self-employment visa is typically granted for three years.

7. Settlement Permit (Permanent Residence):
- Purpose: The settlement permit allows long-term residency in Germany.
- Requirements: You generally need to have lived in Germany for at least five years, have sufficient language skills, show financial stability, and pass a citizenship test.
- Duration: The settlement permit is generally issued for an unlimited period.

8. Citizenship:
- Purpose: German citizenship provides full rights and benefits, including the ability to live and work in Germany and other European Union countries.
- Requirements: The requirements for citizenship include living in Germany for a certain period, demonstrating integration, language proficiency, renouncing previous citizenship (in some cases), and passing a citizenship test.
- Duration: The citizenship application process can take several years.

 

Location
Rank
  • VISA-FREE
    157
  • DUAL CITIZENSHIP
  • POPULATION
    84,316,622
  • Time To Citizenship
    2
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Visa-Free Explain

Where Can German Passport Holders Travel Without a Visa?

As of June 2023, German passport holders can travel visa free to 157 countries and territories:

  • Albania
  • American Samoa
  • Andorra
  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina
  • Armenia
  • Aruba
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia
  • Caribbean Netherlands
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Botswana
  • Brazil
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Brunei
  • Bulgaria
  • Canada
  • Cabo Verde
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Cook Islands
  • Costa Rica
  • Croatia
  • Curaçao
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Dominica
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • El Salvador
  • Estonia
  • Falkland Islands
  • Faroe Islands
  • Fiji
  • Finland
  • France
  • French Guiana
  • French Polynesia
  • French West Indies
  • Georgia
  • Gibraltar
  • Greece
  • Greenland
  • Grenada
  • Guam
  • Guatemala
  • Guyana
  • Haiti
  • Honduras
  • Hong Kong
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Jamaica
  • Japan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kiribati
  • Kosovo
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Latvia
  • Lesotho
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Macau
  • Malaysia
  • Malta
  • Marshall Islands
  • Mauritius
  • Mayotte
  • Mexico
  • Micronesia
  • Moldova
  • Monaco
  • Mongolia
  • Montenegro
  • Montserrat
  • Morocco
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Netherlands
  • New Caledonia
  • New Zealand
  • Nicaragua
  • Niue
  • North Macedonia
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Norway
  • Oman
  • Palau
  • Palestine
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Puerto Rico
  • Qatar
  • Réunion
  • Romania
  • Samoa
  • San Marino
  • São Tomé and Príncipe
  • Senegal
  • Serbia
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Sri Lanka
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Martin
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Suriname
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • Tajikistan
  • Thailand
  • Gambia
  • Timor-Leste
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tunisia
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Tuvalu
  • Türkiye
  • United States Virgin Islands
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Uruguay
  • Uzbekistan
  • Vanuatu
  • Vatican City
  • Venezuela
  • Vietnam
  • Zambia
  • Eswatini

For visa-free travels, you still must have a valid passport — usually six months after your departure date— and you must purchase travel health insurance as required by your destination country.

Where Can German Citizens Go Without a Passport?

German citizens can enter the following countries without a passport with only an ID card:

  • Albania
  • Andorra
  • Aruba
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Caribbean Netherlands
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Curaçao
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Faroe Islands
  • Finland
  • France
  • French Guiana
  • French Polynesia
  • French West Indies
  • Georgia
  • Greece
  • Greenland
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Kosovo
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Mayotte
  • Moldova
  • Monaco
  • Montenegro
  • Netherlands
  • New Caledonia
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Réunion
  • Romania
  • San Marino
  • Serbia
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Saint Martin
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Tunisia
  • Türkiye
  • Vatican City

What Countries Issue eVisa to German Citizens?

The following 14 countries issue eVisas for German passport holders:

  • Angola
  • Azerbaijan
  • Benin
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Ivory Coast
  • Djibouti
  • Ethiopia
  • Gabon
  • Guinea
  • India
  • Iran
  • Kenya
  • Nigeria
  • Uganda

The process of getting an eVisa is more or less the same as applying for a traditional visa. However, in this case, you don’t have to visit a visa application center— you can submit your application online, including the visa payment.

After your application is approved, you will receive an email confirming your visa status along with a document you must print out and bring with you when crossing the border. Your visa will be registered online, but some officers may ask you for a physical copy of the permit; that is why it’s important to keep the copy on your person while traveling.

What Countries Issue Visa on Arrival to German Passport Holders?

If you are a German citizen, you can get a visa on arrival for the 31 countries listed below:

  • Bahrain
  • Bangladesh
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Cambodia
  • Comoros
  • Egypt
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Indonesia
  • Iraq
  • Jordan
  • Kuwait
  • Laos
  • Lebanon
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Maldives
  • Mauritania
  • Myanmar
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Rwanda
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • Saint Helena
  • Tanzania
  • Togo
  • Zimbabwe

You receive a visa on arrival (VOA) after entering the country that issues such a visa. Usually, there is a separate section at the airport where you can submit your application for your visa on arrival.

Countries With Visa Requirements for German Citizens

You need a valid visa to enter the following 24 countries with a German passport:

  • Afghanistan
  • Algeria
  • Bhutan
  • Cameroon
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • China
  • Republic of the Congo
  • Cuba
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Ghana
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • Mali
  • Nauru
  • Niger
  • North Korea
  • Russia
  • South Sudan
  • Sudan
  • Syria
  • Turkmenistan
  • Yemen

The application for a visa goes as follows:

  1. Make an appointment at the visa center in Germany. You must contact a local visa application center in your home country and make an appointment to submit your application. It may take several months to schedule a meeting with the embassy or consulate.
  2. Get your documents ready. To submit a successful application, you have to prepare the required documents for your visa, i.e., passport, application form, health insurance, etc. Some of your documents must be verified with an apostille stamp or certified by a foreign office.
  3. Submit your application. Finally, you can submit your application and attend the visa interview—you may also be required to submit your biometrics. Once you translate your documents as required by the embassy or consulate and verify them with an apostille stamp— if possible, then you can submit your application. From then it will take several weeks until a decision is made regarding your visa application.

Please note that if you have a valid visa that allows you to enter more than one country, you don’t have to apply for a new visa.

What Documents Do German Citizens Need to Apply for a Visa?

German citizens that want to visit countries that require them to apply for a visa beforehand need to submit a few documents. Depending on the country you want to visit, document requirements may vary. However, most countries will certainly require the following:

  • Your valid German passport (plus a photocopy). Some countries require the passport to be valid for more than six months after the day you plan on departing their country.
  • A filled visa application form.
  • Passport pictures that are not older than six months.
  • Travel health insurance that covers your entire period of stay.
  • Proof of paid visa fee.
  • Detailed travel itinerary that shows all the places you want to visit.
  • Letter of invitation (if applicable)
  • Proof of booked return ticket for the flight home.
  • Proof of booked accommodation.
  • Proof that you have sufficient funds to cover your visit
  • Civil status documents (marriage papers, certificates of birth, etc.)
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