Visas for Germany, without the guesswork

Short stays in Germany run on the shared Schengen rules — one C visa (or none, for exempt passports) covers all 29 countries. Everything else is national: where you apply, who runs the centres, and every stay over 90 days.

How Germany takes applications

Good to know about Germany

• Germany moved national-visa applications onto its digital Auslandsportal — apply online first, then book biometrics; paper-first guides are outdated.
• The points-based Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) lets qualified workers come WITHOUT a job offer to search for one — unique among Schengen states.
• Appointment wait times at German missions vary enormously by country (days in the US, months in parts of South Asia).

Staying longer than 90 days

National visas (work, study, family) can be filed digitally on the Consular Services Portal since 2025 for most categories; the Skilled Immigration Act routes (incl. the Opportunity Card / Chancenkarte) still finish with an in-person appointment.

Check your situation

Pick your passport for an exact answer — visa, visa-free, or free movement:

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