Germany proudly stands on the fourth number in the list of largest economies of the world. Many reputed companies and corporate businesses are based here with multiple branches, collaborations, and partnerships in several other nations including some of the third world states. Such partners and collaborators often require visiting Germany for some business affairs. Those businessmen along with anyone and everyone who aspires to travel to Germany for the sake of business and don’t belong to such a state that falls under visa waiver program need to apply for acquiring a business visa to Germany.
What is s Business Visa?
A business visa to Germany is a kind of Schengen Visa for a short stay. It allows the visa holders to enter the country. Besides, they can live here for 90 days usually within a period of six months. Through this visa, the businessmen can visit Germany, perform the business activities, sign formal contracts and attend meetings and conferences.
Who needs a Business Visa?
As mentioned earlier, the business visa to Germany is a short-stay permit. In order to know whether you actually require this permit or not, your nationality is the primary decisive element. Presently, about 62 countries fall under this program of visa-waiver. If you belong to any of such nations, you don’t need a visa to Germany along with the whole Schengen area. Therefore, the first thing you need to do check out the list of those countries which don’t require you to have a visa. If your native country is not there on the list, you have to apply for the visa.
The process of the visa application for Germany includes preparation of some documents, application submission and an interview that is usually held at a German consulate or an Embassy.
Requirements for Business Visa
In order to obtain a business visa or any other visa for Germany, the applicant is expected to meet many prerequisites. If any of the candidates fails to meet the eligibility criteria, he/she will not be allowed to get a visa for entering Germany.
Following is the list of all the documents that are required for applying for a business visa to Germany.
- A duly filled visa application form with all the right information that is in line with the data mentioned in some other documents. Please make sure you get two copies printed and sign both of them at the end.
- A declaration of information accuracy
- Two copies of your photograph which is not older than three months. The photos must meet the set criteria.
- Your National passport which is valid and not older than ten years. The expiry date of the passport must be at least three months after the expected date of your return from Germany. Besides, the passport must contain a blank page where the visa sticker can be affixed. In order to avoid any hassle, make sure you meet all the passport requirements.
- One copy of data page of the passport in A4 size
- Your Travel Health insurance. It is a document which proves that you have acquired health insurance covering the cost of minimum 30,000 Euros in case of an illness, an accident and return of body in case you die. Here it is important to mention that your insurance is required to cover the entire Schengen territory along with Germany.
- Your Flight Itinerary. It must include reservation of your flight, or any other traveling means that you are going to use for reaching Germany. For any assistance in this regard, you can find many visa consultation services online.
- Evidence of your residence where you are going to live throughout your stay in the whole Schengen area. It can be a booking of a hotel along with details of a phone number, email and complete address. Moreover, you can submit the invitation letter by a host who lives in Germany and confirms that he/she is willingly allowing you to stay at their place for the duration of your allowed stay period.
- A proof of your civil status. It can be a birth certificate, a marriage certificate or your spouse’s death certificate if necessary.
- Significant evidence of your financial status. If you are employed somewhere, you will have to submit either the employment contract or your past pay slips of 3 months. Furthermore, if you are self-employed, a valuable proof of ownership is required. It can include sound evidence of agricultural income or a land title proof.
- The official bank statements of last three months
- Your business references
- A letter of invitation from the Germany-based business partner in German or English language. The letter must include the details of an invitee, the desired dates and purpose of the visit with a fully detailed plan of training sessions and business meetings.
- If your stay is for more than 30 days, a complete schedule of business meetings is also required.
- A cover letter from the company including whole travel plan, an explicit mention of your designation, total service duration, and the intent and dates of the visit. Besides, it should also be mentioned that whether the employer is bearing all your expenses for the tour or not.
- The company’s incorporation certificate
Remember to submit the copies of all the documents mentioned above. In addition to these docs, the embassy can also ask you to send some additional documents if these are required. So, if they ask you for some more docs, don’t argue with them and make sure you submit all the papers in time.
Business Visa application process
The entire process of a business visa application for Germany is almost the same as that of German visas for all other categories. If you want to apply timely for avoiding any trouble, remember that you can submit your application about three months before your desired date of the trip. Remember that visa processing can take some time, so it is critical that you apply at least three weeks before the intended date of your visit. Even, you may not be allowed to apply after that.
You can apply at any German consulate or Embassy in your country.
Business Visa Fee for Germany
The total visa application processing fee for Germany is only 60 Euros, and each applicant must pay this amount otherwise his/her application will not be processed. This visa fee can also be paid in your local currency as per the embassy approved exchange rates.
Remember that in case your visa is rejected, the fee will not be refunded. Besides, this price can be changed at any time.
Business Visa Processing Time
Generally, the visa application procedure takes about 10-15 days. Therefore, it is advised that you should apply at least three weeks before the expected date of your trip to Germany. Please note that the process can also take longer than 15 days if the number of applications received by the embassy is increased or if there are some complications in your form.
Business Visa Validity
Interestingly, your business visa validity is not identical for different cases as it depends on the embassy which issued you the visa. The business visa issued by the embassy can either allow single entry or multiple entries.
Singe Entry
It allows you to enter the country for once and spend your permitted period of stay as mentioned in the visa. As the name indicates, you are allowed to enter Germany only one time.
Multiple Entry
Multiple entries allow the visa holders to enter Germany for more than one time in their permitted period. The multiple entry is subjected to a condition that you will not overstay and return at the end of the authorized period.
Remember that you may also apply for a multiple-entry visa offering a validity of 12 months or more. In these conditions, it is crucial to follow the rule of 90 days for six months. According to this rule, when you want to go to Germany, you must carefully count if you have lived in Schengen for more than three months within the period of past 180 days.