Germany Tourist and Visit Visa

Germany Schengen Visa for a Visit to Family and Friends in Germany

Germany is among the most beautiful places in the world. The country has a lot to offer to the tourists. Some of the most popular places and events in Germany include Schwerin Castle, The Old Town Hall, Nuremberg Christmas Market, Cologne Cathedral, Octoberfest and many more which attract a large number of tourists from all across the globe. Moreover, the tasty sausages and bread, a vast variety of beers, unmatched hospitality of German people, and a lot more make Germany a worth visiting place. You might be surprised to know that about 459.6 million people visited Germany in the year 2017.

Although the country is tempting for everyone but not can go and explore the beauty of the place as it is not that easy to take a tour to Germany. Many people need a visa to enter the territory of Germany.

Although Germany has signed some agreements of visa facilitation with multiple countries still, there are many countries whose nationals need to acquire a visa for tourism and short stays as well.

Those people who are planning to go to Germany for a short period of less than three months for sightseeing and tourism or for visiting their friends and families, a Schengen visa is required.

What is a Visitor/Tourist visa to Germany?

A Schengen Visitor/Tourist visa to Germany is issued by the Schengen states. It allows the visa holders to visit all the 26 Schengen countries along with Germany. This visa is granted as a sticker which is affixed to the traveler’s passport.

The Schengen Tourist Visa restricts the holders to only sightseeing and traveling throughout the Schengen area. Remember that you cannot work or study in Germany under the tourist visa. It is essentially necessary that you apply for the appropriate visa type as per your requirements if you are planning to visit Germany with any other intent than visiting and tourism.

Who needs to apply for a Visitor or Tourism Visa to Germany?

According to the policies and rules set by the Schengen states, whether a traveler requires a short-stay visa to Germany or not, depends on his/her citizenship or nationality. As per the short stay entry policies of Germany, the nationals of about 62 third-world nations are allowed to enter in Germany without a visa. So, if you are planning to visit Germany, make sure you first check out whether you require a permit for traveling to Germany or not.

Visitors who don’t require a visa to Visit Germany

Not everyone needs a visa to visit Germany. There are many countries whose nationals can enter the country visa-free. Such travelers who belong to one of the below-mentioned categories don’t need a visa to enter the country for either visiting their family and friends or for sightseeing and tourism.

Citizens of Schengen Area

Citizens of any of the countries which have set up the visa-free administration with all the Schengen states.

Citizens of any third-world nation which does not have a visa-free rule with the Schengen States but is presently included in Schengen zone under:

  • Schengen visa approved for the entire Schengen Territory
  • National Visa granted by any one of the Schengen States
  • Permanent Residency of any one of the Schengen member States

Effective from January first, 2021, all the travelers who fall under this category will have to apply for ETIAS before they start traveling towards any one of the Schengen States, for getting permission to visit the territory.

Visitors who need a Visa to Germany

On the contrary, many travelers need to acquire a Schengen visa prior to traveling to Germany if they belong to any of those third world countries that

Have no agreement of visa liberalization with any of the Member states of Schengen.

Have an agreement of visa liberalization with the Schengen States, but the border guards did not allow the candidate to enter the country visa-free.

How to acquire a German Visitor Visa

If you wish to get a tourist/ visitor visa to Germany, you must follow the below-mentioned application process.

Collection of required documents

Find out a place where you have to apply for a visa. It can be an application center, a German consulate or a German Embassy in your country.

Schedule an interview

You can either appoint a visa interview online or by asking the authorities at the German embassy or consulate.

Pay the visa processing fee

Attend your interview

Please note that the interview may take about 20 minutes. During this meeting with the visa consular, he will ask you some questions regarding your intended trip, and he will also need your documents. So remember to bring them when you go for an interview.

Wait for a response on your visa application

Requirements of Visitor/Tourist Visa to Germany

Just like for any other type of visa to any other place, for acquiring a visitor visa to Germany, you will have to collect a couple of relevant documents.

The documents needed to complete your visitor visa application include:

Application form

You can complete the form in Either German or English language. Make sure you fully complete the form with accurate information. It is also important to sign the form at the end.

Declaration of Information Accuracy

Photographs in Passport Size

You need to submit two identical pictures that fully meet the passport visa requirements decided by all the Schengen States.

A valid National Passport

Your passport must not be more than 10 years old. There should be one blank page where the sticker can be affixed along with fulfillment of other requirements of passport.

Travel Insurance of Schengen

You are required to submit a letter of confirmation from health insurance to confirm the cover of emergency treatments with at least 30,000 Euros.

Evidence of Accommodation

Provide the proof of accommodation where you are planning to stay during your tour. It can be a booking of hotel in the Schengen territory. You can also provide an invitation letter from your friend or family member who is living in any of the Schengen states.

Flight Reservation Proof

You can find a flight online and can also take the assistance of any visa consultation services for finding the suitable flight for your trip. You will have to give the proof of your flight reservation as well.

Evidence of Financial Stability

You have to prove that you have sufficient money to bear your expenses for this tour or you have a sound sponsor. Your supporting evidence can be:

  • Yours statements from the bank for the past three months
  • A Sponsorship Letter

Leave Letter from your company (in case of employment)

Certificate of No-objection

You have to submit a no-objection certificate to prove that nobody would be affected by your visit.

  • If you are a student, you will have to get this certificate from your educational institute.
  • If you work, you will have to take this certificate for your employer.
  • If you don’t have any job and you don’t study anywhere than this certificate is not required.

Your Cover Letter

You have to write a detailed personal cover letter for explaining the reason for your visit to Germany. The letter must include for how long are you planning to stay there and what activities you will be involved in.

Invitation Letter

You have to provide a letter of invitation from that person whom you are planning to visit in Germany. It can either be a private accommodation or sponsorship. Remember that the letter of invitation must include the contact information of the host, the total duration of the stay and the address of the host.

Civil Status Proof

It can be your child’s birth certificate, your spouse death certificate, your marriage certificate or a ration card if applicable.

Residence Proof

You need to submit any utility bill which is in your name or your driving license. It is necessary as proof of your residence in the consular region where you are planning to apply for the travel visa.

For Minors

For the minors who are traveling without their parents, a consent letter signed by both the father and mother is needed. Besides, they need a form with the signatures of both parents. Lastly, a copy of data page of passport of both father and mother is also required.

Where to apply for A German Visitor/Tourist Visa

If you want to acquire a visitor visa for visiting only Germany, you can apply at any of the following places depending on how the authorities of Germany have regulated the visa application process in your state.

  • German Consulate
  • German Embassy
  • Visa Application Center

Some visitors want to visit just Germany while some may wish to visit some other Schengen states as well.

If you plan to visit some Schengen states along with Germany, you are allowed to apply at German consulate, Embassy or a Visa center in your native country only if your main destination is Germany.

You can apply to these places mentioned above if:

  • Your tour will also include a visit to other countries, but you spend more of your days in Germany.
  • You will spend an equal number of days in different countries, but you enter the Schengen territory through Germany.

If none of these two conditions match your travel plan, then even if you plan to visit other countries along with Germany, you will have to apply at an Embassy of one member state of Schengen.

When to apply for Visitor/Tourist Visa to Germany?

It is always better to submit the visa application timely so that you don’t have to face any trouble. The earliest you can apply for Schengen Visa is about three months prior to your desired travel date. Besides, the latest you can apply for visitor or tourist visa is two weeks before your travel to Germany.

Moreover, the applicants are advised to apply for a German tourist visa about three weeks prior to your intended travel date so that they can avoid any potential processing delays.

Fee for Germany Tourist/Visitor Visa

For the visa applications to be processed, the applicants need to pay a visa fee. The price of a Schengen Visa is 60 Euros as per 2008. It is important to mention here that there are some categories which are exempted from paying the processing fee or visa or they have the privilege to pay the reduced cost than the others. Remember that the visa fee can be changed at any time and in case your application is rejected, the fee will not be reimbursed.

Visa Processing Time

You might have an idea that visa processing can take time. The processing time for the Germany short-stay visas is about 10 days. However, if the embassy is receiving lots of applications, the processing time may increase from 10 days for the tourist visas. It is evident that the authorities give more priority to business visas. Therefore, it is always suggested that you file your visitor visa application as soon as you can.

Schengen Tourist/ Visitor Visa Validity

As mentioned earlier, the tourist visas are for short stays. The maximum you can stay in Germany with your Schengen Tourist visa is for three months. Besides, the German Consulate or Embassy located in your native country has the authority to decide the dates and days for you to stay in Germany.

You should clearly understand that your allowed duration of stay and the visa validity are two different things.

Visa validity is the duration during which you can enter and leave the Country. It covers the first date when you are officially permitted to enter Germany and the last day after which you cannot stay a single more day. Moreover, the stay duration includes the total number of days you are permitted to remain in Schengen within the validity of your permit. It clearly indicates that the visa validation is always longer than your allowed duration to stay.

It is essential that you don’t violate your stay duration and visa validity or else, you will have to have deportation or bans.

If you have any confusions regarding visitor visa to Germany, you can contact us, and we will get back to you in no time.