Visa Requirements for German Citizens
Visa requirements for German citizens are the necessary documents that are checked when entering the selected foreign country.
Each destination and its authorities decide which countries are allowed to enter its territory and under what conditions. German citizens enjoy the highest freedom of international travel of any European Union member state, with 121 destinations that can be visited without a visa. Additionally, 38 countries offer electronic visa options for German passport holders to visit their territory. eVisa acts as an electronic alternative to a regular visa.
Using electronic options avoids the hassle of embassy visits and saves time and money. In 37 destinations, German citizens can have their visa processed at the nearest border control station upon arrival. This allows you to skip the visa application process until the last minute, but it also requires you to fill out the application form right before entering your chosen country.
Therefore, when you obtain a visa on arrival, you often have to wait in long lines. After all, she is one of only 25 countries where German citizens are required to present a valid embassy visa upon entry.
Visas issued by embassies can take several weeks to process and typically require applicants to submit numerous, sometimes officially issued, supporting documents.
Further information on individual entry types and visas for German nationals can be found below, including a list of countries offering specific visa/entry types.
Electronic visa
An e-visa is an online version of a regular visa that was introduced as an alternative option to simplify the visa processing process by eliminating unnecessary visits to embassies.
E-visas are available entirely online following a quick and intuitive application process and are delivered to each traveler via email once approved.
List of countries offering eVisas for German citizens
- Angola
- Australia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Benin
- Cambodia
- Canada
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- India
- Iran
- Ivory Coast
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Laos
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Myanmar
- New Zealand
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Saudi Arabia
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Suriname
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- USA
- Vietnam
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
38 countries offer German citizens the opportunity to apply for an e-visa online before traveling.
This can be done in her 3 easy steps:
- Please fill out the application form.
- Pay the issuance fee.
- Wait until you receive your approved e-visa via email.
The maximum length of stay abroad with an eVisa varies depending on the destination you choose and can range from 2 weeks to 3 months.
Despite being extremely easy to access, e-visas function similarly to regular visas, allowing holders to travel abroad for leisure, business, and transit purposes.
Visa on Arrival
A visa on arrival is a short-term travel authorization document that is issued upon completion of the application process and arrival at your chosen destination.
List of countries that offer a Visa on Arrival for German citizens
- Angola
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Cambodia
- Comoros
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Guinea-Bissau
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- The Maldives
- Mauritania
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Rwanda
- Saudi Arabia
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
37 countries offer a “visa on arrival” option to German passport holders visiting their territory.
To obtain a VoA, German citizens must go to the nearest border control station, request an application and carefully fill it out. To avoid approval delays and issues, it is important to avoid errors in the data provided. The next step is usually to settle the issuance fee.
Issuance fees may need to be paid in cash, often in local currency. If you apply for a visa on arrival, you will have to wait in a long queue before actually arriving at your chosen destination. For this reason, many travelers are considering a second option: an e-visa.
Electronic visas are often used in countries that issue visas on arrival.
This avoids long queues and ensures safe travel. For countries that do not offer an electronic visa option along with the VoA option, it is best to prepare for her VoA application process before departure.
This includes checking all required documents and completing them in your home country. The required documents may include documents confirming the purpose of the planned trip, such as: Hotel reservations, round-trip flights, proof of sufficient funds, etc.
Embassy visa
An embassy visa is a traditional paper visa that travelers can obtain after completing the application process at an embassy or consulate. Processing for this type of visa can take several weeks. It also takes time to prepare the necessary documents.
Therefore, it is best to apply for an embassy visa on time and only if necessary.
List of countries that require German citizens to present a valid Embassy visa upon arrival
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Bhutan
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- The Central African Republic
- Chad
- China
- The Republic of the Congo
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Cuba
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ghana
- Liberia
- Libya
- Mali
- Nauru
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- Sudan
- Syria
- Turkmenistan
- Yemen
25 countries require German citizens to present a valid visa issued by an embassy on arrival.
German passport holders must apply for a regular visa at an embassy before visiting the above destinations. The first step in applying for an embassy visa is to check the types of visas available and choose the one that best suits the purpose of your visit.
Next, check the required documents and gather all the documents needed for your application. Once this is done, German nationals will need to fill out an embassy visa application form.
This application form is usually available on the embassy’s official website or directly from the embassy or consulate.
The form must be completely completed and contain accurate and up-to-date information. Further steps include submitting the application form directly to the embassy or consulate with the required attachments.
In some countries, travelers may be required to pay an issuance fee, complete a visa interview, or provide additional supporting documentation. Despite the complex application process and long processing times, embassy visas may be available in practical variations, such as those that allow a longer stay abroad. This is not possible with other visa systems.
Visa-free countries
121 countries have declared that German citizens can visit their territory without a visa, making it easy to explore these destinations. Visa-free travel is the easiest way to travel abroad as you don't need to apply for a visa. However, all German nationals taking advantage of visa-free entry must present their ID card or valid passport upon entry.
Additionally, some destinations may require additional documentation to further verify the purpose of your trip.
These documents may include hotel reservations, proof of sufficient funds for the trip, or simply a round-trip flight ticket. Visa-free travel allows German passport holders to enjoy a full range of leisure, business and transport activities.
This includes vacation trips, visiting friends and family, business trips, attending meetings, conferences, seminars, or simply stopping along the way.
German passport visa-free countries
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Denmark
- Albania
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Eswatini
- Fiji
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Indonesia
- Israel
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kiribati
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lesotho
- Malaysia
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Namibia
- Nicaragua
- North Macedonia
- Oman
- Palau
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Tuvalu
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Brest and Grodno
- Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
- Faroe Islands
- Gibraltar
- Guernsey
- Isle of Man
- Jersey
- Kosovo
- Transnistria
- Canary Islands
- Madeira
- Mayotte
- Réunion
- Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
- Hainan
- Hong Kong
- Kish Island
- Macao
- Sabah and Sarawak
- Palestine
- Taiwan
- Açores
- Anguilla
- Aruba
- Bermuda
- Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Curacao
- Greenland
- Guadeloupe
- Margarita Island
- Montserrat
- Puerto Rico
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Sint Maarten
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Cook Islands
- New Caledonia
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Pitcairn Islands
- French Polynesia
- Wallis and Futuna
- French Guiana
- Falkland Islands
