Germany Business Visa

Just as every country, Germany offers a variety of visas for foreigners who wish to travel there. Each visa is granted to an individual depending on the intent of travel. One of such visas is a German business visa which is granted to applicants who wish to conduct business during their trip to Germany.

Germany business visa application

To apply for a German business visa you must follow the steps described below. Keep in mind that you should apply for it at an embassy or consulate in your home country.

Step 1: Check if you are eligible

The first step before deciding to apply for a German business visa is to check whether you are eligible for one or not. This will depend on the country you are from. If you are not eligible then you may not apply for the visa.

Do know that there are also countries that are visa exempt, meaning that they do not require a visa to travel to Germany.

Step 2: Gather the documents

Just like every visa, you will need to submit some documents when applying for a German business visa.

These documents are:

• Application form of the German business visa
• A valid travel document (a passport)
• At least 2 passport size photos 
• Accommodation evidence
• Itinerary of your trip
• Health insurance 
• Evidence of financial statements
• Bank statement of your business
• References of your business from partners or customers
• A letter of invitation
• A cover letter which includes your travel itinerary, the length of the employment, the type of business that is going to be conducted and whether your trip will be sponsored
• A license of your business

Step 3: Schedule an appointment

Scheduling an appointment and attending it is important. The relevant officers will ask you questions which you must answer sincerely. You will be asked the purpose of your trip as well as whether you intend to return once the visa expires.

Step 4: Visa fee payment

Once you have attended the interview, you will have to pay the fee of the visa. The fee for a German business visa is usually EUR 80, however, citizens of some countries can pay EUR 40. For more information regarding the fees you should contact the embassy or consulate.

Once all of this is done, you just have to be patient and wait for the process of the business visa to finish.

How long does a Germany business visa take to process?

The processing time for a German business visa can take at least 10 or 15 working days. Do know though that the processing time will depend on different factors such as the time you apply as well as the workload of the embassy.

What is the maximum period of time I can stay in Germany on a business visa?

With a Germany business visa you can remain in the country for no longer than 90 days. However, the length of time you can stay in Germany on a Business Visa is determined by the embassy. You may be restricted to a shorter period of time.

Is it possible to start up a business in Germany on a business visa?

A German business visa doesn’t really allow you to carry out activities such as forming a company or starting a business in Germany. If anything, if you’d like to start a business, you must apply for a self-employed long-stay visa.

Is it Possible to Work in Germany on a Business Visa?

A German visa is only issued for the purpose of participating in business operations. You are not permitted to work in Germany with this visa. Instead, you should request for a German Long-stay visa if you want to work there.

German visa photo

As mentioned previously, a Germany business visa requires a German visa photo. Such a photo should meet biometric standards and official requirements.

Here are the general German visa photo guidelines:

• The photo should be taken en face, meaning you should look directly at the camera lens. Keep your eyes open and your mouth closed.
• The size of the photo should be 35 x 45 mm
• German visa photos must be in color. Black and white is not acceptable.
• Background of the photo must be white
• Wearing hats or other accessories such as glasses is not allowed except for specific reasons. For example if you need to keep a headcover on for religious purposes.