It is important to follow some steps and criteria in order to obtain a visa for Germany, access the Federal Republic of Germany and engage in the activities that you desire. Getting a German visa is not an easy process. Collecting and submitting the necessary documentation for the visa you wish to obtain is a very important part of your German visa application.
What is a German Visa?
A visa is required for certain nationalities to travel to Germany, regardless of whether they plan to stay for a short or long period of time. Short-term and long-term stays in Germany are possible on German visas. The type of German visa you apply for is determined by your visit’s intention.
In order to enter Germany, citizens of the European Union (EU), Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Sweden do not need a visa, regardless of the duration of their stay. You must register your address if you want to study or work.
Visa Standards for Germany
There are some documents that the embassy requires you to send depending on the type of visa you want to apply for and the reason you want to access the Schengen Region. These documents are necessary to show that you are qualified to fly, that you have the financial resources to stay in Germany, and that you meet other requirements specific to each visa form.
The following are the documents required to apply for a visa to Germany:
- Germany Visa application form.
- Two identical German visa photos.
- A valid passport for at least 6 months prior to the due date. It should also meet the other passport criteria, such as providing one blank page for affixing a visa sticker. Keep in mind that your passport will be held at the embassy while your application is being processed.
- Proof of a place to stay in Germany – a certificate proving that you have a place to stay for the duration of your stay in Germany must be given to the visa officer (a hotel reservation, a rental agreement, a letter of invitation from a host, or evidence that you own a home or apartment in Germany, etc.).
- Health insurance coverage – it is required that you present a document proving that you have obtained travel insurance valid for Germany and the rest of the Schengen region, which covers medical emergencies for the duration of your stay in Germany. If you intend to remain in Germany for an extended period of time and have applied for a long-stay visa, you can look into German health insurance options.
- Transportation/reservation or itinerary for a round trip. A flight ticket, train ticket, or another mode of transportation ticket must be submitted as evidence of your arrival and departure dates in Germany, as well as the mode of transportation you will use to get there.
- Proof of enough funds.
How to fill the visa application form in Germany?
Filling out the German visa application form should be the first step in the process. A Schengen visa application form is needed when applying for a German short-stay visa. You must fill out two national visa application forms if you are applying for a German long-stay visa. Give complete and correct details about yourself and your travel plans that match the information in the other required documents. Print the form and sign it when you’re done.
How to prove Financial Capability for a German visa?
According to the European Commission, a foreign applicant applying for a German visa must be able to prove to the German Embassy or Consulate that they have 853€ per month for the duration of their stay in German territory. This may be a bank statement, a letter of sponsorship from someone else, a combination of the two, or a student’s blocked bank account.
Documents Required for a Germany Visa Depending on Your Employment Status
Depending on your job status, you’ll need to request additional documentation:
- As currently employed you must provide the most recent six-month bank statement, contract of employment (your job and the date you started working there must be mentioned in the document). The employer must give you permission to leave. The authorization must state that you are permitted to take annual leave during that time span by the employer and the Form ITR (Income Tax Return) or Certificate of Income Tax Deducted at Source (CITD).
- As an unemployed person you must apply the following documents if you are unemployed but married to an EU citizen: letter of Employment Confirmation If your spouse is a German citizen with a job, you must have proof of this. This confirmation must be no more than three months old and must include the company’s location as well as the start date as well as a spouse’s valid passport and legally binding marriage certificate.
- As Self-Employed you must apply with a photocopy of the company’s licence as well as the most recent six-month bank statement for the company and return on Taxes (ITR).
- As a student, you must provide proof of enrollment, a confirmation of enrollment document issued by a tertiary educational institution. There is no letter of objection from the school or university. This is a letter from your educational institution confirming that you are entitled to be absent during the journey
- As a retired – you must apply with the most recent six-month pension statement if you are retired.
Documents needed for Children obtaining a visa in Germany
You will need to provide some of the following additional documents in order to obtain a visa for your minor in Germany, such as:
- Birth certificate in its original form (if it is not in German or English, it must be accompanied by a professional translator).
- If the minor will be travelling alone, both parents’ approval is required in the form of a signature on the application form and a formal letter.
- Signatures from both parents on the application form. Minors must fill out the same application form as all other passengers, with the exception that both guardians, rather than the visa applicant, must sign it.
- Both parents’ certified copies of their IDs or passports are required.
- One parent’s consent (the consent of the other parent is still expected if the minor is travelling with one of the parents).
- A court order for custody. It is necessary only in situations where one parent has sole custody over the child.
How to apply for a German Visa?
You must apply in person at the German mission in your home country for both short and long-stay visas. If your country does not have a German mission, you can contact one in a neighboring country. On the website of the Federal Foreign Office, you can find a list of German missions.
