Schengen visa; application and extension

A Schengen visa may be issued by a Schengen Member State for transit through the territory of the Schengen States or for intended stays in that territory of up to 90 days per period of 180 days from the date of first entry.

Description

The entry of non-EU citizens to Germany generally requires a visa issued by the German mission abroad (embassy, consulate) in the country of origin.

For short-term stays (e.g. tourist or visiting stays, business trip) in the Schengen area of a maximum of 90 days per period of 180 days or for transit through the Schengen area, so-called "Schengen visas" can be issued in accordance with the provisions of the Visa Code. They are then valid not only for the federal territory, but for the entire Schengen area. They do not entitle the holder to gainful employment in the Federal territory, unless they were issued for the purpose of gainful employment.

Visas for longer stays are issued as so-called "national" visas (see "Related Topics" - "National Visa; Issuance and Extension").

Exceptions from the visa requirement apply to nationals of

  • Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, the USA,
  • Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand and the
  • Republic of Korea,

who may always enter the country without a visa, regardless of the duration and purpose of their stay.

This also applies to nationals of Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco and San Marino, provided they do not intend to pursue gainful employment.

For tourist stays (up to 90 days per period of 180 days), nationals of many countries are also exempt from visa requirements. Gainful employment is not permitted during the visa-free stay. An immediate extension of the visit is usually not possible without further ado.

More detailed information on visa requirements, visa exemption and the procedure, the Schengen states and the visa code can be obtained from the website of the Federal Foreign Office (see "Further links"). Basic information on the requirements of the visa procedure can also be obtained from the Foreigners' Registration Office.

Please note:
The German mission abroad issues visas in accordance with the applicable legal regulations for the period applied for in accordance with the information on the purpose and duration of stay. A visa extension is only possible if the foreigner is prevented from leaving the Schengen area in time due to force majeure or humanitarian reasons or if there are serious personal reasons that justify an extension of the validity period. A stay after the expiry of the visa which is not permitted by the aliens' registration office is punishable by law! The "conversion" of a visa into a regular residence permit (e.g. the visitor is offered a job) is only possible in very exceptional cases.

The competent foreigners authority at the place of residence of the foreigner is responsible for the extension of a visa during a stay in Germany.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites are:

  • Travel document that entitles to cross the border (passport, passport substitute)
  • Plausibility and comprehensibility of the purpose of travel in Germany
  • Financing of living and travel expenses
  • Willingness of the visa holder to leave the Schengen area again before the visa expires,
  • Presentation of a travel health insurance valid for the entire Schengen area and for the entire duration of stay with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros.

Deadlines

The visa application must be submitted in due time before the intended entry.

Required documents

  • If necessary, you may be required to produce additional documents

    The documents to be presented may vary. Please find out more details from your competent diplomatic representation. As a general rule, the documents listed above will be required (among others).

  • Valid passport
  • Proof of a secure livelihood, if applicable a declaration of commitment, as well as sufficient funds for the return journey
  • Supporting documents evidencing the foreign national's own financing, or a third-party declaration of commitment assuring the foreign national's subsistence
  • Supporting documents evidencing medical insurance coverage
  • Proof of the purpose and circumstances of the intended stay
  • if necessary, further documents

Forms

  • Form, Bavaria-wide: Visaantragsformulare im PDF-Format - Antragsformulare für Aufenthalt bis zu drei Monaten („Schengen-Visum“, Kategorie C)
    Please note

    This form has to be signed and sent to the responsible authority. You can sign the form manually and send it by email/fax or sign the form electronically with your qualified electronic signature an send it by (secure) email. If the responsible authority has set up a De-Mail account, you can also send the form by De-Mail using an sender-confirmed message.

  • Form, Bavaria-wide: Visumantrag - Elektronische Antragserfassung
    Please note

    This form has to be signed and sent to the responsible authority. You can sign the form manually and send it by email/fax or sign the form electronically with your qualified electronic signature an send it by (secure) email. If the responsible authority has set up a De-Mail account, you can also send the form by De-Mail using an sender-confirmed message.

    Sie können die notwendigen Daten für die Beantragung eines Schengen-Visums online erfassen. Das Antragsformular kann nicht online eingereicht werden. Sie müssen persönlich bei der jeweiligen deutschen Auslandsvertretung vorsprechen.

Fees

    • Issuance: 60 Euro
    • Extension of a Schengen visa beyond 90 days as a national visa: 60 euros

Remedy

Administrative court proceedings; information

Remonstration with the respective diplomatic mission abroad; administrative court action (competent Administrative Court Berlin)

Status: 27.07.2022

Responsible for editing: Bayerisches Staatsministerium des Innern, für Sport und Integration

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  • Online transactions, Bavaria-wide
  • Online transactions, locally limited
  • Prefillable Form, Bavaria-wide
  • Legal bases, Bavaria-wide
  • Legal bases, locally limited
  • Fees, Bavaria-wide
  • Fees, locally limited
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