Visa and Entry
A visa allows you to enter Germany and stay for the first few weeks. Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality. You can find this information in visa requirements overview from the Federal Foreign Office.
YYou must apply for a visa at the German foreign representative (Embassy or Consulate) fresponsible for your current place of residence, before moving to Germany. Family members travelling with you or joining you you also need their own visas. (relocating with a family).
Entry without a Visa
Nationals of member states of the EU, the EEA and SwitzerlandNationals of EU member states, the EEA and Switzerland are not required to obtain a visa to enter Germany. A valid identity card or passport is sufficient for entry. However, they must register at the Residents’ Registration Office (Einwohnermeldeamt) within two weeks of arrival in Göttingen.
Citizens of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, the UK, and the USA do not need a visa to enter Germany. But if you want to stay or work in Germany for more than 90 days, you need a residence permit. You can apply for this at the Immigration Office in Göttingen after you arrive, but it can take time and may delay your work start. If you want to start working as soon as you arrive, it is better to apply for a visa (National Visa/D-Visa) before coming to Germany. This is also necessary if you plan to work for less than 90 days (for example, for teaching).
Entry with Visa
Nationals of other countriesNationals of countries other than those stated above generally require a visa to enter Germany. For short stays of up to 90 days without gainful employment, there are exceptions for some countries. The Federal Foreign Office provides information on these exceptions.
A visa is typically issued only for a specific purpose of stay. A change of purpose can be very difficult and only possible in some specific instances.
Stay of up to 90 Days without gainful employment
Schengen Visa (C-Visa)The Schengen visa (C visa) permits short stays of up to 90 days. During this time, you can move about freely in any of the signatory states of the Schengen Agreement (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland).
For a Schengen visa, you must prove that you are financially secure. You also need travel health insurance with a minimum coverage of €30,000. When applying, you may state “scientific work” or “research” as the purpose of your stay. Be sure to inform the embassy or consulate if you plan to do some fee-based work.
If you are accompanied by family members, we recommend that you apply for your visas together – even if your family members will be joining you at a later date. This will simplify the application procedure considerably.
Please note: Visa applications must be submitted in person at the responsible embassy or consulate. There may be long waiting periods for the necessary appointments. Make an appointment as early as possible and check the website of the embassy or consulate to find out which documents to submit with your application.
For nationals of certain countries, it is possible to enter Germany without a visa for short stays of up to 90 days. Information on this can be found in the overview of visa requirements provided by the Federal Foreign Office.
Please note: As a rule, gainful employment is not permitted during visa-free entry. If you earn income during your stay, such as from fee-based work (e.g. lectures fees, etc), you should apply for a visa that permits gainful employment during your stay.
Stays over 90 days, gainful employment
General informationA national visa (D visa) is issued for long-term stays. When applying, you will be required to present at least the following documents:
- Application form (available at the embassies and consulates, in most languages)
- Passport (valid for the entire period of the planned stay, sometimes longer)
- Proof of the purpose of your stay (e.g. employment contract, letter of invitation/intent, hosting agreement, scholarship notification)
- Proof that you will be able to support yourself financially (financial status, proof of grant or scholarship, or employment contract, for instance)
- Sufficient health insurance coverage (travel health insurance)
- Details of planned accommodation in Germany
- Marriage and birth certificates for any accompanying family members
Embassies and consulates may require additional documents. Please contact the embassy or consulate well in advance to find out which additional documents must be submitted with your visa application.
National visas are usually issued for a period of three to six months. Within this period, you must enter the country and apply for a residence permit on location.
Visa in accordance with §18d of the Residence Act (Research)Visas in accordance with §18d of the Residence Act are issued to researchers who will be working in a scholarly or scientific capacity at a research institution in Germany. The requirements are:
- A hosting agreement issued by the University of Göttingen, which must be presented at the time of application. The Welcome Centre will provide you with a hosting agreement if need be.
- Proof of your means of financial support, such as verifiable employment at the University, scholarships, or independent means
The visa according to §18d of the Residence Act allows you to work in research and teach at the host institution.
After you have arrived in Germany, you must present your visa to the local Immigration Office and apply for a residence permit.
Contact:
The International Office
Welcome Centre
Von-Siebold-Straße 4
37075 Göttingen
The Welcome Centre is not barrier-free. Please contact us if you need assistance.