Working in Germany | Do you require a visa to travel to Germany?

Posted by Collabs Immigration on June 1st, 2019

Do you require a visa to travel to Germany?

Find out which German visa or permit you need to migrate to Germany, including German visa requirements and preparation of your German visa application.

Requirements of EU/EEA/Swiss nationals for German visa

The Federal Republic of Germany is one of 26 countries making up the ‘Schengen’ area, allowing free movement for citizens of the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. They have one common visa and no border controls between them. If you’re a national from one of the countries in the EU or EEA, you also don’t need a visa or other permit to visit, live, work or study in Germany.

Swiss nationals also enjoy liberty of movement within the EU but have to apply for a purely declaratory residence permit for Swiss nationals from the Aliens Authority.

All other EU and EEA nationals can enter, stay or work in Germany with just a valid passport or ID card, although you do have to register with the residents’ registration office in the town in which you live within three months of arriving in the country. The contact details and location of your German city’s registration office can typically be found on the city’s official website. Make sure to bring a valid EU/EEA passport, as well as your rental contract or proof of residency.

If you don’t hold EU/EEA citizenship yourself, but wish to join a close family member in Germany who does, you will, depending on your nationality, have to apply for a German visa to enter the country and then you’ll receive a ‘residence card’ from the Alien’s Authority.

Still Confused contact our experts at Collabs Immigration for FREE ASSESSMENT and to know your best options of studying abroad.