Visa by Nationality
In Germany, different visa rules apply for different nationalities. On this page you will find out everything about the applicable residence rights for your nationality.
Country Guides VISAGUARD
On this page you will find all the important information about the visa requirements for different nationalities. The guides inform you about the entry and work options for citizens of your country and explain how to apply for a visa for Germany from the respective country and convert this into a residence permit in Berlin.
Differences in Visalaw according to Nationality
Germany is an attractive destination for international professionals, students and entrepreneurs. However, visa and residence law in Germany makes a strict distinction between different nationalities with regard to entry requirements, residence options and work permits. In this article, we provide an overview of the most important regulations for non-EU citizens, depending on the country of origin and purpose of stay.
Visafree Entry
An important difference depending on nationality arises in the entry regulations . In this respect, numerous nationalities are allowed to enter Germany without a visa. The Federal Foreign Office provides the so-called visa list , which shows which nationalities require a visa to enter Germany and which do not. However, it should always be noted that the possibility of visa-free entry only applies if a long-term stay is not intended and no gainful employment or work is to be carried out in Germany. Visa-free entry to Germany is therefore generally only possible if the stay is short-term. If you enter the country visa-free for short-term purposes and then apply for a long-term visa, it may be deception if you already knew when entering for a short-term stay that you wanted to stay long-term. An exception to this are the so-called "Best Friends states" (see below).
Do you need an Immigration-Lawyer?
Do you have questions about German immigration and immigration law ? Our cooperating lawyers for visa and residence issues will answer all questions about your case in a video call. Of course, we are also happy to support you in residence procedures and immigration matters before embassies, immigration authorities and administrative courts.
Contact us to book an initial consultation on your case with a German visa lawyer !
Best friends countries
The so-called “best friends countries” are massively privileged in terms of residence opportunities in Germany. The best friends countries include the following:
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Australia
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Israel
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Japan
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Canada
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Republic of Korea (South Korea)
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New Zealand
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United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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United States of America
Nationals of these countries can enter Germany and apply for a residence permit here, even if they originally entered the country for short-term purposes (Section 41 AufenthV). In addition, nationals of these countries can pursue gainful employment in Germany without formal recognition of their education (§ 26 BeschV). For nationals of Andorra, Monaco and San Marino, only the possibility of unqualified employment applies (Sec. 26 Employment Ordinance), but not the possibility of applying for a residence permit in Germany (Sec. 41 Residence Ordinance) if the entry is for the purpose of employment (Sec. 41 Para. 2 Residence Ordinance). It should also be noted that the aforementioned privileges do not apply if an ICT card is applied for in Germany (Sec. 41 (4) AufenthV).
Further special features apply to nationals from the Western Balkan countries. We have written a separate VISAGUARD guide on the so-called Western Balkans regulation.
VISAGUARD Guides Nationalities
Summary of this Page
On this page you can find out what special features apply to different nationalities when applying for a visa in Germany. It is particularly important to note that some nationalities are allowed to enter Germany without a visa for short-term stays (stays of less than 90 days). However, this does not mean that these nationalities are also entitled to a long-term residence permit (stay over 90 days). This possibility only exists for the nationalities listed in § 41 AufenthV (Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, Republic of Korea (South Korea), New Zealand, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America). Citizens of Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco and San Marino can enter Germany without a visa and apply for a residence permit if they do not wish to pursue gainful employment in Germany (Sec. 41 (2) AufenthV).
You have also learned on this page that certain nationalities can work in Germany even if they do not have a formally recognized qualification (case groups under Sec. 26 (1) BeschV: Andorra, Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America).
