Residence of Canadian citizens
All information on the stay of Canadian citizens in Germany and on visa applications from Canada.
Here you learn ...
what special entry requirements apply to Canadians
how to apply for a work visa for Germany in Canada
how you as a Canadian can obtain a residence permit in Germany
what the Canadian Youth Mobility Program is
Author
Attorney
Reading Time
8 Min.
Release Date
13.01.2025
Table of Content
1. Visa-free entry to Canada
1.1 Stay up to 90 days
1.2 No work during visa-free stay
2. Apply for a visa at the embassy in Toronto
3. Residence permit for Canadian citizens in Berlin
4th Youth Mobility Agreement with Canada
5. FAQ
Due to the political and cultural ties between the countries, Canadian citizens are privileged in Germany when it comes to applying for residence permits. For Canadian citizens, this not only applies to visa-free entry into Germany (see the visa list of the Federal Foreign Office ). Rather, unlike other nationals who can enter without a visa, people from Canada can also apply for a residence permit directly in Germany. While other nationalities can only apply for permanent residence in Germany with a visa from the embassy in their home country, people from Canada can enter without a visa and apply for a residence permit directly in Germany at the immigration office (Section 41 of the Residence Ordinance).
1. Visa-free entry to Canada
For visa-free entry for Canadian citizens, it is necessary that the general requirements of the Schengen Borders Code are met (see Art. 6 Schengen Borders Code (EU Regulation 2016/399) . This primarily means that people from Canada must have a valid passport to enter the country. The passport should also have at least one blank data page, as Canadian citizens also receive an entry stamp when entering Germany. Another requirement for visa-free entry for foreigners from Canada is that they can prove the purpose of entry at the border and finance their stay in Germany. In concrete terms, this means for business trips, for example, that a corresponding invitation letter from the inviting company must be presented at the border and a hotel booking must be shown.
1.1 Stay up to 90 days
After successfully entering the country, people from Canada can stay in Germany for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a visa (Section 41 of the Residence Ordinance). The EU Commission provides the so-called “ Schengen calculator ” to calculate the 90 days precisely. The stay of Canadian citizens can also be extended after 90 days if a residence permit is applied for at the immigration office during the visa-free stay. In this case, the so-called “fictitious effect” takes effect, which legalizes the stay until the immigration office has decided on the application for a residence permit (Section 81 Paragraph 3 of the Residence Act). A fictitious certificate can then be issued until the immigration office has made a decision. You can find more information in our VISAGUARD guide on applying for a fictitious certificate .
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1.2 No work during visa-free stay
However, visa-free entry for Canadian citizens generally only applies if no gainful employment is carried out in Germany. In this respect, a visa or residence permit is always required to carry out gainful employment, regardless of whether the foreigner comes from a privileged country such as Canada or not (see (Section 4a Paragraph 1 of the Residence Act). The only exceptions to this are the so-called “ non-employment fictions ” (Section 30 of the Employment Ordinance). According to this regulation, Canadian citizens are allowed to pursue certain activities in Germany during a visa-free stay, although these are very limited. A frequently used permit-free activity for people from Canada is, for example, business trips or participation in trade fairs. It should be noted, however, that the non-employment fictions do carry some risks. If the limits of the permit-free activity are exceeded, this is illegal employment. In this case, there is a risk of high penalties (see VISAGUARD information on illegal employment of foreigners ). One of our independent VISAGUARD experts will be happy to advise you on the question of whether you need a work permit for your work as a Canadian citizen in Germany. or not.
2. Apply for a visa at the embassy in Toronto
If you are a foreigner from Toronto who intends to work full-time in Germany, we generally recommend that you apply for a visa at the embassy in Toronto (see the website of the embassy in Toronto ). The German embassy in Toronto provides information on the necessary documents for a visa application by Canadian citizens on its website.
Once you have collected the documents, you can book a visa appointment in the so-called RK visa . As soon as the embassy in Canada has issued the visa, you can enter Germany and pursue your employment here. You can find more information on this in our VISAGUARD guide to applying for a visa .
3. Residence permit for Canadian citizens in Berlin
If you are already in Germany and want to apply for a residence permit as a Canadian citizen, you must contact your relevant immigration authority . In Berlin, for example, residence permits for Canadian citizens are issued by the State Office for Immigration (LEA). The State Office for Immigration provides special information for Canadian citizens on its website . If you, as a Canadian citizen, want to apply for a residence permit from the Berlin immigration authority in accordance with Section 26 Paragraph 1 of the Residence Ordinance, you must submit the following documents:
Valid passport
employment contract
rental agreement with indication of living space
Proof of monthly rent (e.g. bank statement)#
proof of your health insurance
The collected documents must then be submitted using the LEA contact form . The immigration office will then give you an appointment. Booking an appointment is no longer possible in Berlin (see VISAGUARD blog post on the abolition of the appointment system in Berlin ).
Do you have Questions about your Visa-Case?
Our cooperating lawyers for visa and residence issues will answer all your questions in a video call. Of course, our independent experts are also happy to support you in residence procedures before embassies, immigration authorities and administrative courts in Germany.
Contact us to book an initial consultation on your case with a German visa lawyer ! You will receive a reply within 24 hours (on workingdays).
4th Youth Mobility Agreement with Canada
With effect from April 6, 2017, the agreement between Germany and Canada to promote youth mobility was adjusted (so-called Youth Mobility Agreement ). The aim of the program is to enable young people to supplement their post-secondary general and vocational education in the other country or to gain experience on the job market. Applications can be submitted to the consular missions of the Federal Republic of Germany in Canada as well as to the domestic authorities in Germany. The program offers young people a flexible opportunity to expand their professional and cultural skills internationally. Visas issued by a German mission as part of the youth mobility program are initially limited to 3 months. However, upon application, these can be extended to a maximum of 12 months as a residence permit in accordance with Section 19c Paragraph 1 of the Residence Act. This extension under the Youth Mobility Agreement enables participants to further expand their experience on the German job market.
5. FAQ
Are Canadian citizens affected by the new ETIAS regulations?
Yes, since Canadian citizens can enter visa-free, they will be subject to the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) from mid-2025.
Which German embassies are responsible for Canadian citizens?
For Canadian citizens, the primary contact point is the German diplomatic missions in Canada, particularly the embassy in Toronto.
How long does a visa process from Canada take?
The visa procedures in Canada are comparatively fast. Most of the time, visa procedures from Canada can be completed within 2 - 4 months if our VISAGUARD tips for speeding up visa procedures are followed .
What is the success rate for visa applications from Canada?
Due to the various privileges for foreigners from Canada, the success rate for visa applications is more than 90% if the requirements are met.
Summary of this Page
On this page you have learned about the special visa and residence regulations that apply to Canadians in Germany. Canadian citizens are citizens of the so-called “Best Friends States” and as such can enter Germany without a visa, apply for a residence permit here (Section 41 of the Residence Ordinance) and work without having a formally recognized qualification (Section 26 Paragraph 1 of the Employment Ordinance).
