Residence of British citizens
All information on the stay of British citizens in Germany and on visa applications from Great Britain.
Here you learn ...
which special entry regulations apply to Britons
how to apply for a work visa in the UK
how you as a Briton can obtain a residence permit in Germany
Information on visa law under Brexit special provisions
Author
Lawyer
Reading Time
9 Min.
Release Date
17.02.2025
Table of Content
1. Visa-free entry to Great Britain
1.1 Stay up to 90 days
1.2 No work during visa-free stay
2. Apply for a visa at the embassy in London
3. Residence permit for British nationals in Berlin
4. Visa and Brexit
5. FAQ
Due to the political and cultural ties between the countries, British nationals are privileged in Germany when it comes to applying for residence permits. For British nationals, this not only applies to visa-free entry into Germany (see the Federal Foreign Office's visa list ). Rather, unlike other nationals who can enter without a visa, people from Great Britain 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 Great Britain 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 Great Britain
For visa-free entry for British 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 Great Britain must have a valid passport to enter the country. The passport should also have at least one blank data page, as British citizens also receive an entry stamp when entering Germany. Another requirement for visa-free entry for foreigners from Great Britain is that they can prove the purpose of their 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 Germany, people from England 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 British nationals 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 .
1.2 No work during visa-free stay
However, visa-free entry for British 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 the United Kingdom 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, British 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 Great Britain is, for example, business trips or participation in trade fairs. It should be noted, however, that the non-employment fictions do carry some risks. Because if the limits of the permit-free activity are exceeded, illegal employment exists. In this case, severe penalties are threatened (see VISAGUARD information on illegal employment of foreigners ). One of our independent VISAGUARD experts will be happy to advise you on whether or not you need a work permit to work in Germany as a British national.
2. Apply for a visa at the embassy in London
If you are a foreigner from Great Britain and intend to work full-time in Germany, we generally recommend that you apply for a visa at the embassy in London . The German embassy in London provides information on the necessary documents for a visa application by British 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 London 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 British nationals in Berlin
If you are already in Germany and want to apply for a residence permit as a British citizen, you must contact your relevant immigration authority . In Berlin, for example, residence permits for British citizens are issued by the State Office for Immigration (LEA). The State Office for Immigration provides special information for British citizens on its website . If you, as a British 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 ).
CONTACT US
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4. Visa and Brexit
Since the United Kingdom left the EU on January 31, 2020, British citizens are no longer entitled to freedom of movement. This means that a visa is generally required for longer stays and for gainful employment in Germany. However, there is no visa requirement for short-term stays of up to 90 days within a period of 180 days. This regulation is based on Regulation (EU) 2019/592 of the European Parliament and of the Council of April 10, 2019. To work in Germany, people from England need a visa that corresponds to their respective professional purpose.
Since Brexit, special regulations have only been in place for British nationals who were already residing here . Certain transitional regulations applied to this group of people (legal status of British nationals and their family members, Section 16 of the Freedom of Movement Act/EU). However, these transitional regulations have largely expired. The Brexit agreement is therefore only relevant in the area of cross-border services between Great Britain and Germany.
5. FAQ
Are British nationals affected by the new ETIAS rules?
Yes, as British nationals can enter visa-free, they will be subject to the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) from mid-2025.
Which German embassies are responsible for British citizens?
For British nationals, the main contact point is the diplomatic missions in Great Britain, in particular the embassies in London and the diplomatic mission in Edinburgh.
How long does a visa process from London take?
The visa procedures in London are comparatively fast. Most of the time, visa procedures from London 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 London?
Due to the various privileges for foreigners from London, 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 Britons in Germany. British 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).
