You might be wondering how to get a visa to Germany or what kind of visa you should apply for. Well this post is going to give a detailed explanation on how to get a visa. This now leads us to what a visa is.
WHAT THEN IS A VISA?
According to Wikipedia, a visa is a conditional authorization granted to a foreigner that allows them to enter, remain within, or to leave it’s territory. So as a foreigner, you’ll be unable to enter another country without a visa. This then leads us to the question; what kind of visa should I apply for and how do I apply for a visa.
WHAT KIND OF VISA SHOULD I APPLY FOR?
It depends on the duration of your stay in Germany. It could be 3-6 months or one year. Now, there are various visas you can apply for. It could be student visa, language student visa, job seeker visa, tourist visa, working visa, business visa. Let’s consider each of the visa’s you can apply for.
STUDENT VISA
To gain this visa, you must have already been accepted onto a course and will also need proof of funds, health care insurance.
LANGUAGE STUDENT VISA
To apply for this visa, you must have taken a language course that lasts 3-12 months. Again, you will need proof that you enrolled in the course and proof that you have health insurance.
JOB SEEKER VISA
This visa are for those who wish to move to Germany to work. The duration of this visa is about 6 months, which after an individual must return home after been unable to gain employment. The requirements for this visa are quite strict. It includes having a bachelor’s degree, five years of work experience in your field
health care insurance and also proof of funds to cover cost of living.
TOURIST VISA
This visa is specifically for tourist who wishes to stay in Germany for up to 90 days.
WORKING VISA
This visa are for those who have already found a job in Germany. Which means that with this visa, you’ll be able to stay longer in Germany.
ALSO READ: Different Types of visas in France
BUSINESS VISA
If you wish to stay longer than 90 days to conduct business, it’s advisable you apply for a business visa.
We’ve seen the various kind of visa you can I apply for above. Let’s now see how to apply for a visa.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A VISA (GERMAN)
The process for all German visa applications are similar, whether you’re applying for as a student, tourist etc. In all cases, you’ll first need to make a visa appointment with the German embassy in your country. After that, you’ll fill out the form and complete all the necessary paperwork. Make sure you go with a supporting document as requested to the interview.
GERMAN VISA REQUIREMENTS
- Current passport.
- Proof of health insurance.
- Proof of a job or course acceptance.
- Visa fee.
- A letter explaining your reason of wanting to go to Germany.
HOW MUCH IS A GERMAN VISA?
The cost of a German visa is around $75 for all-long stay. Short-stay visas (under 3 months) cost $60.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET A GERMAN VISA?
German visas take about 7-12 weeks to be processed from the time of the interview with the German embassy. Which means you should start your visa application between 4-5 months before your trip to Germany.
Germany Visa Requirements
Although a unified document, requirements for obtaining a Germany Visa differ from one Schengen country to another. Germany however is quite demanding on the issue, and it is recommendable to fulfill each request meticulously to the last detail. Usually, the German embassy in each country has an updated checklist of the Germany Visa requirements for each type of visa.
The following documents are required for any Germany visa application:
- Application Form – duly completed with correct and honest answers that comply with the information in the other required documents. Do not forget that you can download the Germany Visa Application form right here at our website.
- Passport – according to the passport requirements of the German embassy, among which validity of three months beyond your planned stays in the Schengen.
- Photo – which must be taken within the last three months, and according to the other photo standards set by the German embassy.
- Health Insurance – a document that confirms you have obtained travel health insurance that covers illnesses and accidents, and even repatriation in case of death, as well as the whole Schengen Area with a minimum coverage of € 30.000.
- Travel Itinerary – that includes proof of your round trip flight/travel reservations or other documents that show intended transport, as well as proof of what you are planning to do in Germany within the period that you wish to Remain
- Proof of Financial Means – which is a document that proves you have the amount of money to finance yourself during your planned stay in Germany. This can be a recent bank statement that shows you have enough funds to spend at least 45€ per each day spent in Germany. If proof of owner financing is not possible, the applicant can submit a formal declaration of a third person who is willing to finance their travel and stay in Germany alongside with proof of their financial means.
Depending on your visa type and in some cases in your country of residence and nationality, there are also other Germany visa requirements which you will need to submit as required by the embassy or consulate where you will be applying in your home country.
Germany Visa Application Process
Applying for the Schengen visa includes a sequence of events in-between yourself and the designated Embassy, in this case the German Embassy in your home country. Between handing the proper documentation and getting an answer, here is a step-by-step guideline of the Germany visa application process.
- Ask the embassy for a checklist of the required documents for your visa type you wish to apply for.
- Fulfill the application form with correct information and obtain the required documents for your visa.
- Appoint an interview at the German embassy in your country of residence. The earliest you can schedule the appointment is six months prior to your trip.
- Pay the visa fee and save the receipt in order to show it later to the consular officer during the interview.
- Show up on time at the embassy for your meeting with all the required documents with you arranged in the given order. The meeting will last around ten minutes, during which the consular officer will look at your documents and ask you a few questions regarding your background and purpose of your trip to Germany.