Welcome to another post about Germany and German visas. By the title, you must have guessed that today I am going to talk about types of visa that you should know if you want to come to Germany. I will also cover the requirements of each visa type and prospects for it. If you are someone whose visa interview has been scheduled then I would recommend reading our previous post Things you must prepare for your visa interview. It is a 2-part story where I have shared my own visa interview experience.
Before starting, I would like to tell you this post is going to be long and detailed. So, if you are not much into reading then I would recommend watching the below video, where I have explained all the details present in this blog.
Since you are still reading, let’s talk about two broad categories of visa, these are Type C and Type D visas. The former one is a Schengen visa issued for a short term. Type D is national issued for longer terms.
If you want to travel to Germany(or Europe) for vacationing purposes then a short term visa is perfect for you. But if you are planning to settle in, do some job or get higher education then you should opt for a long term visa (Type D or National visa). Now you know what visa you are looking for, let us proceed and know about them one by one.
Schengen visa
The Schengen visa is valid for 90 days. It allows you to travel not only Germany but also any country that belongs to the Schengen Area for business and travel purposes. Visa fee is €80 for adults and children between the age of 6 and 12 need to pay €40. If you are applying through third parties like VFS then you might need to pay extra. It is good to know that if you are your family members fall in below category then they don’t have to pay the visa fee.
- A child is under the age of 6
- Any family member of EU/EEA nationals
- Scientific researchers
- Diplomats travelling for official purpose
Now let’s talk about the requirements. You might be asked to present proof or below documents during your visa process. Please note that not all criteria have to be met. The list of the documents depend on the purpose of your visit and might differ in some cases.
- Valid travel insurance
- Passport
- Proof of accommodation
- Round-trip airline ticket
- Invitation letter (Based on purpose)
- Sufficient funds
There are other variants of Schengen visa as well such as single-entry or multiple-entry visa. The consulate may consider these options for you but that depends on your purpose of visit and its frequency.
Student visa
If you want to pursue your higher studies in Germany then you can apply for a Student visa. But there are certain requirements that you have to meet –
- Proof of acceptance by an education institution in Germany
- Student Health Insurance
- Certificate or Degree of your previous education in your country
- Confirmation of deposit of €11,208 in a blocked German bank account as of April 2023
- Letter of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) by a resident of Germany
In addition you will be asked to present documents like your Passport, Birth certificate, Marriage certificate (if applicable) and Child’s birth certificate (if applicable). You might be expected to know some level of German language if your course demands. Visa fees vary between €60 – €75 and processing of visa may take up to 25 days.
Let’s talk about some prospects. The duration of the Student visa is 3 months and once you arrive in Germany, you will have to apply for a Residence permit at the Foreigner’s office. The duration of residence permit may vary between 1 to 2 years. You can work for 120 days or 240 half days per year during this time. It will help you manage your expenditure.
Vocational training visa
This visa is required if you are looking to apply for a Dual vocational training program. Such programs provide many job opportunities and work experience. It usually lasts between two to three years and consists of practical and theoretical knowledge. To apply for this visa you must fulfill below criteria –
- Age of the applicant should be 25 years or less
- School leaving certificate
- Knowledge of German language
- Approval from German Federal Employment Agency
- Proof of funds (at least €903 per month)
For company-based training programs you will be paid an average salary of €1,028 depending on the profession and city of residence. There is a considerable possibility that one of the 325 legally recognized training programs in Germany will match your interests and abilities. Few of them are electrician, plumber, IT expert, seller, constructor, car mechanic, farmer, medical assistant, nurse and secretary. By attending one of the career and vocational training fairs held throughout the year in numerous German locations, you can learn which one that might be. After the successful completion of your training, you can stay up to 12 additional months in order to obtain employment.
Work visa for qualified professionals
Germany is in grave need for qualified IT professionals. Moreover, if you are able to crack a job interview, your visa will be sponsored too. Not only IT, there are several other work-related long-term visas available in Germany. These are below –
- Researchers and PhD students
- Intra-corporate transfer employees
- Freelancers
- European volunteer service activities
- Degree level qualified Graduates
- Vocational qualified skilled workers
- IT professionals with minimum 3 years of experience
There aren’t many requirements either, if you plan to get this visa.
- German equivalent degree of your highest education
- Proof of job offer
- Certificate about compulsory health insurance
Once you arrive in Germany and are able to get 3 months salary slips, you can apply for a residence permit. You might apply for an EU blue card if your minimum annual gross salary is €58,400. If your age is above 45 years then your gross salary should be around €46,530. A reduced minimum annual gross salary of €45,552 Euros applies to employment in the occupational fields of mathematics, computer science, the natural sciences, engineering and human medicine (not including dentistry).
Another prospect of having a EU blue card is that your family members enjoy less stringent conditions regarding their family reunification visa. Also, your spouse doesn’t have to learn German to get a residence permit in Germany.
Holders of an EU Blue Card will receive their permanent residence after 33 months in Germany if they have paid contributions into a pension fund during this period, and are able to understand basic German. If you know B1 level German then it is possible to apply for permanent residence in 21 months.
Freelancer visa
If you are someone who would like to start your own business in Germany or want to do freelancing then with self-employed or freelance visa you will be able to achieve your dream. Just make sure you fulfill below criteria –
- Your product must be of economic interest and has foreseeable growth. It should have a positive impact on the economy
- You should have full capability to finance your business either by self funding or loan commitment
- It is foreseeable that your company will have a positive effect on the economy
- You can provide proof of sufficient funds to finance your projects.
- You have obtained any license required to perform the job in question.
- You also need to show proof of old age pension provisions if your age is 45 and above
Initially, You get a residence permit for 3 years. However, if your business plan is successful and you are able to support your family’s daily needs then you can apply for a renewal as well. To know more about this visa, checkout this link.
Job seeker visa
Let’s talk about the situation where you are not able to get a job in Germany from your own country. Is it still possible to come to Germany without any job offer? The answer is a big YES! This is where a jobseeker visa comes in. It literally means someone who is seeking a job in another land. To get a jobseeker visa you should have below requirements covered –
- Proof of vocational or academic training
- German equivalent Education degree or diploma. If it is a regulated profession (like healthcare) then a professional practice permit is mandatory
- Knowledge of German language in accordance with Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
- Proof of blocked German bank account to cover your cost of living. As of Nov 2022 the total sum is €5,604.
You will get this visa for a period up to 6 months. If your employment status has all the requirement fulfilled for EU blue card then you may apply for it as well.
Since there is a critical shortage of the labor force in Germany, there will be another variant of jobseeker visa and will be known as Green card. It will be available for non-EU professionals. The new “opportunity card” or green card will offer foreign nationals the chance to come to Germany to look for work even without a job offer.
Family reunion visa
As the name suggests, this visa is applicable for family members who wish to join their spouse working in Germany. Let’s talk about the requirement –
- Marriage certificate or proof of a registered or civil partnership
- Child birth certificate
- Spouse should have residence permit, settlement permit or an EU Blue card for Germany
- Proof of accommodation in Germany
- Health insurance
- Proof of funds to support your family
- German language certification (Level A1) in case your spouse doesn’t have EU Blue card
- Spouse should be at least 18 years old
Once your spouse arrives in Germany, they can immediately start working if “Erwerbstätigkeit erlaubt” is mentioned in their visa. Otherwise, It is not possible for them to work without getting a residence permit.
With this, we have come to the very end of the post. I hope this helped you gain more knowledge and information about different types of visa one can apply if they want to come to Germany. Soon, I will be returning with a new post with new insights about Germany. Till then stay healthy and keep reading.