If you're planning on travelling to Germany, please be aware that you might need a visa and that the necessary steps to get a visa usually take some time. Always make sure that you plan ahead and allow enough time to get the required documents ready before you start your German course in Germany.

One factor which affects visa requirements is the nationality of the applicant. There are special agreements with many countries that allow citizens to enter Germany as a tourist without the need to obtain a visa. Citizens of the European Union are not required to get a visa for Germany. For detailed and up-to-date information on possible visa requirements, please contact the German embassy or consulate in your country.

If you are looking for detailed information about requesting a visa, how to extend your stay in Germany, how to obtain a student visa or what to do if you lose your tourist card, please contact the German embassy or consulate in your country or the official authorities in Germany:

• Federal Foreign Office of Germany:
  www.auswaertiges-amt.de
• List of Germany embassies and consulates:
  de.embassyinformation.com

Make sure you have a valid passport to take with you. It is strongly recommended that your passport be valid for several months after your return date.

Other documents and forms of identification that might be required in certain situations include the following: your return ticket, proof of sufficient economic funds to finance your stay, driver's license, vaccination card, proof of health insurance and others. Furthermore, cards that identify you as a university student, retiree, handicapped person, etc. might entitle you to special discounts in many cultural institutions, public transport and so forth.

Please check that you have the correct travel documents with you. In order to be on the safe side, consider preparing a copy of all your travel documents. If you lose them you can be helped more quickly if you have copies with you.