European Union citizens planning to travel to Germany do not need any special documentation. However, nationals of other countries must meet other requirements as explained below.
As we said before, European Union citizens do not require visas for stays of up to 90 days. These countries include all who joined the Schengen area, Iceland, Norway and the Principality of Liechtenstein. For stays of more than three months in Germany you must obtain a residence permit. The citizens of the United States, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand and Switzerland, can apply for residence permit after entering Germany without a visa.
Other countries need a visa regardless of their nationalty, or the reason for this trip. This is obtained at the German embassy or consulate in the home country. You can find more information about visas for Germany at the site of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs: www.auswaertiges-amt.de
All nationals of the European Union must make a request to the office of Aliens (Ausländerbehörde). You must take your identity card or passport and the declaration of residence, four photos and a statement by your employer. The validity of this permit is 5 years. But it may be too limited for the duration of the employment contract.
There are different kinds of VISA. A tourist visa for example cannot become a student visa. And a tourist is forbidden to study in Germany. For foreign students and candidates for a place to study there are three types of Visa:
Visa for a German language courses, which cannot be converted to a student visa
Applicants for a visa for a study place, valid when there is no confirmation of admission from a university yet. Once the student recieves the approval of the university they must report immediately to the Immigration Office (Ausländeramt) for the corresponding student visa;
The student visa, valid for one year. To receive it you must present a certificate of admission to a German university and a certificate that proves there are sufficient funds for the duration of your studies.
Necessary Documentation :
* 2 application forms; * 2 photographs; * Valid passport ; * Letter of acceptance from college or German Institute; * Certificate of participation to a German language course; * Certificate of a diploma attesting to the secondary level; * The latest test scores; * Payment of visa fee.
