Who needs a visa?

For stays longer than 90 days, foreign citizens generally require a visa. Excluded from this are EU citizens (European Union), citizens of the EEA (European Economic Area) and citizens of Switzerland.

Citizens of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, the United States of America and the UK and Northern Ireland can also obtain a required residence permit after entering Germany from the immigration authorities responsible in Germany. You do not need to apply for a visa before moving to Germany.

For all other nationals residing in France, the following applies: visas for a long-term stay must be obtained from the Embassy in Paris before entering the country.

How do I get an appointment to submit an application?

Please use the following link for a free registration on the waiting list for an appointment to apply for a visa at the Embassy in Paris: Visa section Appointment waiting list

If a minor is accompanying you to Germany, please state this when registering in the appointment waiting list. You need a separate appointment and the application has to be submitted in person.

Please expect a waiting time of at least 16 weeks for an appointment. You will receive an e-mail with the date and time approximately two weeks before your appointment.

We kindly ask you to refrain from making written or telephone appointment requests. Due to the high volume of applications and limited processing capacities, it is not possible to shorten the waiting time.

If you are part of the accelerated procedure for skilled workers (Art. 81a German Residency Act - § 81a AufenthG) you can get an appointment within the statutory period of three weeks. Please contact the German Embassy in Paris: contact form

Please follow the link for further information on how to become part the accelerated procedure for skilled workers: Accelerated procedure for skilled workers

Which documents are required?

Please bring the following documents:

• two complete printouts of your electronic visa application: VIDEX
  
  Using VIEDX speeds up the processing time at the embassy. If you cannot fill in the application online, you can download the application form here:
  Form: Application for a national visa (German/English)
  Form: Application for a national visa (German/French)
  Form: Application for a national visa (German/Arabic)
• two current biometric passport photos: photo template
• valid passport, original and two copies (the passport must have at least two blank pages)
• valid French residence permit and two copies
• signed declaration of employment, original and two copies. Your employer fills out this declaration. You can download the declaration here: ”Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis„​​​​​​
• proof of qualification (diplomas, certificates, proof of graduation, etc.), original and two copies
  
  All certificates must be submitted in German, English or French. Certificates in other languages must be translated into German, English or French by a sworn translator. Please use the link for further information regarding a sworn translator: Translations (in French language)
  
  Certificates on multilingual forms do not have to be translated if they contain a German language version.
  
  Documents from many countries require legalization or an apostille for use in Germany. This should already be available when the application is submitted, but can also be submitted later in the course of the application process. Please use the following link for further information: Foreign public documents for use in Germany

• certificate of recognition of your foreign professional training, original and two copies OR

  (in case of regulated professions which require a license to practice the profession, e.g. medical professions) an original license to practice (“Berufsausübungserlaubnis”) and two copies

  In order to be able to work in Germany as a skilled worker with vocational training, you must either have a German qualified vocational training or a foreign vocational training that is equivalent to the German qualified vocational training.

  The recognition of your foreign professional qualification takes place in a formal recognition procedure. Detailed information regarding the recognition of educational qualifications can be found here: Recognition in Germany
  
  Please note that you should only submit your visa application once your professional qualification has been recognised. The recognition process can take considerable time.

• possibly preliminary approval of the Federal Employment Agency

  German employers have the option of obtaining the necessary approval for the visa application from the Federal Employment Agency before you submit your application to the embassy in Paris. The processing time of the visa application process is significantly reduced if you can already present the approval

• if you are 45 or above: proof of adequate pension funds, original and two copies

  (only in case the salary is lower than 55% of the annual contribution assessment limit in the general German pension insurance (2023: EUR 48,180.00 gross per year; starting from 1 January 2024: EUR 49,830.00))

• proof of health insurance valid in Germany (must be presented at the latest when picking up the visa)
  
  Health insurance coverage is usually provided from the moment you start working. The proof of health insurance must therefore cover the period between entry and starting work.

Please note that your application can only be processed if your documents are complete on the day you submit your application. Occasionally, the submission of additional documents may be required.

Fees and costs

The processing fee for a national visa is 75,00 euros in most cases and 37,50 euros for minors. The fee is to be paid in cash when the application is submitted to the embassy. Please bring the correct amount with you.

The processing fee cannot be reimbursed, this applies also when the visa has been denied.

Important : Apart from the processing fee mentioned above payable to the embassy in Paris, there are no further fees (e.g. for arranging an appointment). Only expenses for e.g. returning your passport containing the visa by post must be borne by the applicant.

How long does it take to obtain a visa ?

The embassy in Paris will decide on your application after the responsible immigration authorities in Germany have been involved. On average, the processing time from the day the application was submitted is a two weeks. Please refrain from making inquiries regarding the development during this time.

We will contact you once your visa application has been processed. If your application is approved, we will email you when and how to submit your passport to obtain the visa.

If your visa application has been rejected, there can be various reasons. We will tell you these reasons in a rejection notice. You can submit a new application with complete, meaningful and verifiable documents at any time.

For how long is the visa valid?

If you are granted a visa to enter Germany, it will be valid for six months from the date of being issued.

Your visa will contain your full name, passport number and photo. The number of days of stay and the period of validity of the visa are specified, i.e. the time you have until you receive your domestic residence permit.

Please remember to register with the residents' registration office immediately after entering Germany. The visa allows you to travel within the Schengen area.

Privacy policy

Information in accordance with Art. 13 and 14 of the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation) on data protection in the visa application process can be found here: Information on data protection (in German language)