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ETIAS Visa Waiver for Germany

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In 2025, the European Union will introduce ETIAS, a new Travel Information and Authorisation System. ETIAS will become a requirement to travel to Germany and most European countries. Once available, you will be able to find more information on this website. The European Union official website is https://european-union.europa.eu/, and a specific ETIAS website will soon be launched.

German ETIAS Information

The ETIAS Visa Waiver for Germany is an electronic travel authorization for Europe. It stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System.

The ETIAS is expected to be introduced in 2025, and will allow eligible citizens to travel to Germany and all Schengen Area member countries for short stays.

The European Commission is implementing the ETIAS for Germany in order to protect and strengthen European borders and pre-identify any possible risks or threats associated with visitors traveling to any of the Schengen Area countries.

The ETIAS European Visa Waiver for Germany will be a multiple-entry travel authorization expected to allow a maximum stay of 90 days in Germany and other Schengen countries with each entry. It will be valid for a total of 3 years from the date of approval.

Eligible citizens will be able to apply through the simple ETIAS application for Germany online. To complete the ETIAS Germany application form, it will be necessary to fill in some personal, passport, and travel information, and answer a few questions related to health and security matters.

ETIAS Germany will allow travel to Germany and the Schengen Area for purposes of business, tourism, transit or medical treatment.

Those eligible to apply for the ETIAS to Germany who wish to study or work in the country should contact the nearest German Embassy or Consulate for further information.

Highlights Icon
Highlights
The ETIAS grants entry to all Schengen countries, including Germany
Visitors can stay up to 90 consecutive days in Germany
Valid for 3 years from date of issue
Multiple-entry visa waiver
ETIAS permits visits for tourism, business, transit, or medical treatment
What is Necessary?
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Passport that will be valid for at least 3 months

email address

Email address

Credit/Debit Card

Method of payment (credit or debit card)

ETIAS Requirements for Germany

In order to submit an ETIAS application, it will be necessary to meet the following requirements for an ETIAS for Germany:

  • Passport from an eligible country with a minimum validity of 3 months from the date of arrival in Germany and the Schengen Area
  • Debit or credit card to pay the ETIAS for Germany application fee
  • A current email address where the approved German ETIAS visa waiver will be sent.

The approved ETIAS Visa Waiver to Germany will be electronically linked to the applicant’s passport. Germany ETIAS visa waiver requirements specify that the holder must use the same passport to enter Germany and the Schengen Area as that used to complete the ETIAS application.

It will be necessary to submit a new ETIAS for Germany application if the traveler’s passport expires during the period of validity.

Further requirements to travel to Germany, in the form of supporting documentation on arrival, may be requested depending on the first Schengen state the applicant chooses to travel to.

Countries Eligible for ETIAS

  • Albania
  • Andorra
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Brazil
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • Dominica
  • El Salvador
  • Federated States of Micronesia
  • Georgia
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala
  • Honduras
  • Hong Kong
  • Israel
  • Japan
  • Kiribati
  • Macau
  • Macedonia
  • Malaysia
  • Marshall Islands
  • Mauritius
  • Mexico
  • Moldova
  • Montenegro
  • New Zealand
  • Nicaragua
  • Palau
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Samoa
  • Serbia
  • Seychelles
  • Singapore
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Korea
  • Taiwan
  • Timor Leste
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tuvalu
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United States
  • Uruguay
  • Vanuatu
  • Venezuela
  • United Kingdom

Country policy

Germany Visa Policy

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Familiarize yourself with the visa law of Germany and find out the visa requirements according to your nationality.

Overstaying a Visa in Germany

Those not eligible to apply for the ETIAS for Germany, or who wish to travel for purposes other than those permitted with ETIAS, are required to apply for a German Schengen visa. Unlike the online ETIAS visa waiver, a Schengen visa for Germany must be applied for at a German diplomatic mission in the applicant’s home country.

An approved Schengen visa for Germany can be granted for varying lengths of permitted stay, depending on the individual’s travel purpose and the issuing embassy. However, the most common type of Schengen visa permits the holder to spend a maximum of 90 days with each entry to Germany, within every 180-day period.

Those traveling with either the ETIAS or a Schengen visa should try to avoid overstaying a visa in Germany.

Travelers should ensure they leave Germany before the allowed stay comes to an end. If the visa or ETIAS expires, the traveler should obtain a visa extension/visa waiver renewal before they return to the Schengen Zone.

All foreign travelers who overstay in the Schengen Area are subject to penalties according to the individual state.

Those in Germany with an overstayed visa may face penalties such as a small fine for staying 1 or 2 extra days. Extreme cases of Germany visa overstay, for lengthy periods of time, may result in additional penalties such as a larger fine, deportation, or a temporary travel ban from re-entering the Schengen Area.

Those with an expired ETIAS who wish to continue to travel to Germany are required to submit a new ETIAS visa waiver application and receive approval in order to return to the Schengen Area. If the traveler’s passport expires, it is also necessary to apply for a new ETIAS for Germany, as the visa is linked to an individual travel document.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Germany Visa FAQ

  • What is the ETIAS authorization for Germany?

    The ETIAS visa waiver to Germany is an electronic travel authorization, expected to be implemented in 2025, which will allow eligible citizens to travel to all  Schengen Area countries for short stays.

  • Do I need an ETIAS Visa Waiver to Germany if I have a Schengen Visa?

    No, those who require a Schengen visa are not eligible to apply for the ETIAS Germany. ETIAS is not a visa. The difference between a Schengen visa and ETIAS is that while ETIAS permits travel to all Schengen Area countries, the Schengen visa is only issued for one specific country.

  • How many times can I enter Germany with an ETIAS?

    The ETIAS for Germany allows multiple entries for short stays in Germany and the Schengen Area during its validity.

  • How much does the ETIAS Germany cost?

    The government fee of the ETIAS for Germany is €7. The German ETIAS price is the same for all eligible nationalities.

  • Is the ETIAS Visa Waiver for Germany a Visa?

    No, the ETIAS visa waiver for Germany is an electronic travel authorization which allows visa waiver citizens to travel to Germany and other Schengen Area countries. Those not eligible to apply for ETIAS will be required to obtain a Schengen visa to travel to Germany.

  • How does ETIAS for Germany work?

    The ETIAS for Germany grants the holder permission to travel to Germany and all other Schengen Area counties for multiple short stays during its validity. It is important to note that the ETIAS does not guarantee entry to the Schengen Area: the final decision for entry will be made by border officials in the first Schengen countries the applicant chooses to travel to.

  • How long can I stay in Germany with my ETIAS authorization?

    The ETIAS visa waiver for Germany is valid for 3 years from the date of approval and is expected to allow a stay of 90 consecutive days with each entry to Germany or other Schengen Area countries.

  • How can I apply for the ETIAS visa Waiver for Germany?

    Eligible citizens will be able to apply for the ETIAS visa waiver for Germany through a simple online application. The approved ETIAS for Germany will be electronically attached to the same passport used to complete the application.

  • What documents do I need to present in my ETIAS application to travel to Germany?

    The following documents are required in order to submit an ETIAS application to travel to Germany:

    • Passport from an eligible country with a minimum validity of 3 months from the date of arrival in Germany and the Schengen Area
    • Debit or credit card to pay the ETIAS for Germany application fee
    • A current email address where the approved German ETIAS will be sent.
  • What personal information should I submit in my ETIAS application?

    It is necessary for applicants for the ETIAS for Germany to meet the following personal information requirements:

    • First name(s)
    • Surname or family name
    • Maiden name (if applicable)
    • Date of birth
    • Place of birth
    • Country of birth
    • Gender
    • Nationality
    • Passport number
    • Passport issue/expiration date
    • Current address
    • Email address
    • Phone number.
  • How long will it take to complete the ETIAS for Germany application?

    The ETIAS for Germany application will only take a few minutes to complete. The standard processing time for the ETIAS to Germany is yet to be announced and will be published on this site when available.

  • Do infants need an ETIAS to Germany?

    Yes, minors under 18 will need to obtain a kids ETIAS visa waiver for Germany to travel to the Schengen Area. All travelers from eligible countries, regardless of age, including children, will be required to submit a separate German ETIAS application.

  • What if my passport expires while my ETIAS to Germany is still valid?

    The ETIAS visa waiver for Germany is linked to the same passport used to complete the application. If the traveler’s passport expires while the ETIAS Germany is still valid, it will be necessary to submit a new ETIAS application.

  • Can I use my ETIAS for Germany to travel to other European Countries?

    Yes, the ETIAS for Germany can be used to travel to any of the Schengen Area countries during its validity.

  • How can I renew my ETIAS visa Waiver for Germany?

    After the ETIAS visa waiver for Italy expires, it will be necessary for the applicant to submit a new ETIAS application from outside the Schengen Area in order to obtain a renewal and return to Germany.

  • How to check the ETIAS Visa Waiver for Germany status?

    It will be possible to check the status for the ETIAS visa waiver for Germany via the updates and notifications sent to the email address provided on the application form.

  • Can a travel ETIAS authorization to Germany be revoked?

    Yes, an approved ETIAS authorization for Germany can be revoked or annulled by authorities if:

    • Border officials decide not to grant the traveler entry to the Schengen Area
    • There is evidence the ETIAS for Germany was obtained fraudulently or if the conditions under which the ETIAS was issued are no longer met
    • There is a new alert in European security databases regarding a refusal of entry or a reported lost or stolen travel document relating to a specific ETIAS for Germany authorization. In such cases, the holder of the ETIAS will have the right to appeal.
  • What if my ETIAS for Germany is denied?

    If the ETIAS for Germany is rejected, it is expected that the applicant will be able to submit a new ETIAS application. It is expected that applicants will need to ensure that all of the information provided on the German ETIAS form matches the details of the traveler’s passport, as even small errors would result in the refusal of the application.

    However, this information is pending confirmation and will be updated closer to the expected 2025 launch date of the ETIAS.

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