The new visa waiver program for Europe’s Schengen Area will be arriving later than expected. The latest announcement from the European Union (EU) has stated that the ETIAS system will now be launched in 2025 instead of 2024. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) has been in the works for several years. It
Visa Policy for Germany
The visa policy of Germany establishes the requirements and restrictions placed on foreign travelers of any country across the world that want to travel to, enter, and remain in the state.
The German visa policy is the same as all countries that have signed the Schengen Agreement, as Germany forms a part of the Schengen passport-free zone.
Consequently, all Schengen Area citizens are allowed to enter with either their passport or national ID Card, with no restrictions set for length of stay or purpose of visit.
German visa requirements for other passport holders differ depending on the nationality of the travler, as well as the aim of the visit and the amount of time the individual needs to stay inside the country.
A number of other foreign citizens, from outside the Schengen Area, are also currently granted a short visa-exempt stay without the need to obtain travel authorization, by simply presenting a valid passport at German border control.
However, these same visa-exempt passport holders will have to apply for ETIAS once this travel authorization is implemented in 2025. An ETIAS for Germany is a multiple entry online visa waiver which will allow holders to spend up to 90 days inside the Schengen Area with each entry.
Finally, German visa rules state that travelers from around 150 countries are required to have an approved Schengen visa to enter the country, which must be obtained before departure from the nearest German overseas government office.
This embassy visa is available for a variety of different purposes according to the traveler’s needs.
Find further information about each visa and travel authorization for Germany in the boxes below.