Visa and entry

If you are an EU national or come from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland you will not normally need a visa. You may enter Germany on your national identity card. If you intend to stay in Germany for more than three months you must register at the “Einwohnermeldeamt” (Residents' Registration Office) and obtain a “Freizügigkeitsbescheinigung” (Freedom of Movement Certificate).

If you are a national of Australia, Canada, Isreal, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, or the USA you do not need a visa to enter Germany. However, for visits lasting more than three months you will require a residence permit, which you can apply for once you have entered Germany.

Please check with the appropriate representatives for Germany in your country, to find out whether you need a visa before you enter the country and how long it will take to process the necessary documents. A valid visa can only be applied for at a German embassy or consulate in your home country.  The visa can usually be obtained from German missions abroad.

Depending on the duration and purpose of the stay, you either need a Schengen-Visa (research stay lasting up to three months) or a national visa (research stay lasting more than three months).

1. Schengen-Visa

If your research stay in Germany is not scheduled to last longer than 90 days in a sixth month period, a Schengen Visa will usually be all you need to enter the country (C-Visa). However, you should bear in mind that Schengen Visas cannot be extended beyond the three month period, nor can they be redesignated for other purposes. You will have to leave Germany at the end of three months at the latest. When completing the application for the Schengen Visa please be sure to state “scientific work” or “research” as the purpose of your stay. The Schengen Visa entitles you to move freely between and stay in all Schengen States.

2. National Visa

If you are planning to stay in Germany for more than three months you must apply for a National Visa for Germany (D-Visa) while you are still in your own country or current country of residence. Please note that this applies even if you are already staying in another European Union country. Do not under any circumstances enter Germany on a “Visitor’s or Tourist Visa” (Schengen Visa). This type of visa cannot be extended and only entitles you to stay in Germany for a maximum of three months. You would then have to return to your own country at your own expense and apply for the right visa there. The same is true for members of your family. The National Visa only entitles you to stay in Germany. If you intend to travel to other Schengen States during the first three months of your stay (e.g. to attend a conference) you should state this in your visa application. In this case you may be issued with a so-called hybrid visa (Category C+D Visa).

National Visas are usually issued for a period of three months. Once you have entered Germany you must present this visa to your local “Ausländerbehörde” (Immigration or Foreigners’ Office) to apply for a residence permit. 

3. Researcher's Visa

The recently introduced "reseacher's visa" (§20 of the Residence Act) is designed to facilitate entry and stay for researchers from Non-EU-Countries within Germany and the European Union, to accelerate application procedures, and to facilitate mobility within the EU. The "residence permit for the purpose of scientific research" entitles the researcher to become gainfully employed for the research project designated in the hosting agreement and also to teach. In February 2010 the University of Bremen has been officially given the status of a research establishment pursuant with Article 38 of the Regulations Governing German Residence [Aufenthaltsgesetz].

Further information on the "researcher's visa"