Apply for a tourist visa

Prerequisites

• You are in your home country/not yet in Germany/not yet in the Schengen Area.
• They are planning to enter Germany or the Schengen Area.
• They are planning a short stay of no more than 90 days.

Documents required

• current biometric passport photo
• valid travel or national passport
• Proof of sufficient health insurance coverage
• fully completed and signed application form

Depending on the reason for the visa extension, you may need additional documents, such as a medical certificate.

Please note

According to the so-called Visa Code, you can only apply for an extension of your visa for a total of up to 90 days for serious personal reasons, urgent humanitarian reasons or due to force majeure.

If you are staying in Hamburg, you can apply for the extension at the relevant authority.

If your visa has already expired, you cannot extend it.

As a national of the European Union, a country of the Schengen Area or a state listed in Annex II of EU Regulation 2018/1806, you do not need a visa to enter Germany for a short stay.

Deadlines

You need a visa before you are allowed to enter Germany or the Schengen Area.


Apply for the visa no earlier than 6 months before your planned trip.

Procedure

• You apply for a visa for a short-term stay in Germany or the Schengen Area in person at the responsible German diplomatic mission abroad, submitting the required documents.
• The responsible authority will review your application and documents. If necessary, they will request further documents or information from you.
• The responsible authority will check the requirements and decide on your application.
• You will receive the visa.
• They pay the fees.

Processing time

The processing of your application varies depending on the responsible German diplomatic mission abroad and can take 2-6 weeks, or possibly longer.

Fees

Application fees may vary depending on the responsible German diplomatic mission abroad.

Legal remedies

Contradiction


Lawsuit before the Administrative Court

Legal basis

§ 6 paragraph 1 Residence Act (AufenthG)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__6.html


Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 (Visa Code)


https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32009R0810


Regulation (EU) No 2018/1806 (EU Visa Regulation)


https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32018R1806