Germany happens to be one of Europe’s largest countries which portrays a wide variety of landscapes and scenic beauty. Since 1995 when Germany became a member of the European Nations, it automatically became a member state of the Schengen Area, now travellers are allowed to enter Germany with a Schengen Visa. Now what is a Schengen Visa? Schengen Visa was basically done under the Schengen agreement you have to get a visa from just one of the EU countries and that allows you entry in most of the other European Union countries.

You also need a Visa for a short-stay visit to enter Germany or any other member country of the Schengen zone if you happen to be a citizen auf a third country which has not reached a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen states.

If a person is planning to visit Germany for a short stay trip which is upto 90 days then he or she should apply for a Schengen Visa which is for short stay only and is also called C-type visa and if you plan to stay in Germany for longer than 90 days then you should apply for a German long-stay visa also known as D-type visa.

Some of the short-stay visa types for Germany can be:

• Germany Airport Transit Visa: This visa is used when you need to land in one of the German airports and then travel to a non-Schengen destination.
• Germany Transit Visa: Apply for this visa if you need to venture into one of the German harbours, to take a transport that will take you to your non-Schengen destination.
• Germany Tourist Visa: This visa is applied for if you wish to visit Germany for the motive of sightseeing, vacations, or exploring different places in the country.
• Germany Business Visa: Apply for this visa if your motive to come to Germany is business related.
• Germany Medical Visa: If you wish to have medical care from Germany then you can apply for this visa.
• Germany Training/Internship Visa: Apply for this visa if you wish to attend any training or do an internship in Germany.
• Germany Trade Fair & Exhibitions Visa: If you are planning to participate in a trade fair or exhibition which is going to take place in Germany then you can apply for this visa.
• Visa for visiting family and friends in Germany: For the purpose of visiting relatives or family in the country.

However, there are certain requirements you need to adhere to while entering Germany even if you do not require a visa. Those are:

• The purpose of your trip to Germany must be conceivable and accessible.
• Your passport should not expired for at least 6 months beyond your stay in Germany.
• You must be in a position to sponsor your own living and travel costs.
• You must be prepared to leave Germany before your visa expires.
• You must clear all your travel health insurance policies.
• You must not pose a threat to the security or public order of the country.

Now, if the reason for your travel is not going to be completed within the time period of 90 days then you must apply for a long-stay visa or a national visa which is also known as D-type visa before you start travelling.

The national visa allows you to enter Germany on the basis that you will be applying for a residence permit in the country, it enables you to enter the country as a potential resident. What you have to do is convert your visa into a residence permit within three months of arriving in Germany. Your national visa maybe issued to you once you give a valid reason for your long stay in the country. The reasons can be; for employment purposes, to join family or spouse, job-hunting, to conduct academic or scientific research, to start a business as an entrepreneur or in order to seek refugee or asylum. These are some of the reasons with which you can be granted a national visa to enter the country.

Depending on the reason for applying for a national visa, you will need to fulfil certain criteria and present certain documents for your visa interview. Your local German mission can tell you best what needs to be done and what reason suits you the best so that your application may go through smoothly. In order to apply for a German visa you need to contact your nearby German Mission, it can be present in your country or your neighbour country or else you can find a list of German missions on the Federal Foreign Office’s website.

Documents required for applying for a German Visa:

• Your Visa application form which should be completely filled and all the necessary signatures should be done that too without any mistakes.
• Declaration is a form which will be given by the German authorities in your countries and it contains the confirmation which says that all the information which you have given is absolutely correct.
• Your Passport size photographs which should be taken within a span of three months.
• A valid passport.

• A Valid travel medical insurance, with a minimum coverage of 30.000 euros.

• The proof of accommodation of your entire stay in Germany with all the details of your hotel booking etc.
• Round-trip Flight Itinerary.
• Proof of financial funds for your trip to Germany, a foreign traveller applying for a German visa must be able to attest possessing 45 euros per day to the German consulate for the period of stay in the German territory.
• Proof of civil status which may include your marriage certificate, birth certificate of children or death certificate of spouse or etc.

The fees for applying for a German visa may differ based on the age group; 80 euros for adults applying for a short-stay visa, 75 euros for adults applying for a long stay visa, 40 euros for the children under age of 12, and it’s free of cost for the children under the age group of 6.