The German Business Visa for your Business Trip
If you are considering of travelling to Germany for business purposes, then applying for a German business visa can become a necessary task.
Generally, you can apply for the required German business visa online/ at the nearest German consulate in the country of your residence for a stay in Germany of up to three months.
General Visa Requirements and Validity Period of German Business Visa
It is advisable to check the German business visa requirements, before applying for your business visa to Germany.
A brief summary of the most important requirements and conditions when getting the business visa for Germany:
- You do not expect to perform unpaid job that may otherwise be performed by a paid employee in Germany.
- You do not plan to join an employment relationship in Germany.
- You do not mean to provide services to German organisations (this is permitted with a German work visa or business visa).
- You do not plan to provide or market product or services to consumers in Germany.
- You and your relative are not in debt to the Germany Government.
- You do not present a risk to the health or safety of the people of Germany.
- You have the ability to demonstrate that you have adequate funds to finance your trip and return from Germany.
Do you need a German business visa?
It depends upon your nationality and also the kind of travel document you are using to take a trip to Germany.Please click here to check if you require a German visa.
Exactly who can get a German business visa?
Anyone wanting to go on holiday to Germany can request a German business visa.
There are several kinds of visa for Germany which you can use as a visitor to Germany. If you are unsure which type of German business visa you require to apply, please contact the nearby German visa office to get further clarification as aim of this page is to give you basic overview when requesting German business visa.
What kind of German visa do I require?
This depends upon three things:
- The nationality according to your passport – If the citizenship according to the passport is from a country that is on visa free travel to Germany or eligible to apply for a visa on arrival in Germany, then you may not require to apply for a German business visa prior to departure from your home country. Please click on this link to find out if you need a German visa.
- The duration of your visit in Germany – If you intend to remain in Germany for a shorter period no more than 90 days, then you can request the German business visa. If you prefer to remain longer, then contact the local German visa office to secure the appropriate visa for your trip.
- The activities you hope to execute in Germany – If your main purpose of travelling is for tourism, then you can apply for all kinds of German business visas discussed on this page.
General Visa Application Requirements to Get German Business Visa
- Business visa application form for Germany – Completed German visa application form.
- Original and signed passport – The passport must be valid for at the very least 6 months before going into Germany and three months after leaving Germany. It should have at least two spare visa web pages and can not be older than 10 years.
- Passport type photo – Photo has to be no older than 6 months and should be 35 x 40mm in size.
- Previous passport – Provide a previous passport if you had any.
- Previous visas – Copies of previous German visas details if you had any.
- Flight tickets to Germany – Reservation of return or round trip flight tickets. In some situations the German visa office may request pre-paid air travel tickets to Germany.
- Travel insurance coverage – Proof of travel insurance policy with a minimum cover set by the German consular office provided with the Certificate of Insurance policy and the table of benefits. The travel insurance must cover the expense of repatriation for medical reasons and the Certificate of Currency must be issued by an insurance company. If you are thinking about using your credit card travel insurance for your travel to Germany, please get in touch with German consular office to learn more and travel insurance requirements for the German visa.
- Original financial institution statements – Original financial institution statements for the last 3 months showing adequate funds to cover stay in Germany. If statements are printed online then it needs to be Verified (stamped) by the bank officials.
- Hotel Reservations in Germany – Copy of confirmed hotel bookings including name of the applicant, name and address of the hotel, duration of stay. In the majority of scenarios, only bookings which are partially or completely pre-paid can be accepted.
- Work letter – This letter has to be: original and signed letter from employer written on company letter head paper, confirming your ongoing employment, the status of employment, regular monthly salary and annual leave. Also, please supply your three most recent pay slips. If you are self-employed: provide certified copies of company registration, tax return.
- For students. Please give the following:
- Proof of present student status: Certificate of Enrollment.
- Original and signed letter from university written on university letter head paper, confirming ongoing enrolment, verifying the payment of tuition fees or any type of scholarships, and confirming term break.
- Insurance from Organisation/University – Give a letter from the University stating the purpose, duration of travel and confirmation that you will be covered by the insurance for the whole journey together with the Certificate of Currency and summary of benefits.
Generally, visa applications for German visa ought to be sent for an optimum of 6 months, and no behind 15 days, prior to the journey.