GermanyEntry and visas

Germany entry rules

Citizens of Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Israel, the EU, the UK, the US, Canada, Serbia and Australia do not need to arrange a visa for Germany in advance: the stay is up to 90 days. Citizens of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Türkiye need a visa from a consulate before the trip.

Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026.

Entry rules by passport

For a tourist trip. Checked on 8 October 2026 against the official sources listed below the table.

Passport	Entry	Stay	Conditions
Russia	Visa required	—	Source: German Foreign Office
Belarus	Visa required	—	Source: German Foreign Office
Ukraine	Visa-free	90 days in any 180 days	Biometric passport only.Source: German Foreign Office
Kazakhstan	Visa required	—	Source: German Foreign Office
Uzbekistan	Visa required	—	Source: German Foreign Office
Kyrgyzstan	Visa required	—	Source: German Foreign Office
Tajikistan	Visa required	—	Source: German Foreign Office
Turkmenistan	Visa required	—	Source: German Foreign Office
Armenia	Visa required	—	Source: German Foreign Office
Azerbaijan	Visa required	—	Source: German Foreign Office
Georgia	Visa-free	90 days in any 180 days	Biometric passport only. Visa-free travel is suspended for diplomatic, service and official passports until 6 March 2027.Sources: German Foreign Office, Regulation (EU) 2026/496
Moldova	Visa-free	90 days in any 180 days	Biometric passport only.Source: German Foreign Office
Israel	Visa-free	90 days in any 180 days	A residence permit can be obtained in Germany after visa-free entry.Sources: German Foreign Office, AufenthV § 41
EU countries	Free movement	—	Entry with a passport or national ID card.Source: Directive 2004/38
United Kingdom	Visa-free	90 days in any 180 days	A residence permit can be obtained in Germany after visa-free entry.Sources: German Foreign Office, AufenthV § 41
United States	Visa-free	90 days in any 180 days	A residence permit can be obtained in Germany after visa-free entry.Sources: German Foreign Office, AufenthV § 41
Canada	Visa-free	90 days in any 180 days	A residence permit can be obtained in Germany after visa-free entry.Sources: German Foreign Office, AufenthV § 41
Turkey	Visa required	—	Source: German Foreign Office
Serbia	Visa-free	90 days in any 180 days	Biometric passport only.Source: German Foreign Office
Australia	Visa-free	90 days in any 180 days	A residence permit can be obtained in Germany. Under the 1952 agreement, after 90 days in Schengen you may stay another 90 days in Germany only.Sources: Embassy in Australia, AufenthV § 41

RussiaVisa required
Source: German Foreign Office
BelarusVisa required
Source: German Foreign Office
UkraineVisa-free
90 days in any 180 days. Biometric passport only.
Source: German Foreign Office
KazakhstanVisa required
Source: German Foreign Office
UzbekistanVisa required
Source: German Foreign Office
KyrgyzstanVisa required
Source: German Foreign Office
TajikistanVisa required
Source: German Foreign Office
TurkmenistanVisa required
Source: German Foreign Office
ArmeniaVisa required
Source: German Foreign Office
AzerbaijanVisa required
Source: German Foreign Office
GeorgiaVisa-free
90 days in any 180 days. Biometric passport only. Visa-free travel is suspended for diplomatic, service and official passports until 6 March 2027.
Sources: German Foreign Office, Regulation (EU) 2026/496
MoldovaVisa-free
90 days in any 180 days. Biometric passport only.
Source: German Foreign Office
IsraelVisa-free
90 days in any 180 days. A residence permit can be obtained in Germany after visa-free entry.
Sources: German Foreign Office, AufenthV § 41
EU countriesFree movement
Entry with a passport or national ID card.
Source: Directive 2004/38
United KingdomVisa-free
90 days in any 180 days. A residence permit can be obtained in Germany after visa-free entry.
Sources: German Foreign Office, AufenthV § 41
United StatesVisa-free
90 days in any 180 days. A residence permit can be obtained in Germany after visa-free entry.
Sources: German Foreign Office, AufenthV § 41
CanadaVisa-free
90 days in any 180 days. A residence permit can be obtained in Germany after visa-free entry.
Sources: German Foreign Office, AufenthV § 41
TurkeyVisa required
Source: German Foreign Office
SerbiaVisa-free
90 days in any 180 days. Biometric passport only.
Source: German Foreign Office
AustraliaVisa-free
90 days in any 180 days. A residence permit can be obtained in Germany. Under the 1952 agreement, after 90 days in Schengen you may stay another 90 days in Germany only.
Sources: Embassy in Australia, AufenthV § 41

The 90-in-180-days limit counts across the whole Schengen area, not Germany alone. ETIAS is not running yet: once it starts, visa-free passports will need an online authorisation before travel.

Sources: German Foreign Office — visa requirements by country · EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, Annexes I and II · EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2026/496 on Georgian official passports · EUR-Lex — Directive 2004/38/EC on free movement of EU citizens · AufenthV § 41 — residence permit without a visa for nationals of Australia, Israel, Canada, the US, the UK · German Embassy in Australia — short stays and the 1952 agreement · European Commission — ETIAS

What is checked at the border

Your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and stay valid for at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area.
There is no fixed amount: the officer looks at the whole trip. If you can't show how your costs are covered, the benchmark is €45 (≈$50) per day.
You may be asked to back up the purpose of the trip: accommodation booking or host's invitation, travel plans, return ticket.
Fingerprints and a facial image are taken at the border for the EES; passports are no longer stamped.

How to extend your stay

A visa-free stay can be extended by up to 90 more days at the local foreigners' authority (Ausländerbehörde) — only in exceptional cases and without working.

Overstay penalties

Overstaying breaks the law: if negligent, a fine of up to €3,000 (≈$3,400); if intentional, a criminal case (up to one year in prison or a fine). Removal brings an entry ban for Germany and Schengen, usually up to 5 years.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for Germany?

Citizens of Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Israel, the EU, the UK, the US, Canada, Serbia and Australia enter without a visa. Citizens of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Türkiye get a visa from a consulate before the trip.

How long can I stay in Germany without a visa?

90 days in any 180 days for citizens of Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Israel, the UK, the US, Canada, Serbia and Australia.

Can the stay be extended?

A visa-free stay can be extended by up to 90 more days at the local foreigners' authority (Ausländerbehörde) — only in exceptional cases and without working.

What happens if I overstay?

What is checked on entry to Germany?

Your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and stay valid for at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area. There is no fixed amount: the officer looks at the whole trip. If you can't show how your costs are covered, the benchmark is €45 (≈$50) per day. You may be asked to back up the purpose of the trip: accommodation booking or host's invitation, travel plans, return ticket. Fingerprints and a facial image are taken at the border for the EES; passports are no longer stamped.

How can I stay in Germany longer?

A visa-free stay does not give the right to live in the country. A longer stay needs a long-term visa or a residence permit: skilled workers with vocational or university qualifications, eU Blue Card, opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) — residence permit to look for work, self-employment and freelancing, university studies, family reunification.

Sources

Checked on 8 October 2026. Entry rules change: check them on the consulate website before you travel.