Welcome
Short-term visa for Germany
A Schengen visa is required if you wish to stay in the Schengen territory for up to 90 days within a 180 day period for business, visitor and/or tourist purposes, and you do not attempt to work.
- General information
- Where to apply for short-term visa in Australia
- Australian citizens / The German-Australian Agreement on the Exemption of Visa Requirements, dated 22.12.1952
- Holders of UN Travel Document / Titre de Voyage
- Holders of Document of Identity / Certificate of Identity
- Application form and further information
Important information
General information
Short-term visas are also called “Schengen-visa” as they allow a stay up to 90 days in a 180-day timeframe in the Schengen area. A short-term visa is needed for any stay shorter than 90 days. If you intend to stay for longer than 90 days, you would have to apply for a long-term visa (also called “national visa”).
You can use the Schengen calculator to find out how much time is left on your visa and determine if you are in compliance with the “90 days/180 days” rule.
Please note that visa applications have to be lodged at the competent Embassy or Consulate in which jurisdiction you reside. Only if you have been legally residing in Australia for over 6 months, you can apply for your short-term visa in Australia. If you are only temporarily staying in Australia for a short period of time (under 6 months), we cannot accept your visa application.
Where to apply for short-term visa in Australia
1. Applicants with residence in Australia (residence = have been legally residing in Australia for over 6 months):
The Austrian Embassy in Canberra is responsible for issuing Schengen Visas on behalf of Germany in all States and Territories of Australia. As a consequence, visa applicants with residence in Australia will have to launch their application for a Schengen-Visa (intended stay of up to 90 days in a 6 months period; e.g. tourist or business visa) personally at VFS global or the Austrian Embassy in Canberra. The German Consulate General in Sydney cannot accept these applications.
For enquiries about short-term Schengen visa for travellers, please contact:
VFS Global
Tel: (02) 8278 4527 (Mon - Fri, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
Email: info.jvac-au@vfshelpline.com
For background Information on Schengen Visas (e.g. fees, required documents) you can also visit the respective website of the Austrian Embassy.
2. Applicants with residence on Nauru, Vanuatu or the Solomon Islands
Only persons requiring a visa and permanently residing in Nauru, Vanuatu or the Solomon Islands have to apply for a visa at the German Consulate General in Sydney. The following information is therefore only relevant for residents on Nauru, Vanuatu or the Solomon Islands:
- You have to book an appointment online and submit your application in person at the German Consulate General in Sydney.
- Please complete the visa application form on this website. If this is not possible, you can also download the application form: Application Schengen Visa
- Please compile the documents you need to submit your application. If documents or supporting documents are missing, your application may be rejected.
Document requirements for Schengen visa applications:
Which documents you need to submit depends on your travel purpose. Please always submit the General Requirements. In addition, submit the documents required for your purpose of travel. Minors must submit additional documents.
Include a copy of all original documents submitted with the application.
- Fully completed application form (write “N/A” in boxes that do not apply to you)
- One recent passport size photograph with light coloured background (ICAO standard); do not attach to the application form
- Valid passport issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least 3 months after return from the Schengen area with at least two empty pages
- One copy of the passport's bio-data page
- Flight itinerary indicating the travel reservation from transport company or travel agent; itineraries must clearly indicate name and date of travel out of and return to the country of origin
- Recent bank statement indicating applicants name and address showing transactions for at least the last three months from the date of application
- Proof of health insurance with a minimum cover of 30,000.00 EUR in each of the following subcategories: Urgent medical treatment, hospitalization, repatriation for medical reasons, repatriation of mortal remains and funeral expenses.
Please provide the certificate of insurance, the table of benefits and the relevant pages of the PDS. The insurance must be valid throughout all Schengen countries and for the entire duration of your stay. COVID-19 treatments have to be covered. The certificate of insurance must be issued by an insurance company operating in Australia or within the EU. - The fee of 90.00 EUR to be paid in AUD cash or credit card. The AUD amount can vary according to the exchange rate of the Consulate General. For children between the age of 6 and 12 years, the fee is 45.00 EUR. Visa fees are non-refundable. Children under the age of 6 years are exempt of Schengen visa fees. The visa fee is also waived for applicants married to an EU national or parents of minors with EU nationality while excercising their right to free movement. Please include the original marriage or birth certificate as well as a certified copy of the spouse's or child's EU passport.
- Proof of visa status in Australia
VEVO verification not older than 14 days. The VEVO must state your current passport number and must show that your Australian visa is valid for multiple entries to Australia until at least 3 months after your departure from the Schengen area. (only applicable if you are residing in Australia) - Letter of employment (employed applicants only)
A recent (maximum of two weeks prior to appointment date) signed letter of employment on employers' letterhead indicating as a minimum, job title, salary, period of employment, employment status and approved period of leave/vacation - A prepaid, waterproof plastic satchel from Australia Post (preferably Express Post Platinum or Express Post Parcel with signature on delivery) with your address - unless the passport will be collected directly at the Consulate General Sydney
- Recent certificate of business registration (self-employed applicants only)
- Original marriage certificate as well as original ID/passport of spouse (married applicants only)
- Hotel booking for the whole duration of the intended stay
- Signed invitation letter, ID/passport of host
- Declaration of obligation (“Verpflichtungserklärung”) (if sponsored by a private host)
- Hotel booking for the whole duration of the intended stay
- Invitation letter from the company in the Schengen area stating who is invited, for how long and for what purpose
- If the trip is company-financed, confirmation from the management of the company stating that all costs related to the business trip will be covered
- Letter from the educational establishment in the Schengen area confirming enrolment; Student card or copy of the matriculation at the university
- Proof of solvency, e.g. sponsor letter and bank statement of parents
- Invitation letter from the organisers of a cultural/sports event stating who is invited, for how long and for what purpose
- If the trip is financed by the organiser, confirmation from the organiser stating that all costs related to the trip will be covered
- Minors (under 18 years of age) must be accompanied by at least one parent when the visa application is made
- Minor's official birth certificate and one copy
- Parents' passports and one copy of their passports' bio-data page
- If the minor is travelling accompanied by only one parent or legal guardian, notarised written consent and a copy of the passport's bio-data page of the other parent/guardian must be provided
- If the minor is travelling accompanied by persons other than parent(s) or legal guardian(s), written consent of the legal guardian(s) for the planned journey with a certified signature and parents' passports and copy of the parents' passport bio-data page
- In cases where the whereabouts of one parent are not known (e.g. the parent is missing), a notarised affidavit of the parent applying on behalf of the minor(s) should be presented stating that he/she is the only known parent
Please note:
- The Consulate General can request more documents than those submitted by the applicant.
- Applications must be lodged no earlier than 6 months prior and no later than 15 days prior to the intended travel date
- Submitting the required documents does not guarantee automatic issuance of the Schengen visa
- All documents submitted in any other language than English or German have to be translated into German or English by an officially recognized translator.
- Please be informed that knowingly providing false information during the visa process will result in denial of your application
- Ensure that your application is complete. Incomplete applications may result in rejection of the visa.
Applicants not residing in Australia
Residents of Nauru, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands can apply via courier service if they have given their biometrics via the last 59 months. Please contact the Consulate General for more information.
Please note that the German Honorary Consuls in Australia, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands cannot accept any visa applications or give any information on visa issues.
3. Applicants who are only temporarily residing in Australia (under 6 months):
Please note that visa applications have to be lodged in at the competent Embassy or Consulate in which jurisdiction you reside. Only if you have been legally residing in Australia for over 6 months, you can apply for your short-term visa in Australia. If you are only temporarily staying in Australia for a short period of time (under 6 months), we cannot accept your visa application.
Australian citizens / The German-Australian Agreement on the Exemption of Visa Requirements, dated 22.12.1952
Australian citizens do not need a visa for the Schengen area, which includes Germany, for an intended stay of up to 90 days in a 180 day period as long as
- their passports are valid for at least 3 months beyond the intended length of stay in the Schengen zone and
- they do not engage in any type of gainful employment
The German-Australian Agreement on the Exemption of Visa Requirements, dated 22.12.1952
The German-Australian Agreement on the Exemption of Visa Requirements, dated 22.12.1952, allows Australian citizens to travel to Germany and to stay in Germany for up to 90 days without having to apply for a visa, as long as their passport is valid for the entire duration of the stay and as long as they do not engage in any kind of employment in Germany.
According to this agreement the duration of one stay in Germany must not exceed 90 days but the number of entries to Germany is not limited. In order to re-enter Germany for another 90 days visitors have to depart Germany for any other country outside the Schengen States (e.g. the UK) and can come back even the same day.
Since visitors need to be able to document the period of time they have been spending in Germany we recommend to enter and to depart via a German airport in order to obtain an official entry and departure stamp in their passport.
Germany is part of the Schengen States, so your first 90 days count – no matter where in the Schengen Area you spent them. You have to leave the Schengen States after 90 days and then you can go back only to Germany for the next 90 days. If you want to visit other Schengen States during this time you have to check if these states also have a bilateral agreement with Australia.
This means:
You can spend your first 90 days anywhere in the Schengen States and enter and leave the different states as often as you like.
On day 90 the latest you have to leave the Schengen States (you could go to the UK for example).
You have to make sure that you have the stamps from the border police in your passport to be able to proof that you have left the Schengen Area.
Afterwards you are allowed to go back to Germany for the 90 days, but only to Germany.
If you want to visit other Schengen States please check before travelling if these States have also a bilateral agreement with Australia.
Holders of UN Travel Document / Titre de Voyage
Holders of UN Travel documents, issued by the Australian Government according to the UN Conventions for refugees (Convention of 28 July 1951) and stateless persons (Convention of 28 September 1954), mentioned on the front page, can enter Germany without a visa for an intended stay of up to 90 days, as long as at the time of entry into Germany their travel document is still valid for at least 4 months and they do not engage in any type of gainful employment. If you want to travel to other Schengen countries, please check with the respective embassy for entry requirements.
Holders of Document of Identity / Certificate of Identity
Holders of other Australian travel documents (Document of Identity or Certificate of Identity) need a visa according to the citizenship mentioned in the document. They have to apply for a Schengen visa at VFS Global or the Austrian Embassy (see above).