Regulations and application procedure
Different visa regulations may apply depending on your nationality.

Categories:

• Nationalities that do not generally require a visa:
  EU citizens and citizens of the European Economic Area and Switzerland do not require a visa for Germany regardless of the length of their stay.
   
• Nationalities that do not require a visa for stays of up to three months:
  This category includes citizens of the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan and New Zealand. An application for temporary residence may be submitted after arrival in Germany.
   
• Nationalities that always require a visa for entry into Germany:
  All other nationalities. In this case you will need a visa even for a short stay. This applies to many Arab, African, Asian and Eastern European states.
   
  For further information on German visa requirements, please see www.auswaertiges-amt.de.