How to apply for a visa for Berlin?

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Berlin has worldwide appeal. Millions of international tourists visit the German capital each year to see the city, study, or work. Berlin is also your travel destination, but you are not from the EU or an EFTA country? In that case, you may need to apply for a visa for Berlin. We will tell you who needs a visa, show you how to proceed, and what documents you need for a Berlin visa. We will also clarify whether there is a visa office in Berlin or if you need to apply for your residence permit in your home country. Your questions, our answers! 

Contents: 

• Who needs a visa for Berlin? 
• Which visa to apply for Berlin?
• How can I apply for a Berlin visa? 
• What forms do I need for a Berlin visa? 
• How can I issue an invitation letter for Berlin? 
•  How much does a Berlin visa cost? 
• Can I extend a Schengen visa in Berlin? 
• How can I extend a national D-visa in Berlin? 

Who needs a visa for Berlin?

As a rule, all visa-required third-country nationals (i.e., nationals who are not from the EU or EEA countries) must apply for a visa for Berlin when traveling. So, if you are from India, China, Russia, or Turkey, for example, you need a visa for both short and long stays in Berlin! 

Exceptions are over 60 third countries that are exempt from the visa requirement for a short stay of up to 3 months. These include countries like Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Malaysia, Honduras, Australia, Canada, and the UK. 

Additionally, travelers from Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, the UK, and the USA may enter Germany without a visa for stays longer than 3 months and later apply for their residence permit directly in Berlin.

Which visa to apply for Berlin?

If you plan to stay in Berlin (or all of Germany), you need to apply for a different visa depending on the duration and purpose. Essentially, there are two types of visas for Germany that are relevant for your trip to Berlin. 

1. Schengen visa for Berlin (C-visa) 
2. National visa for Berlin (D-visa) 

1. Short-stay visa: Schengen visa for Berlin up to 3 months 

If you plan to stay no longer than 3 months (within 6 months) in Berlin, you need to apply for a short-stay visa, also known as a Schengen visa or C-visa. With a Schengen visa for Berlin , you can travel not only to Germany but also to all other Schengen countries as long as your visa is valid. However, unlike a national long-term visa, it is not possible to take up employment, and the visa is extendable only in exceptional cases. 

A Schengen visa for Berlin is suitable for the following purposes: 

• Visitor visa: You want to visit family or friends in Berlin 
• Business visa: You want to visit a business in Berlin or attend a trade fair 
• Tourist visa: You want to explore the capital of Germany 
• Medical visa: You are traveling for medical treatment in Berlin 
• Short-term study and research stays 
• Participation in cultural and sporting events 
• Transit travel through Germany 

2. Long-stay visa: National visa for Berlin over 3 months 

If you plan to stay longer than 3 months in Berlin or intend to work in Berlin, you need to apply for a long-stay visa (also known as a national visa or D-visa ). A national visa can be extended and is intended for people who want to study, work, or settle permanently in Berlin (or all of Germany). With this Berlin visa, you can also visit other Schengen countries as long as your stay in those countries does not exceed 90 days. 

A National visa for Berlin is suitable for the following purposes: 

• Visa for family reunification: You want to bring your family to Germany 
• Marriage visa: You want to marry a German citizen 
• Work visa: You want to work in Berlin 
• Training visa: You want to undergo training in Berlin 
• Student visa: You want to study at a university in Berlin 
• Language course visa: You want to attend a language course for longer than 3 months

How can I apply for a Berlin visa?

Generally, you must apply for your visa for Berlin (and thus your entry permit for Germany) before your departure in your home country. The responsible authorities are the German foreign representations, such as the German Embassy or the German Consulate, as well as official service providers (such as VFS Global) that assist the German visa offices abroad.

The decision for a 3-month Schengen visa (also called a C-visa or short-term visa) for Berlin is made by the German embassy itself. You typically cannot extend this visa while in Berlin. This means you must leave once your visa expires.

If you are applying for a national visa (also called a D-visa or long-term visa) to settle in Berlin for a longer period, you will also need the approval of the Berlin Foreigners' Authority to obtain your visa.

If you travel to Berlin with a long-term visa, you can usually convert it into a residence permit locally. The Foreigners' Authority in your place of residence is responsible for the residence permit. In Berlin, this is the State Office for Immigration. To convert your D-visa into a residence permit, you must submit your application four to six weeks before your visa expires! Please note that you must book an appointment in advance.

Which forms do I need for a Berlin visa?

For a Germany visa, you generally need the visa application form, a valid passport, and proof of visa travel insurance.
Additionally, depending on the type of visa, you may need to submit further documents. Particularly for national visas, additional documents are required. You can find the complete list of requirements on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.

Generally, you need the following for every Germany visa:

• Visa application form: 1 x fully completed in German, signed, and printed. You can find the online form for a Schengen visa here. The online form for a national visa is here.
• Passport: A valid passport, which must be valid for at least 3 months after the visa expires, with two blank pages in the passport
• Passport photos: 1 to 2 biometric passport photos (3.5 cm x 4.5 cm)
• Purpose of travel: Proof of travel purpose (e.g. confirmation from a tour operator, confirmed hotel reservation, flight reservation, possibly an invitation letter for visiting relatives or friends)
• Travel health insurance: Travel health insurance for the planned duration of stay and for the entire Schengen Area with a minimum coverage of 30,000 €
• Proof of financial means: Proof of funding for the trip. Alternatively, a declaration of commitment can be submitted if financial means are lacking.

How can I issue an invitation letter for a visa in Berlin?

A visa for Germany can generally only be granted if sufficient financial means can be proven. If this is not possible, other persons with sufficient means can issue a declaration of commitment. Depending on the type of visa (Schengen visa or national visa), you need to provide different documents. To issue a declaration of commitment for a Berlin visa, you must go to the Keplerstraße 2 location in Berlin-Charlottenburg and make an appointment in advance.

Further information & documents: Declaration of commitment for Schengen visa Berlin
Further information & documents: Declaration of commitment for national visa Berlin

How much does a visa for Berlin cost?

Depending on the type of visa (whether Schengen visa or national visa) and the age of the applicant, the visa fees may vary. There is currently a discussion about increasing visa fees within the EU, so the fees may rise in the future.

You pay the fees when you submit your visa application. If, for any reason, your visa is rejected, the fee is not refunded! However, with AXA, you can at least get your money back for the travel health insurance in the event of a visa rejection!

Can I extend a Schengen visa in Berlin?

You can only extend a Schengen visa in Berlin in very specific exceptional cases. This is possible only if force majeure (airline strike), humanitarian reasons (urgent medical treatment), or serious personal reasons are involved. Otherwise, the Schengen visa always expires with its validity. Schengen visas can only be extended in Berlin at the Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA) at the Keplerstraße location, by appointment. For this, you will need similar documents as with your visa application: your passport, proof of travel health insurance, proof of sufficient funds, and the extension application form. The extension will be issued on-site and is free of charge, unless it is due to personal reasons, in which case you must pay 30 euros.

Further information and forms: ServicePortal Berlin

How can I extend a national D-visa in Berlin?

National D-visas are issued specifically for longer stays, which is why you can extend them or convert them into a residence permit. Book an online appointment at the Landesamt für Einwanderung in Berlin to extend your Berlin visa within the validity period of your visa.

• D-visa with only 3 months validity:
  Be sure to book an appointment on time and submit your application 4 to 6 weeks before the visa expires to receive a residence permit or Blue Card EU.
• D-visa with 6 or 12 months validity:
  You can apply for a different residence title (residence permit, Blue Card EU) as early as six weeks before your visa expires. An earlier application is not possible. Be sure to book an appointment in time for this as well.

If you have unsuccessfully tried to book an appointment multiple times and your visa is about to expire, you can submit your extension application via the contact form. Contact the relevant department in Berlin.

Further information and forms: Landesamt für Einwanderung. The forms you need to extend your residence title in Berlin can be found by clicking on your type of residence title under the appointment booking section.

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How many foreigners live in Berlin?

Of the approximately 3.88 million people in Berlin, about a quarter are foreigners. According to the population register, at the end of 2023, 946,369 foreigners lived in Berlin. Most of them come from Turkey, Ukraine, Poland, and Syria.

Is Berlin a beautiful city?

Berlin is Germany's main tourist magnet. Over 10 million people visited Berlin in the first 10 months of 2023. Whether Berlin is beautiful or not is a matter of opinion. However, Berlin is certainly special. The once-divided city is full of history and energy, and the alternative scene especially attracts artists, musicians, and free spirits.

Do I need travel insurance for a trip to Berlin?

If you need a visa for a trip to Berlin, you must provide travel health insurance as a mandatory requirement. If you can travel to Berlin without a visa and come from third countries like the USA, Australia, or Israel, you don't need insurance, but it is strongly recommended. In case of illness or an accident, you would otherwise have to cover the costs yourself.