Applying for a national visa

You must apply to the responsible German diplomatic mission abroad for a visa for a long term stay in Germany.

• Please consult the Internet site of the German diplomatic mission abroad which is responsible you in order to find out the application procedure and the documents which need to be submitted.
• Please agree an appointment with the German diplomatic mission abroad.
• Please download the visa application, print it out and fill it in. At the agreed time, please speak personally with the German diplomatic mission abroad. Please bring in the filled in application and all necessary documents with you.
• An employee of the German diplomatic mission abroad will hold a meeting with you. This takes place at the counter for security reasons.
• In certain cases, the German diplomatic mission abroad will get in touch with the foreigners’ authority or with the Federal Employment Agency in Germany in case you wish to take up paid employment which has responsibility for the location in which you wish to live or work. The German diplomatic mission abroad can only issue the visa in these cases if the foreigners’ authority of Federal Employment Agency agree.
• The visa will be attached to your passport as a label.
• Only if a visa cannot be issued will you receive a written notice. You then have the following legal remedies:
• You can submit your obligations to the German diplomatic mission abroad within one month. The German diplomatic mission abroad will then check your visa application again.
• Should your application also be rejected after the second assessment, you can bring a claim before the administrative court in Berlin.
• You can also bring a claim before the administrative court in Berlin directly within one month.
• Should you already be resident in Germany: Please contact your competent foreigners’ authority. It is responsible for residency matters and will take a decision concerning your application.