Visa information

Israeli citizens do not need a visa to enter Germany for short stays (maximum of 90 days, e.g. for a holiday or a business trip). They just need an Israeli passport that is valid for at least 3 months beyond the intended length of stay in the Schengen zone. Employment is prohibited during this visa-free stay.

EU citizens need their ID card or their passport to enter Germany. They do not need a visa.

Citizens of other countries residing in Israel might need a visa in order to enter Germany. Please read the following pages to determine if you need a visa to enter Germany.

The type of visa you require depends on how long you plan to stay. Are you planning a short visit to Germany, e.g. for a holiday? Or would you like to stay longer, e.g. to attend university? Please choose how long you are planning to stay.

Click here if you are planning a short stay (maximum of 90 days, e.g. for a holiday or a business trip)

Click here if you are planning a long stay (more than 90 days, e.g. to attend university, to work in Germany or to join a family member in Germany)

Click here for FAQ on visas and entry

Click here for Information on the address and the opening hours of the visa section

Germany opens labour market for skilled workers from non-EU countries
New rules for the immigration of skilled workers to Germany will enter into force in early 2020. The new law extends the opportunities for qualified professionals from outside the European Union to come to work in Germany. More Information here

NEW: Online application

Abolition of the remonstration procedure from 1 July 2025

The Federal Foreign Office has decided to abolish the remonstration procedure for visa rejections worldwide from 1 July 2025. This eliminates a legal remedy in the visa application procedure that is not statutorily prescribed and which up to now has been granted voluntarily.

This decision is based on a pilot project conducted in several German visa sections, where suspension of remonstrations for both Schengen visas and national visas was tested from 1 June 2023.

Evaluation of the pilot project has shown that Dispensing with the remonstration procedure has released considerable staff capacity in visa sections in some cases, freeing up staff to process more visa applications. As a result, it has been possible to process both more national and more Schengen visa applications and to reduce waiting times compared to the same period in the previous year.

The processing of a greater number of visa applications and a reduction in waiting times benefits all applicants. Adequate legal protection will also be guaranteed in the future, for judicial review under law will not be limited by the abolition of the remonstration procedure. Furthermore, it goes without saying that all applicants have the option of submitting a new visa application at any time in the case of a rejection.

With the general option to apply for national visas for skilled workers, apprentices, students or for family reunification purposes online via the Consular Services Portal available worldwide since 1 January 2025, applicants also receive clear and intuitive step-by-step guidance through the application process to ensure that they submit complete (digital) applications. Experience from the online application pilot project has shown that this significantly improves the quality of the procedure and avoids delays caused by incomplete applications.