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Emigrate to the UK from Germany

If you want to move from Germany to the UK, you will need to apply for a visa. You can move to the UK for work, to reunite with family or to study. Find out more about the different routes towards UK residency here.

Call us on  +44333 305 9375  to discuss your case with us. We’re here to help you in person, via the phone or online.

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Benefits of Choosing IAS’ Immigration Lawyers

At IAS, we understand that every case and client is unique, so we provide bespoke assessment and support to each client. With us, you get a dedicated immigration lawyer who is dedicated to ensuring your application is successful. Enjoy the following benefits with IAS:

Compassionate support from an experienced immigration lawyer dedicated to your success

Support in gathering supporting documents and completing a high-quality application.

A personalised Letter of Representation to help compile a compelling case for approval

Continued support from your lawyer in the event of any complications.

Services we Provide

Need help with an immigration issue? Book a one-to-one advice session with one of our legal caseworkers.

We can complete your visa application on your behalf, taking the stress and hassle out of the process.

Need to submit an application quickly? We can help you complete and send it off in as little as 24 hours.

Ensure you have the greatest chance of a successful appeal with our legal support and guidance.

How to Move to the UK from Germany

As Britain has now left the European Union, EU nationals need to apply for a visa if they want to move to the UK. If you want to move from Germany to the UK (or stay for longer than six months), you will need to apply for an immigration permission.

You can move to the UK from Germany to work, study or to reunite with family members, provided you meet the requirements for the visa.

The UK offers a relatively similar way of life to the one you might find in Germany, making it an attractive option for Germans.

How to Move to the UK from Germany to Work

The UK is an attractive place to work for many EU citizens. London, Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds are just some of the cities in the UK where you will find high economic activity and many job opportunities.

If you want to move from Germany to the UK to work, you will need to apply for one of the UK work visas.

The UK’s new  Skilled Workers Visa  is designed for those who hold appropriate skills in skilled professions. In order to be eligible, you must have been offered a job by a UK company which holds a sponsorship licence.

There are other UK work visas too for those in specific circumstances and jobs:

• Tier 2 (T2) Intra-company Transfer Visa : This is for those who have been offered a position in the UK branch of a multinational company
• Tier 2 (T2) Intra-company Graduate Trainee Visa: This visa is for those who want to transfer to the UK as part of a graduate training program
• Tier 2 Minister of Religion Visa : For those who have been offered a position in a UK faith-based community
• Tier 2 Sportsperson Visa : For professional sportspeople

There is also the opportunity for applicants to become eligible for a UK Expansion Worker Visa. To be eligible, the candidate must be a pre-existing employee of an overseas company seeking business expansion in the United Kingdom, and must have been working overseas in that business for at least 1 year.

What are the Requirements for the Skilled Workers Visa?

For most German citizens who are looking to work in the UK, the Skilled Workers Visa will be the UK work visa of choice.

The main  requirements for a Skilled Workers Visa  are as follows:

• You must score at least 70 points on the points-based system
• You must have been offered a job by a UK employer which holds a sponsorship licence
• Your prospective employer must give you your unique certificate of sponsorship number (You need to include this number in your application)
• The job offer must be a ‘genuine vacancy’ and at the appropriate skill level
• You must have been offered a minimum salary in line with your job role
• You must be able to prove that you can understand and communicate in English to at least the level of B1 as set by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
• You must have the financial means to support yourself (and any family members/dependents who will be joining you) whilst you are in the UK

What Do I Need to Know About the Points-based System?

In 2020, the UK’s immigration system went through its biggest shake-up in many years. One of the biggest changes involved the creation of a point-based system. The points-based system is used as a measure of eligibility for applicants of certain visas. The Skilled Workers Visa is one of those visas.

To be eligible for the Skilled Workers Visa, you must score 70 points on the points-based system. There are 50 points which are known as mandatory, meaning you must score these 50 points. These points are as follows:

• 20 points : Offer of a job from a UK company with a sponsorship licence
• 20 points : Job which is at the appropriate skill level for the role
• 10 points : English language ability which is at least at the level of B1

You can accrue further points through your salary, qualifications and job skill. These additional points are known as tradeable points.

Generally, the most simple way you can reach the 70-point threshold is through having a salary of at least £25,600 or at least the going rate for your profession (whichever is higher). This will give you an additional 20 points.

The tradeable points are as follows:

• Salary of at least £20,480 to £23,039 or at least 80% of the going rate for the profession (whichever is highest) (0 points)
• Salary of at least £23,040 to £25,599 or at least 90% of the going rate for the profession (whichever is highest) (10 points)
• Salary of £25,600 or above or at least the going rate for the profession (whichever is highest) (20 points)
• Job in a shortage occupation (10 points)
• PhD in a subject relevant to the job (10 points)
• PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job (20 points)

How Can I Join my Family Member in the UK?

If you have family members in the UK, you might be able to join them in the UK through the process of reunification. You could be eligible for a UK Family Visa if your family member is a British or Irish citizen, or has settled status in the country and you are one of the following:

• A spouse/civil partner
• A long-term unmarried partner
• A child who is under 18
• A relative who requires long-term care from UK-resident family member

The UK  Spouse Visa  is one of the most popular UK visas. If you are married to/in a civil partnership with your British-resident family member, you could be eligible for the visa.

With a Spouse Visa, you will be free to live and study in the UK without any restrictions. The Spouse Visa is valid for 30 months, and you can  apply for a Spouse Visa extension  which is valid for a further 30 months.

The main  requirements for a Spouse Visa  are as follows:

• You must be in a ‘genuine and subsisting’ relationship with your British-resident partner. (You will need to provide evidence to prove this)
• You must have a marriage/civil partnership certificate which is recognised in the UK
• You must have met your partner at least once in-person, and be able to prove this
• You need to be able to demonstrate that you have the financial means to support yourself. You must have a combined annual income of at least £18,600. If you have any children/dependents who will be joining you in the application, you must have an additional £3,800 for the first child and £2,400 per child for every other child
• You must have suitable accommodation to live in with your family whilst you are in the UK
• You must be able to prove that you can understand and communicate in English. You can prove this through either an English degree either taught or researched in English (you will just need your degree certificate if you attained your degree from a UK university. If you attended a non-UK university then you will need a copy of your degree certificate and an AQUALS from Ecctis that confirms your degree is the equivalent of a UK degree).

For more information on how to move from Germany to the UK after Brexit, get in touch now.

What are the Other UK Family Visas?

As alluded to, there are other immigration permissions within the UK Family Visa category. If you are the long-term unmarried partner of a British or Irish citizen or person with settled status in the UK, you can apply for an  Unmarried Partner Visa . There are certain visas that allow for you to move to the UK with a dependent (for example a child under 18, or someone you care for).

You can also apply for a Family Visa on the basis of providing care for your child. Your child must be under 18-years-old and a British or Irish citizen or person with settled status.

Children of a parent who is a British or Irish citizen or has settled status in the UK can apply to join their parent in the UK. If the child was born in the UK and is under 18-years-old, they will usually receive the same immigration permission as their parent. They can also join their parent in the UK if they are over 18 in certain circumstances.

If the child was born in Germany (or elsewhere) they must not be married or living an independent life if they are under 18. If they are over 18, they must not be living an independent life and must have got permission to stay in the UK when they were under 18.

You can also apply to join your family member in the UK if you require significant long-term care from them. Again, your family member must be a British or Irish citizen or a person with settled status in the UK. You could be eligible if you are the parent, grandchild, brother, sister, son or daughter of the British resident.

Can I Study in the UK as a German Citizen?

UK is a country with a rich educational history and tradition, including some of the oldest and most celebrated universities in the world. The UK is home to an average of over 485,000 international students in any given year, including around 13,000 from Germany for the previous years before Covid-19.

In the post-Brexit environment, the Erasmus scheme is no longer in operation in the UK. This means that German students will need to apply for the UK Student Visa to study in the UK.

You will need to score 50 points on the points-based system to be eligible for the  UK Student Visa . It is relatively straightforward to meet the 50-point threshold.

• 50 points : Been offered a place on a course at an approved educational provider and received a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies
• 10 points : Able to demonstrate that you can financially support yourself during your time in the UK
• 10 points : Able to prove that your English language ability is at least at the level of B2 as set by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (unless exempt)

The Student Visa fee is £348, making it one of the cheapest of all the UK visas. You will also need to pay the immigration health surcharge whilst you study in the UK. As a student, you will receive a 20% discount on the surcharge, which means you will pay £470 annually for the health surcharge.

You may be able to switch from your current UK visa type to another such as a  Study Visa ,  Skilled worker visa  or  Youth Mobility Scheme  if you are already inside the UK on a valid, un-expired visa.

For instance, you could spend two years in the UK with the Youth Mobility Scheme and then decide to switch to a Study visa, unmarried partner visa, Spouse visa, etc. Talk to one of our immigration team for more information on this pathway.

We offer immigration advice sessions as face to face appointments at all of our UK offices, or via the phone.

What are the Tier 1 Visas?

If you want to invest and/or start a business in the UK, you can apply for one of the UK Tier 1 visas. The Tier 1 visas are as follows:

Innovator Visa

The  Innovator Visa  is for experienced businesspeople who wish to start a business in the UK. You must have at least £50,000 to invest in your business and the business idea must have been endorsed by an approving body. You need to be able to show that your business idea is new, innovative and viable.

With the Innovator Visa, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after three years of UK residency, depending on the level of business activity.

Start up Visa

The  Start-up Visa  is for new entrepreneurs who wish to start a business in the UK. Your business idea needs to be endorsed by an approving body, but you do not need to have a certain level of investment funds available to you.

What Do I Need to Know About the UK Visa Application Process?

Usually, you will need to apply online for a UK visa. With most visas, you can begin the application process up to three months before you plan to arrive in the UK. For certain visas, such as the Student Visa, you can apply up to six months before you plan to arrive in the UK.

For any UK visa/immigration application, you will need to provide certain information and documents to prove your identity and your eligibility for that visa/immigration permission. There’s a chance that you will be able to keep your passport while your visa is being processed. Processing times will vary depending on the type of visa you have opted for. Find out more about your visa on our page specific website.

The specific documents which you will need to provide depends on the visa and your particular circumstances. That being said, if you want to move to the UK from Germany, you will need to provide the following information:

• Your passport/travel document
• Evidence demonstrating that you meet minimum financial requirements to support yourself (and any family members/dependents) in the UK
• Test certificate from an approved test provider indicating your level of English/a unique number (unless exempt)
• Certificate of sponsorship (for Work Visa applications)
• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (for Student Visa applications)
• Marriage and birth certificates (for Family Visa applications)

You may be asked to verify certain documents as part of your application, but this is not always the case.

If you opted for a Health and Care visa, then you may be eligible to live and work in the UK for less than another applicant would on any other type of visa route. You and your dependants will also be exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge which costs £624 per year (or £470 per year for applicants under 18 at the time of application or on the Youth Mobility Scheme or Study visa). This payment would total at £3,120 overall if you were on a 5 year visa route.

One of the requirements for any information which you submit is that it must be in English or Welsh. If your information/documents are in German (or any other language), they must be translated by an accredited translator. You need to include the translated versions and the original in your portfolio of evidence.

An important thing to note is that whatever visa pathway you are on, a criminal conviction is more than likely to negatively impact your eligibility to naturalise as a British citizen. However, you may be able to extend your leave as a compromise. Speak to one of our advisors today to discuss your circumstances and next steps forward.

The IAS can help to make your move to the UK as smooth as possible.

Can the Immigration Advice Service Help me with My Application?

The Immigration Advice Service offers expert support with UK visa/immigration applications with our industry-leading application package. We offer application assistance in all areas of UK immigration law.

With this service, one of our experienced immigration lawyers will work with you through the entire application process. They will take the time to understand your own unique circumstances and will help you to prepare your portfolio of evidence, ensuring it contains all required information and documents and adheres to all necessary Home Office administrative standards.

Once your portfolio of evidence is ready to be submitted, we will complete your application form before submitting your full application to the Home Office. We will also write a letter of recommendation to accompany your application, highlighting the merits of your case.

We will liaise with the Home Office throughout the processing stage and will keep you informed of your application’s progress.

With our application package, you can rest assured that your application will have the greatest possible chance of success.

To find out more about our application package and how we can help you to secure your move from Germany to the UK, please call us now on  0333 305 9375 .

Can I Still Apply for the EU Settlement Scheme?

Although UK has now left the European Union, you might still be able to apply to join the EU Settlement Scheme if you were living in the UK by 31 st  December 2020. If eligible, you will be able to live in the UK under the same conditions as you did before Britain left the European Union.

Also, if you have a German/EU family member who was living in the UK before 31 st  December 2020, you usually be able to join them in the UK through applying to the EU Settlement Scheme.

The following family members are eligible:

• Spouse/civil partner
• Long-term partner

Also, if you were living in the UK by December 31 st  2020 and you have a child, they will also be eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme.

The deadline to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme is 30 th  June 2021. You can only apply to join the scheme if you (or your family member) was living in the UK by 31 st  December 2020.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When can i apply for permanent residence.

Generally speaking, you can apply for settled status in the UK after you have spent five years lawfully living in the UK. This includes those who have been living in the UK under a Skilled Worker Visa, Health and Care Visa or other work visa, as well as Family Visas.

You might be eligible sooner if you have been living in the UK under certain immigration permissions, such as the Innovator Visa or Investor Visa.

This immigration permission is known as  Indefinite Leave to Remain . You can stay in the UK without any restrictions as a holder of Indefinite Leave to Remain. After one year of UK residency under Indefinite Leave to Remain, you can  apply for British citizenship .

What are the Requirements for the UK Student Visa?

The main requirements for a Student Visa are as follows:

• You must have received an unconditional offer from an approved sponsoring institution
• You must score 70 points on the points-based system
• Must have received a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies
• The course must be at an appropriate level of study and lead to an approved qualification
• You must have the relevant academic qualifications required to take the course
• Must genuinely intent to study in the UK
• Must be able to prove that you can financially support yourself (and any dependents) whilst you are in the UK. The amount you need depends on what you are studying and where you are studying
• Need to be able to demonstrate that you can speak, write, read and understand English to the level of B2 as set by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

You must prove that you have certain financial means to be eligible for the Student visa.

You need to demonstrate that you have:

• £1,334 per month (for up to nine months) if your course is in London
• £1,023 per month (for up to nine months) if your course is outside of London

The financial requirements for those applying on the Doctorate Extension Scheme are as follows:

• £2,668 per month (for up to nine months) if your course is in London
• £2,046 per month (for up to nine months) if your course is outside of London

Also, if any family members (dependents) will be joining you in the UK, you must have:

• £845 per month (for up to nine months) for courses in London for each family member
• £680 per month (for up to nine months) for courses outside London for each family member

Can I Stay in the UK After I Have Finished my Studies?

From the summer of 2021, all overseas nationals who have graduated from an undergraduate degree (or higher) will be able to apply for the new Graduate Visa. With this visa, you will be able to stay in the UK for up to two years to work and look for work. If you are a PhD graduate, you will be able to stay for up to three years.

How Can my Family Join me in the UK?

You can emigrate to the UK from Germany through the process of family reunification. Your British-resident partner must be a British citizen, Irish citizen or person with settled status in the UK.

You might be able to join them as a:

• Unmarried partner
• Relative who requires long-term care from British-resident partner

It is also possible for you to join a family member in the UK if they are living in the UK under leave to remain. This includes UK work visa holders and Student Visa holders. Spouses/civil partners and children are usually eligible for this immigration route.

The specific rules around family reunification depend on the route you are taking. If you are looking for more information about UK Family Visas and the family reunification process, please call us now on  0333 305 9375 .

What are UK Visa Application Fees?

The UK visa application fees are:

• Route to settlement (this includes Spouse Visas and other Family Visas): £1,523
• Tier 1 Investor Visa: £1,623
• Tier 1 Innovator Visa: £1,021
• Start-up Visa: £363
• Skilled Worker Visa for three years of less: £610
• Skilled Worker Visa for over three years: £1,623
• Skilled Worker Visa for three years in shortage occupation: £464
• Skilled Worker Visa for over three years in shortage occupation: £928
• Skilled Worker Health and Care Visa for three years: £232
• Skilled Worker Health and Care Visa for over three years: £464
• Intra-company Transfer Visa, T2 Minister of Religion and T2 Sportsperson for three years: £610
• Intra-company Transfer Visa, T2 Minister of Religion and T2 Sportsperson for over three years: £1,220
• Intra-company Graduate Trainee: £482
• Student Visa: £348

As a German national, you might be able to get a £55 discount on your visa application fee depending on the visa you apply for. The UK announced this discount for nationals of a select group of countries, and Germany is included in this scheme.

You will also need to pay an annual immigration health surcharge. The standard rate for the immigration health surcharge is £624 per year. However, you might not need to pay as much, depending on your circumstances.

What do I Need to Know About the English Language Requirement?

Whilst you may have a good level of English, you will need to be able to demonstrate that your English ability is up to a certain standard to be eligible for most long-term UK visas.

You do not need to prove your English language ability if:

• Already proved your level of English with another UK visa application
• Hold a degree level qualification or higher which was taught in English
• You have a GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English

Also, you are exempt if you:

• Are aged 65 or over
• Have a long-term physical or mental condition
• Are a victim of domestic violence whose partner is a British citizen or has settlement status in the UK
• Are an adult dependant aged between 18 and 64
• Are a partner or spouse of a person who has died who was a British citizen or had settlement status in the UK

Otherwise, you will need to pass a SELT English language test from an approved provider to prove your level of English. The specific level you need to have depends on your visa/immigration permission.

You can take the English language test at the following German test centres:

• LanguageCert, Berlin: Berlin
• PSI, TLS-Berlin: Berlin
• PSI, TLS-Dusseldorf: Dusseldorf
• Pearson, Pearson Professional Centers – Frankfurt: Frankfurt

What is the UK Health and Care Visa?

The UK Health and Care Visa is a new immigration permission which is designed to enable a more efficient immigration route for healthcare professionals who want to work in the UK.

To be eligible for this visa, you must be a qualified doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional  or an adult social care professional, and you must have been offered a job in the UK in the NHS, an NHS supplier or adult social care.

As a German citizen, you will be eligible for a £55 discount on the Health and Care Visa. This means that your fee will be £177 for a visa of up to three years and £409 for a visa of more than three years. Both you and any dependents will be exempt from the immigration health surcharge.

You can apply for permanent residence in the UK after you have spent five years living in the UK under a Health and Care Visa.

The visa valid is for at least five years, after which you can apply for permanent residency in the UK.

I Want to Visit the UK for a Short Period of Time. Do I Need a Visa?

As a German national, you will not need to apply for a visa if you only plan to visit the UK for period of up to six months.

However, if you want to stay for longer than six months, you will be subject to immigration conditions.

How Can you Help me Emigrate from Germany to the UK?

The Immigration Advice Service is one of the leading immigration law firms in the whole of the United Kingdom with a wealth of experience in the field. We can help you to move to the UK from Germany and begin a new and exciting life here.

We provide expert assistance in all areas of UK immigration law, including UK Work Visas, Family Visas, Student Visas and Tier 1 visas.

Our specialist application package is designed to support you through the entire application process for a UK visa. With our experience and knowledge of the UK immigration system, we will formulate your application to the very highest standards, ensuring it meets all requirements and adheres to all necessary standards.

To find out more about how we can help you to secure your UK visa and emigrate to the UK, please call us now on  0333 305 9375 .

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I am a foreigner living in germany and am planning a trip abroad. do i need a valid passport and visa.

As a foreigner you are requested to hold a valid passport or document in lieu of a passport at any time. In general, the issuance and extension of foreign passports have to be applied for at the competent foreign missions in Germany, except for recognized asylum seekers, recognized refugees according to the Geneva Refugee Convention, stateless persons or those entitled to subsidiary protection. The mentioned groups are mostly issued a passport in lieu of a passport (Passersatzpapier) by the local Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde) at the place of residence. There are three types of those documents:

- Travel document for refugees (“Blue Passport”)

- Travel document for stateless persons

- Travel document for foreigners

Holders of Blue Passports are in general allowed to travel to all the countries which have signed the Geneva Refugee Convention. Please note that for many of these countries, however, you may have to apply for a visa in advance. Information on visa provisions for non-German citizens wanting to travel to a third country can only be provided by the respective foreign mission of the country concerned. The addresses of the foreign missions in Germany are available here:

Foreign Missions in Germany

However, you are not allowed to travel to your country of origin - this would imply that you no longer need humanitarian protection; you risk losing your asylum in Germany if you travel to your home country.

Foreign nationals who are in possession of a valid German residence title (Aufenthaltstitel) may travel for a period of up to 90 days within 180 days to other Schengen-States, so do not need a visa. This applies as well to holders of a German Visa of the category “D”.

In both cases, general entry requirements of Article 6 Section 1 letters a, c and e of the Regulation ( EU ) 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) are fulfilled and the person is not listed by the relevant Member State as not permitted.

In case of doubt please get in touch with the competent mission of the country in Germany.

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• Migration and residence
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• Mobility in the EU
• Mobility: EU long-term residence permit

Mobility with an EU long-term residence permit , Date: 2024.03.01 , format: Article , area: Migration and residence

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An EU long-term residence permit enables you to enjoy the legal benefits of long-term resident status and have extended mobility rights in other EU Member States.

This is contingent as a matter of principle on you having lived in an EU Member State for an uninterrupted period of five years and having obtained an EU long-term residence permit there. Holders of an EU Blue Card may accumulate periods of residence in several Member States in order to prove the prescribed period of residence.

An EU long-term residence permit allows you to settle in almost all other EU Member States (except Ireland and Denmark) under less strict conditions.

Entering another Member State with an EU long-term residence permit issued in Germany

As a matter of principle, an EU long-term residence permit issued in Germany entitles you to work, study or undergo training in other EU Member States. Some EU Member States do however carry out an assessment of the labour market before allowing you to work. The Member State concerned will provide information on the precise rules and regulations.

If you meet the requirements for an EU long-term residence permit in another Member State, you can also apply for an EU long-term residence permit there. The EU long-term residence permit in Germany will expire in this case. The EU long-term residence permit will also expire as a matter of principle if you are resident outside of Germany for a period of six years.

Entering Germany with an EU long-term residence permit issued by another Member State

Good to know.

Children and spouses who also hold a residence title issued by the first Member State may accompany persons with long-term resident status to Germany for the purposes of family reunification.

If you hold an EU long-term residence permit issued by another EU Member State, a residence permit will be issued to you in Germany allowing you to work, study or undergo training here.

You can apply for an EU long-term residence permit in Germany after five years’ residence in Germany as a matter of principle. Periods of residence with specific other residence titles can be counted towards the five-year residence period in Germany. The EU long-term residence permit in the first Member State expires in this case.

The legal basis

• Section 9a of the Residence Act
• section 9b of the Residence Act (AufenthG)
• section 51 subsection (9) No. 4 of the Residence Act
• section 51 subsection (9) No. 5 of the Residence Act
• Art. 18 of Directive EU 2021/1883
• Section 38a of the Residence Act
• EU Directive 2011/51/EU
• EU Directive 2003/109/EC

Further information

Texts and articles.

• Subsequent immigration to join third-country nationals

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Entry and residence

type: Article , Topic: Migration

Anyone who meets the entry requirements may enter Germany.

Source: BPOL

Anyone wishing to enter and reside in Germany legally must satisfy the requirements specified in European and national law. These include having a visa (if required), a legitimate reason for staying and adequate financial resources to pay for one’s stay.

A foreigner who is not a citizen of an EU or Schengen member state may not legally enter the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany without the required residence permit or passport (Section 14 of the Residence Act ); foreigners subject to an entry ban may not enter without an entry permit (Sections 11 and 14 of the Residence Act ).

Unlawful entry

A foreigner trying to enter the federal territory unlawfully will be refused entry at the border. Illegal entry and residence in the federal territory are punishable.

According to the Residence Act , overland, air and sea transport companies may transport foreigners to Germany only if these passengers have the necessary passports and visas. This is intended to prevent illegal entry and illegal employment. If foreigners are denied entry at the border, the transport company that brought them is required to take them back to where they came from.

Residence in Germany

EU law governs the requirements for stays of up to three months in Schengen member states, including Germany. Stays for the purpose of tourism, to visit friends or family, and on business are generally allowed. Stays of more than three months, however, are governed by national law. Stays of more than three months may be allowed only for certain purposes, such as to rejoin a spouse, to study at a university or to take up employment (in particular researchers and highly qualified workers).

In General foreigners who stay for such a certain purpose receive an electronic residence permit which meets EU requirements for standardized residence titles for third-country nationals. The relevant EU regulations (EC No 1030/2002 and 380/2008) require all EU member states to issue uniform residence titles with biometric features. The electronic residence permit contains a chip on which personal data, biometric features (digital photograph and two fingerprints) and any residence or employment restrictions are stored.

For third-country nationals who on 1 September 2011 had a valid residence permit in the form of a sticker, nothing changed with the introduction of the electronic residence permit; these permits remain valid until their original date of expiry. Electronic residence permits are issued to third-country nationals applying for renewals or new permits. Applications for all residence permits should be submitted to the foreigners authorities. Permit applicants should note that the electronic residence permits take longer to produce and issue.

Note: You must apply for a residence permit in person at your local foreigners authority four to six weeks before your current permit expires. For more information about the application procedure, please ask your foreigners authority.

Related topics

Freedom of movement.

As EU citizens, all nationals of the Member States of the European Union have the right to move freely within the European Union and to enter and reside in any EU Member …

Visa policy

The visa entry requirement is one of the measures to compensate for the end of checks at the EU’s internal borders.

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Find the right United Kingdom Visa for your trip with price, requirements, and application time

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Frequently Asked Questions about United Kingdom visa

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Do you have plans to visit the UK for any business purposes? For example, are there any important company meetings you have to attend or do you have to meet any officials?

If so, you will need to acquire a business visa to travel to the United Kingdom. Without a business visa, you will not be permitted entry. Depending on which country you belong to, you need to check whether you need a visa to travel to the UK. Some countries are exempt from getting a visa.

This article aims to tell you everything you need to know about the UK business visa. In addition, the article discusses the UK business visa's validity and how you can acquire one!

What is a Business Visa?

A business visa is mainly for business purposes. It is a type of visitor visa that allows individuals to tend to business-related matters such as business meetings and conferences. With this business visa, you can easily meet up with officials for important matters and finalize dealings. For a normal visit, you can apply for the standard visitor visa.

The concerned government authorities issue business visitor visa for permissible business activities. However, it would be best to remember that you cannot use the business visitor visa for employment overseas. You cannot indulge in labour with this type of visa.

What is a UK Business Visa?

The UK business visa is a valid travel document that you can acquire for different reasons. For example, you can obtain this visa if you have to attend any meeting or conference.

Moreover, if you are going to be a part of any sports festival or activity, the business visa will come in handy. If an organization has one of their branches in the UK, employees of that overseas company can get a business visa.

Those who have to get training and attend sessions should also get a UK business visa. And also, if you are an internal auditor of a company and have to perform regulatory or financial audits, you will need a business visa.

A business visa is needed for individuals who want to sign deals or negotiate contracts.

UK Innovator Visa

The UK innovator visa is a type of UK startup visa for business people with sufficient experience and who wants to set up a business in the UK. However, your business should add something new to the table, be truly innovative, and be a scalable business idea.

For the startup visa, you need to have some endorsement by any UK higher education institution or supporting UK entrepreneurs.

The UK business visa can be either for a short-term visit or a long-term visit. The short-term visit visa is valid for 6 months, whereas the long-term visit visa has a validity of either 2, 5 or 10 years. With long-term business visas, you can enter and leave the UK as per your business needs.

What are the UK Business Visa Requirements?

Some documents required for this business visa include filling out your visa application form properly with accurate personal details.

You must submit your valid passport with a proper picture, and the original passport should be valid for at least six months.

You have to provide your travel itinerary that states your proper travel history, and you can also give your previous visas or passports.

You will also have to provide proof of sufficient funds. This can be in the form of bank statements or pay slips. Moreover, you need to prove that once your business purpose of the visit is satisfied, you will leave the country. This is needed to cover your expenses while in the UK.

Moreover, as this is a business visa, you must provide the details of the business activities you will be indulging in.

You should also have a valid invite if a company has invited you. In addition, you must provide a cover letter from the company stating the purpose of your visit.

Lastly, you will have to pay the visa fee to complete the UK business visa requirements.

How to Acquire a UK Business Visa?

You can get any UK visa either by visiting the nearest UK embassy, or you can get the visa through the online visa application process.

VisaHQ is an online visa platform that allows individuals to apply for any visa by sitting at their homes. Therefore, you do not need to travel elsewhere to get the visa.

Once you visit the site VisaHQ, you will be prompted to fill in the destination country and your nationality. You will choose your respective home country and the UK as the destination. You can then select the visa type as a business visitor visa. All the information regarding the UK business visa requirements, visa fees, processing time, etc., will show up according to your country.

You can go through the information, fill out the visa application form, and submit the documents, and the visa process will be complete. You will then have to wait until the visa is processed!

Travelling with a German residence permit

So you have your German residence permit, and want to go abroad? Find out where you can go and what you need to keep in mind to avoid losing your permit.

So, you’ve managed to secure your German residence permit but you need to travel abroad. You don’t want to risk losing your hard-earned permit, so let’s take a look at the rules surrounding travel while holding a German residence permit .

Why would I travel when I have a German residence permit?

When you’re holding a German residence permit, you’re not a German citizen yet. You don’t have access to all the freedoms that a German passport would grant you. Which is actually quite a lot, as it’s one of the most powerful passports in the world. That said, the process of becoming eligible to become a full German citizen can take anywhere from 5 to 8 years. That’s a long time to not see your family or take a vacation abroad.

Where can I travel with my German residence permit?

Holding a residence permit in Germany (or any other Schengen country, in fact) entitles you to free movement within the Schengen zone for the duration of your visa or permit. There are no border checks or restrictions within the Schengen zone , but you do need to be able to present both your passport and your residence permit to any border or police units you might encounter along the way.

A German residence permit or visa alone entitles you to only travel to other Schengen countries. Remember, though: the Schengen zone and the European Union aren't the same thing!

There are some EU-countries, such as Ireland, Romania & Bulgaria – that are members of the European Union, but aren't taking part in the Schengen agreement. If you want to visit them, you'll still need a visa based on the requirements surrounding your current passport .

This also works the other way around! There are countries that aren’t part of the EU, but are a part of the Schengen zone: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland but are still part of the Schengen zone. So, you are free to travel to these countries without a visa, as long as you hold your German residence permit!

Travel outside the Schengen zone

If you have a residence permit that allows you to stay for more than 3 months, you’ve probably got one that allows you to work in Germany or to volunteer in Germany. These permits are generally valid as long as the employment contract they are depending on. As I mentioned before, you don’t have a German passport yet, so for now, your foreign travel ability outside of the Schengen zone still depends on the passport of the nationality you have right now. So, if someone with a German passport doesn’t need a visa to enter country A, but the passport from your country of origin does require you to get a visa first, you still need a visa.

My visa is close to the expiration date

Generally, your visa or permit needs to be valid for longer the duration of your travels. If your permit's due to expire within your travel period, you should wait until you have confirmation that your application has been accepted for processing before you travel. Schengen customs agents have access to this information, so they will be able to see that you have an application in process and will allow you to continue your travels.

How long can I travel with my German residence permit?

The exception to this is the Schengen zone and some other countries in the EU. As long as you stay within countries in the Schengen zone, you’re free to travel around as much as you like for up to 90 days within a 6 month period! If you’re leaving the Schengen zone and come back through a different Schengen country, you need to be able to prove your final destination is going to be Germany. Additionally, if you’re looking to apply for German citizenship, you need to live in Germany for at least 180 days of the year!

What if I’m away for too long?

If you’re away for too long, or you leave Germany for a reason that's ‘not of a temporary nature’, then your permit can expire or be revoked. Being away for too long, in this case, means leaving the country without re-entry within 6 months. There can be exceptions to this rule, as the length of time can be adjusted by the German immigration authorities.

So, if you’ve a good reason, such as taking care of your elderly parents, working as an aid worker, being sent abroad while working for a German company or studying at a German university and taking part of an exchange program for multiple semesters. If you’re a Blue card holder who came to Germany as a specialised worker you can leave Germany for a period of up to 12 months, as long as you consult with the German immigration office before your departure.

Additionally, your permit can be revoked if Germany determines that you’re leaving for reasons that aren't of a temporary nature . In other words, if the authorities determine Germany is no longer your primary country of residence, they might revoke your permit. Reasons for this could be moving your family to a different country, taking up long term employment in a different country or selling/leaving your German property. You could try to keep your permit by making regular trips back to Germany, but German judges have rules against people doing this in the past.

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Germany Entry Requirements for UK Citizens

Do uk passport holders need a visa to visit germany.

British citizens with valid UK passports can visit Germany for up to 90 days without a visa for tourism, business, and short-term study.

The United Kingdom has an agreement with the European Union that allows visa-free travel for British nationals to Germany and other countries within the Schengen Area and EU.

However, starting in 2025, Britons must register through a new screening system called ETIAS before travelling to Germany and other  countries in the Schengen Area .

How Long Can British Citizens Stay in Germany Without a Visa?

Within a span of 180 days, British passport holders can stay for up to 90 days in Germany without needing a visa under the Schengen 90/180-day rule .

While determining your allowed stay duration in Germany might seem straightforward, it can be a bit complex. However, our EU Short-Stay Calculator , designed by our visa experts, makes the process easier for you.

As a Briton, if you wish to stay in Germany for longer, e.g., for work , study , and other purposes, then you must apply for a National (D) Visa or a residence permit.

What Are the Germany Entry Requirements for UK Citizens?

The requirements when entering Germany as a UK citizen are:

• You must have a valid travel document. Your passport is valid for at least three more months beyond the date on which you intend to leave the Schengen territory,
• You need to be able to explain the reason for your visit to Germany.
• You must have enough financial means to cover your stay in Germany.
• You have had no alert issued in the Schengen Information System . You are not considered a threat to any Member State’s public policy and health, internal security, or international relations.

Tip: Although not necessarily requested at the port of entry, it is always a good idea to have travel insurance. As a British citizen, you can choose between the GHIC and private travel insurance for Europe – or both for more comprehensive coverage.

Entering Germany From the UK

Always check if your passport is stamped when entering or exiting any Schengen area through Germany. Guards will check to ensure you did not exceed the 90-day visa-free limit; otherwise, they will presume you have overstayed.

Do Travel Restrictions Still Apply?

No, they do not. If you are planning to travel to Germany and are wondering about possible restrictions that might still be in place, good news: All restrictions have been lifted since June 11, 2022. Whether you are fully vaccinated or not, you can freely enter the country, and you don’t have to show proof of vaccination.

Visa policy

What is eu visa policy.

Under this key policy, all 27 countries in the Schengen area apply the same visa rules.

Non-EU nationals need a visa to enter the Schengen area for a visit of up to 90 days in any 180-day period .

When someone enters a country in the Schengen area, the 180-day period starts. They can enter Schengen area countries as many times as they want, but only stay for a total of 90 days, every 180 days. 

A Schengen visa is generally valid for every country in the Schengen area.

Visas for stays exceeding 90 days are subject to national procedures .

EU visa policy is monitored and implemented by the European Commission .

What are the main elements of EU visa policy?

Countries whose nationals require a visa.

For a list of these countries, see Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 .

Individual Schengen countries can grant visa-free access to certain categories of people - for example diplomatic staff, armed forces, refugees and school pupils on an excursion.

Countries whose nationals require a visa for airport transfers

Nationals of certain countries must have a visa - called an airport transit visa - even to simply transit through the international (non-Schengen) part of an EU airport.

Schengen countries can also impose individual airport transit requirements on certain other countries. 

Countries whose nationals don't require a visa

For a list of these countries, see Annex II of the Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 .

27 of these countries have visa waiver agreements with the EU.

The decision of whether to grant visa-free status to a non-EU country is based on a variety of criteria (migration, security, considerations of human rights, reciprocity, and economic benefit - in particular in terms of tourism and foreign trade).

New travel document from 2025

From 2025, visa-exempt travellers will need to fill out an online ETIAS form and pay a small fee before being able to travel to the Schengen Area. 

This form is designed to facilitate border control and security.

It is not a visa, but is comparable to similar systems in the USA (ESTA), Canada (eTA), and Australia (eVisitor).

The EU visa code sets out the procedures and conditions for issuing short-stay visas .

Operational instructions for applying the code are set out in: 

• Handbook for processing visa applications  
• Handbook for managing visa processing

The visa code also helps improve cooperation with non-EU countries on readmissions of irregular migrants , through the 'visa leverage mechanism'. Under this mechanism, if a country does not cooperate sufficiently on readmissions, restrictive measures can be imposed as regards processing visas and visa fees. 

Such measures have been adopted for nationals of The Gambia:

• Decision suspending visa-free access for Gambian nationals
• Decision on increased visa fees for Gambian nationals

Visa facilitation agreements with non-EU countries

The EU has visa facilitation agreements in place with certain non-EU countries. Under the simplified visa regime , non-EU citizens enjoy facilitated procedures (such as lower visa fees) to obtain a visa for the Schengen area.

However, visa facilitation agreements can be suspended if a country no longer satisfies the conditions of the agreement. What then applies are the general rules of the EU visa code.

Suspensions can be triggered by an EU country or by the European Commission. Currently, 2 agreements are suspended, those with:

• Russia (full suspension of facilitation agreement) 
• Belarus (partial suspension of facilitation agreement).

Visa facilitation agreements are linked to readmission agreements . Readmission agreements establish procedures for returning irregular migrants to the EU or non-EU country they came from (EU, non-EU nationals or stateless persons).

EU countries may also individually negotiate agreements on local border traffic with neighbouring non-EU countries. These agreements enable border residents of specific areas to cross the EU's external borders, under certain conditions, without having to obtain a visa.

Suspension of visa-free travel

The visa suspension mechanism ( Regulation No 1806/2018 , article 7) enables Schengen countries to call for a temporary suspension of a visa exemption in the event of a sudden and substantial surge in irregular migration . 

If this happens, a country can notify the Commission, which can then decide to trigger the suspension mechanism.

Currently the visa waiver agreement with Vanuatu has been suspended under the suspension mechanism.

Since 2017, the Commission has been issuing annual reports on its usage of the mechanism. 

Proposed changes to the suspension mechanism .

Visa reciprocity

This is when nationals of Schengen area countries do not need a visa to visit countries whose nationals also do not need a visa to visit the Schengen area. 

The EU aims at achieving full visa reciprocity with non-EU countries whose nationals are exempt from the visa requirement. For that purpose, a visa reciprocity mechanism is set out in Regulation No 1806/2018 ( article 7 ). 

To date, the EU has achieved visa reciprocity with all visa-free third countries, except the United States . 

Citizens of Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Romania still need a visa to visit the United States.

Visa digitalisation

The Pact on Migration and Asylum set the objective of making the visa procedure fully digitalised by 2025. 

This involves:

• replacing the visa sticker with the option to apply through a European online visa platform
• simplifying the visa application process
• reducing the costs for governments and applicants.

The requirements are set out in Regulation 2023/2685 and Regulation 2023/2667 .

After a transition period of 7 years, Schengen countries will all have to use the EU's standard online platform for visa applications :

• applicants will carry out all steps in the process on the platform, except for providing biometrics (when required)
• a digital visa will replace the visa sticker.

Which countries' nationals need a visa to enter the Schengen area?

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• 15 May 2024

• 3 January 2024

• 1 December 2023

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International travel documents for children

See what documents a child needs to travel to or from the U.S. alone or with a parent or relative.

Children traveling to the U.S.

All children, including infants, must have their own travel documents such as a passport or document from a Trusted Traveler Program to enter the U.S. If you travel or are going to travel with a child, consider taking the following documents:

• If the child is traveling with only one of their custodial parents, they must have a letter of consent, preferably in English and notarized, from the other parent or signed by both parents. The letter should say "I acknowledge that my son/daughter is traveling outside the country with [the name of the adult] with my permission."
• If one parent has sole custody of the child, a copy of the custody document can take the place of the other parent's letter.
• Parents who frequently cross the border by land with a minor must always carry a letter of permission from the other parent.

U.S. citizen children traveling abroad

Ports of entry in many countries have security measures to prevent international child abduction . If you are traveling alone with your child, you may be required to present documentation proving you are the parent or legal guardian. You may also need a letter of permission from the other parent for your child to travel. 

If your child travels alone, depending on the country, they may be required to present a notarized letter from both parents or their legal guardian. If a minor is traveling abroad and is not accompanied by both parents or a legal guardian, contact the embassy or consulate of the country you will be visiting and ask about entry and exit requirements for that country.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

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Additional changes to entry, testing and quarantine requirements in response to the Omicron variant

There are temporary changes for all travellers, including Canadian citizens, regardless of their vaccination status.

Additional restrictions and requirements now apply to these countries:

• Botswana, Egypt, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe

News release

Changes to border measures

New border measures include

• rules for re-entering Canada, if leaving for 72 hours or less
• who is considered fully vaccinated
• rules for travelling within Canada

Starting January 15, 2022, there will be new rules for who can enter Canada as an unvaccinated or partially vaccinated traveller.

Learn more about the new measures

Venezuelan passport holders

You may need to complete extra steps when you fill out your application .

If the printed expiry date on your Venezuelan passport has passed

If the printed expiry date has passed and you’re applying for a visitor visa, study permit, work permit or to extend your stay as a temporary resident in Canada, follow these steps:

• Add 5 years to the printed expiry date shown on your passport and enter it in the expiry date field of the application form.
• Include a letter of explanation with your application stating: “I am a Venezuelan national with a Venezuelan passport, which has been extended for 5 years”.

Warning: If your passport is still expired after adding 5 years to the printed expiry date, your passport is considered expired. You’re not eligible to submit an application with that passport.

Prepare documents and apply

The reason you’re traveling to Canada determines the way you apply and the documents you need to submit with your visa application.

Why are you applying for a visitor visa?

• To visit as a tourist
• To visit for business
• To visit your spouse or partner who has sponsored you for permanent residence

What is your family member’s status in Canada?

• Canadian citizen
• Person registered under Canada’s Indian Act
• Canadian permanent resident
• Temporary resident in Canada
• For compassionate reasons
• To join a vessel as a marine crew member (known as a “seafarer”)
• None of the above

Do you plan to visit your children or grandchildren for more than 6 months?

You may be eligible to apply for a Super Visa

A super visa lets you visit your children or grandchildren for 5 years at a time. It’s a visa that provides multiple entries for a period up to 10 years.

Find out how to apply for a Super Visa

Step 1 Gather documents

Gather these documents to submit with your visa application and bring when you travel.

About the documents listed

• Not all documents listed below are required—some are optional.
• This is not an exhaustive list of acceptable proof to support your visa application.
• Only submit the recommended documents that prove you’re eligible for a visa.
• Even if you submit all the documents listed, there is no guarantee that we’ll approve your application.
• We may request more information from you in addition to what is listed here.

Documents we accept:

• passports (regular, official or diplomatic)  from most countries (see exceptions below)
• alien’s passport for stateless persons
• US Permit to Re-Enter (Form I-327)
• US Refugee Travel Document (Form I-571)
• other refugee travel documents for non-citizens

Documents we don’t accept:

• any passport issued by Somalia
• non-machine-readable passports issued by the Czech Republic
• temporary passports issued by the Republic of South Africa
• provisional passports issued by Venezuela

A clear, colour copy of your valid passport or travel document that you’ll use to travel to Canada

If you have a passport, you must provide a copy of

• the page that shows your birth date and country of origin
• any pages with stamps, visas or markings

If you have a travel document, it must be issued by a government and include your

• date of birth
• document number
• citizenship or residency status
• expiry date (if applicable)

Submit this document with your visa application.

Family members or third parties who apply on behalf of the applicant need to complete this form.

Submit the completed form with your visa application.

Each applicant 18 years or older must complete this form.

Submit the completed form with your visa application

Documents needed depend on whether a child under 18 years of age will travel with only 1 parent, with a relative or friend or alone.

You may need to show

• a letter that authorizes the minor child to travel to Canada
• other documents, such as adoption papers or a custody decree, depending on if the minor child travels alone or not

Consult Minor children travelling to Canada .

Submit these with your visa application.

• Show the border services officer when you arrive in Canada.

If you’ve travelled to Canada or to other countries, this can show that you’ve been able to get a visa in the past.

Proof of this includes copies of previous visas in your passport.

Include a clear copy of 1 or more of the following:

• your previous passports and/or visas (used within the last 10 years to travel outside your country)
• entry and exit stamps
• study and/or work permits that indicate your duration outside of your country
• expired or valid visas

Submit this document with your visa application

Documents that show how long you plan to stay and what you’ll do in Canada

Include copies of any of the following:

• flight details
• hotel reservations
• registration for an event

This can help us understand if you have enough money to support yourself during your stay in Canada.

Bank name and contact This allows us to contact your bank or financial institution with questions.

Proof it is your account Your name and address on the statement show that the account is yours.

Account details At least 6 months of account details, including balances, helps us understand your financial situation.

Use this form if you want to allow Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to release your personal information to someone you choose.

The person you choose will be able to get information on your case file, such as the status of your application.

Business visitor

A clear, colour copy of your valid passport or travel document that you'll use to travel to Canada

Submit this with your visa application.

A clear copy of 1 or more of the following:

• study and/or work permits that indicate your duration outside your country

Copies of any of the following:

A letter from your employer can confirm that you have a stable job and will return to it. It can also show that your employer supports your visit to Canada.

The letter should be printed on your employer’s official letterhead.

The letter should include the following:

• date, no earlier than 3 months before you apply
• confirmation that you have a job with the employer
• your full name and date of birth
• date you started the job
• brief description of your job
• current salary
• contact information of your manager
• phone number
• email address
• employer information
• company name
• state or province
• Your manager or human resources contact should print their name and sign the letter.

A letter from a business or company in Canada

It can confirm that your purpose for visiting Canada is valid.

A copy of the letter from the business or company inviting you to Canada

• The letter must be written to you from the business or company.

Consult the details to include in the letter .

Visit your spouse or partner who sponsored you for permanent residence

Proof of your relationship with the person or family member inviting you to Canada

This can include a copy of

• a marriage certificate
• Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM5409)
• a birth certificate
• an official document naming you as a parent

Each applicant 18 years and older must complete this form.

The documents needed depend on whether a child under 18 years of age will travel with only 1 parent, with a relative or friend, or alone.

• other documents, such as adoption papers or a custody decree, depending on whether the minor child travels alone

Consult Minor children travelling to Canada

A letter written by your family member in Canada

A copy of the letter from the family member inviting you to Canada

• The letter must be written to you from your family member.
• current Salary

Complete the form that declares you and your partner are in a common-law relationship. Also provide proof that you and your common-law partner have combined your affairs and set up a household together.

What is a common-law partner?

Proof can include

• joint bank accounts or credit cards
• joint ownership of a home
• joint residential leases
• joint rental receipts
• joint utilities (electricity, gas, telephone)
• joint management of household expenses
• proof of joint purchases, especially for household items
• mail addressed to either person or both people at the same address

Faster visitor visa processing for spousal applicants

If you’re being sponsored for permanent residence (PR) by your spouse or partner, you could benefit from faster processing for a visitor visa.

You may be eligible if you

• submitted an application to be sponsored for permanent residence
• received an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) that confirms the application is in progress

Applications that need more information, for example custody documents for a child, will take longer to process.

When your sponsor receives the AOR for your permanent residence application, you can apply for a visitor visa. If you’re eligible, your visitor visa application will automatically receive faster processing. You don’t need to request it.

You must still meet all of the requirements to be eligible for a visitor visa .

Visit family (Canadian citizen, person registered under Canada’s Indian Act, or permanent resident of Canada)

Submit with visa application

Visit children or grandchildren Super visa option

Submit this with your visa or super visa application.

For super visa applicants only

Proof that medical insurance for at least $100,000 coverage has been purchased from a Canadian insurance company.

A copy of the insurance certificate or policy you received for medical insurance coverage for 1 year with a Canadian insurance company.

Submit this with your super visa application.

Documents that show that the super visa applicant’s child or grandchild meets the low income cut-off minimum.

Submit one of the following documents:

• If the child or grandchild does not have a paper copy of their notice of assessment on file, they can view and print their tax returns as well as other personal tax information using the Canada Revenue Agency My Account online service.
• a copy of the child’s or grandchild’s most recent T4 or T1
• an original letter from the child’s or grandchild’s employer stating their job title, job description and salary
• a letter from an accountant confirming the child’s or grandchild’s annual income, if they are self-employed.
• proof of other sources of income (pension statement, investments, etc.)

A document confirming that you had an  immigration medical exam (IME)

The exam must conducted by a panel physician authorized by IRCC.

Get complete details about how to get a medical exam with a panel physician.

Submit this with your super visa application, or wait for instructions from the visa office.

Visit family (temporary resident of Canada)

A letter written by your family in Canada

Documents that show how long you plan to stay and what you’ll do once in Canada

Visit for compassionate reasons

A clear, colour copy of your valid passport or travel document that you'll use to travel to Canada.

• Show the border services officer when you arrive in Canada

A letter written to you from a person or business inviting you to Canada

A copy of the letter from the person or business inviting you to Canada

• registration for an event.

Please indicate clearly if family members will accompany you to Canada.

Submit the following documents with your visa application:

• digital copy of Seaman’s Book
• digital copy of a signed Letter of Invitation from a ship or port agent in Canada
• digital copy of an Introduction Letter from recruiter shipping agency or vessel owner
• digital copy of the employment contract

Step 2 Apply through the IRCC Portal

Step 2 apply.

To apply for a visitor visa to visit Canada on business, you need to qualify as a business visitor.

To qualify, you must show that:

• you plan to stay for less than 6 months
• you don’t plan to enter the Canadian labour market
• your main place of business and source of income and profits is outside Canada

Business visitor activities include business meetings, special events or training for a few days or weeks.

If your meeting, event or conference is registered with us, include the event code in your application. You should get this code from the organizer.

Note: If you plan to stay for more than 6 months, or if you plan to work in Canada, you may be considered a temporary worker and have to  apply for a work permit .

To apply online, you need a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of your documents, and a valid credit or debit card.

Read the instruction guide before you complete your application. As an online applicant, you can ignore steps 3 and 4 of the guide (paying the fees and submitting your application).

If you’re applying for the first time , you must pay the biometrics fee when you submit your application (unless you’re exempt). Otherwise, you may experience delays.

Apply through the IRCC Secure account

Sign in to your IRCC secure account

Apply through the IRCC Portal

Only for tourists, visiting for business, family visits, compassionate reasons

Sign in to the IRCC portal

To apply for a visitor visa to join a vessel as a marine crew member (seafarer) , you must

• be travelling to Canada to join a ship’s crew
• hold a seafarer’s identity document
• hold a valid passport or travel document
• have proof of employment on a vessel at a Canadian port

As a seafarer, you’re not eligible for a transit visa and you must apply for a visitor visa (temporary resident visa).

Note: When asked to “Tell us more about what you’ll do in Canada”, include “Join vessel” or “Seafarer”.

Register to the IRCC portal

Applying on paper for specific situations

If you need a visitor visa to travel to Canada, you must apply online for one. Only online applications will be accepted and processed. However, you can apply on paper if:

• you can’t apply online because of a disability or
• you’re travelling with an identity or travel document that was issued to a refugee, a stateless person or a non-citizen

The application package includes an instruction guide and all the forms you need to fill out.

Read the guide carefully before you complete your application . We will not refund your application fee, so make sure you need a visitor visa before you apply.

Each individual applicant must submit a completed application form. Applicants under the age of 18 must have this form signed by a parent or a guardian.

Download the application package .

Pay your application fees

In most cases, your fees will include processing fees for you and anyone you include on your application.

If you’re applying for the first time, you must pay the biometrics fee when you submit your application (unless you’re exempt). Otherwise, you may experience delays.

Third-party fees

Depending on your situation, you may need to pay third parties for

• your medical exam
• a police certificate

Our instruction guides (opens in a new tab) can help you understand which fees apply to you.

Submit your application

Families should send their individual applications in one package. The principal applicant must send this combined package to the location where their application will be processed.

Select the country/territory you’ll be applying from to find out where to submit your application. You can choose your country of nationality or the country or territory where you have been legally admitted:

• Afghanistan
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• British Virgin Islands
• Burkina Faso
• Burma (Myanmar)
• Cayman Islands
• Central African Republic
• China (People’s Republic of)
• Comoros Island
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Czech Republic
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Equatorial Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Hong Kong SAR
• Liechtenstein
• Marshall Islands
• Micronesia (Federated States of)
• Netherlands
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand
• North Korea
• North Macedonia (Republic of)
• Palestinian Authority (Gaza)
• Palestinian Authority (West Bank)
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Puerto Rico
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Saudi Arabia
• Sierra Leone
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• South Korea
• South Sudan
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Switzerland
• Timor-Leste (Timor oriental)
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turkmenistan
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• United States of America
• US Virgin Islands

If you need to give biometrics (fingerprints and photograph), and you’re applying on paper, submit your application in person . VAC staff will check that it is complete and will confirm that you have paid the correct fees before you can give your biometrics.

Credit cards and prepaid cards

We accept the following credit cards and prepaid cards:

• MasterCard ®
• American Express ®
• UnionPay ® (for online applications only; debit cards not accepted)

If you use a prepaid credit card, keep it for at least 18 months after you pay to make refunds easier. Find more on prepaid cards .

We also accept all Visa Debit cards.

The card you use doesn’t have to be in your name. The cardholder’s name will appear on the receipt but it does not need to match your application.

Debit cards

• be from a Canadian bank using INTERAC ® Online
• be registered for online banking through your bank’s website

We also accept all Debit MasterCard ® and Visa ® Debit cards. If your card has the Visa Debit logo on it, alone or with the INTERAC ® Online logo, select Visa Debit as your payment method.

Page details

What are you looking for?

Travelling with uk travel documents for short-term stays not exceeding 90 days within any 180-day period.

Third-country nationals holding UK travel documents may travel to Germany subject to the following conditions.

General entry requirements

Economic activities/ employment on short-term visits, 1951 convention travel document for refugees, 1954 convention travel document for stateless persons, certificate of travel.

Third-country nationals holding UK travel documents travelling to Germany are subject to all Schengen entry requirements. The entry requirements are contained in the Schengen Borders Code and comprise the following:

You need to be in possession of a valid travel document entitling you to cross the Schengen borders. All UK travel documents referred to below are recognized as valid for travel to Germany. On the date of entry into the Schengen member states the travel document must have been issued within the previous 10 years. The document’s validity must extend at least three months after the intended date of your departure from Germany.

Practical examples:

• A traveller arriving on 1 December 2021 for a 20 days stay in Germany with a travel document issued on 2 December 2011 and valid until 2 April 2022 will be allowed entry.
• The same person arriving on 2 December 2021 will NOT be allowed entry.
• You need to be able to justify the purpose and conditions of your intended stay, and you need to have sufficient means of subsistence, both for the duration of the intended stay and for your return to your country of origin or transit to a third country into which you are certain to be admitted, or you must be in a position to acquire such means lawfully.
• You are not a person for whom an alert has been issued in the Schengen Information System for the purposes of refusing entry.
• You are not considered to be a threat to public policy, internal security, public health or the international relations of any of the Member States, in particular where no alert has been issued in Member States’ national databases for the purposes of refusing entry on the same grounds.

As a rule, visa-free short-term visitors may not pursue any economic activity in Germany. However, some professional activities may be carried out without a corresponding visa or residence permit as they are not classed as an economic activity. For details, please click here .

Any other economic activity for a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period requires a C visa authorising such activity .

Irrespective of their nationality: holders of Convention Travel Documents for Refugees (1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, dark blue), issued by the United Kingdom , do not require a visa for travel to Germany provided that the duration of their stay does not exceed 90 days within any 180 day period. Please note that you may not take up any employment or pursue any gainful economic activity in Germany unless such employment is explicitly authorised by a visa or a residence permit issued by the local immigration office ( Ausländerbehörde ) in Germany.

Irrespective of their nationality: holders of Stateless Person’s Travel Documents (1954 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, red), issued by the United Kingdom , do not require a visa for travel to Germany provided that the duration of their stay does not exceed 90 days within any 180 day period. Please note that you may not take up any employment or pursue any gainful economic activity in Germany unless such employment is explicitly authorised by a visa or a residence permit issued by the local immigration office ( Ausländerbehörde ) in Germany.

Holders of British Certificates of Travel (black) require a visa for Germany for any kind of stay. Depending on their nationality they may also require visas for airside transits through a German airport. For details please click here .

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• Passports, travel and living abroad
• Travel abroad
• Foreign travel advice

The Euro 2024 tournament will take place in Germany from 14 June to 14 July 2024. If you are travelling to attend:

• sign up to get  email updates  on Germany’s travel advice and download the official  Euro 2024 app and check the official Euro 2024 website to stay informed of anything that might affect your travel or plans whilst in Germany
• keep your personal belongings and valuables safe, if your passport is lost and stolen, check the Getting help page
• respect local cultural sensitivities (and be aware of possible repercussions). For more information, read the UEFA human rights declaration

Visa and entry requirements

Check the entry requirements for Germany, especially information on passport validity and visa-free travel within the 90-day limit.

Health insurance

Make sure you have appropriate health cover abroad before travelling.

Travel insurance

Get appropriate travel insurance as soon as you book. Check that it covers the places you will visit, the duration of your visit and any planned activities.

Match tickets

Check the Euro 2024 website for ticket information. Only buy match tickets from UEFA . Tickets will be digital and you will need to download them to the UEFA Mobile Ticket App. Make sure your phone is charged and take into account roaming charges in Germany – check with your phone provider before you travel.

Match tickets bought through unofficial means may not be valid. If you sell tickets through unofficial means, you could be prosecuted.

Stadium entry

Entry restrictions may be different for each stadium. Check the Euro 2024 venues guide for more information, as well as the Euro 2024 app . You are allowed to carry a small power bank so that you have enough power on your phone to show your ticket. Make sure you have a valid form of ID on you.

Transport to the event

Transport routes around the stadiums will be very busy during the tournament. Local authorities may ask you to enter or leave the stadium by specific routes. Make sure you:

• plan your journey
• leave plenty of time, particularly on match days

Ticket holders will have access to discounted national and international train tickets, as well as a 36 Hour Travel Pass for public transport.

For more information on travel in Germany during the Euro 2024 tournament, see the official Euro 2024 website or use the Euro 2024 app .

Beer can be stronger than in the UK, so drink responsibly, know your limits and respect local laws. You may not be let into the stadium if you drink too much.

Fan zones and public viewings

Each host city will host the EURO 2024 Festival, with multiple sites in each host city where fans can spend time before and during the matches. Restrictions on what you can take into football villages and live viewing areas may vary between cities. Check the Euro 2024 venues guide for more information as well as the Euro 2024 app .

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