Willkommen auf den Seiten des Auswärtigen Amts
Visa Information in English
General Information
Please read the following information carefully and use the contact form for inquiries to specific questions only.
If the information requested is available on our website, we may not reply to your message.
Please understand that questions regarding the status of a visa application will not be answered. If additional documents are required to process your application, the Embassy will contact you.
Please do not submit unrequested documents. The Embassy doesn't have capacities to store documents before the submission of the application. All documents have to be presented by the applicant at the time of the appointment with the Visa Section.
All applications have to be submitted in person. Please book an appointment with the visa section online:
Online Booking System German Embassy Bucharest
The Embassy does not charge fees for visa appointments. Any visa fees due will be charged on the day of your appointment. The Visa Section does not offer consultation on the phone.
Visa requirements
Generally speaking, third-country nationals require a visa to enter the Federal Republic of Germany.
The type of visa depends on the duration and purpose of your stay.
An exemption applies to EU nationals and nationals of those countries for which the European Community has with the visa regulation of the European Union abolished the visa requirement for short stays of up to 90 days in a 180‑day period.
You can check here to see if you require a visa:
Table of countries whose citizens require/do not require visas to enter Germany
Not sure if you need a visa?
Romania is part of the Schengen Area.
Holders of valid Romanian residence permits and national visas for long-term stay, are able to travel according to Art. 21 of the Convention Implementing the Schengen Agreement based on these documents as well as a valid and recognized travel document up to 90 days in an 180-day period within the Territory of the other Schengen states, as long as they fulfill the criteria of Art. 6 of the Schengen Borders Code. It is irrelevant whether they stay in the other States of the Schengen area for 90 days in a row or they enter and leave several times.
National visas are issued for long-term stays for a particular purpose. Usually issued for 90 days, such visas may be issued for up to a year in certain cases. After entering Germany, visa holders must apply for a residence permit as a general rule.
Online application
The Consular Services Portal provides an easy and secure online application procedure for visas to enter and stay in Germany. Complete your application online and have it checked in advance by the Embassy to ensure that it is complete. In this way, you will be well prepared for the in-person appointment at the Embassy where you can provide your biometric data (fingerprints and photo).
You may apply online for the following visa:
Application in person
You should start preparing your application as soon as you have plans to stay long term in Germany. The entire visa application process can take several months.
Please fill out the VIDEX application form and bring a printout to your appointment:
Please compile the documents you need to submit with your application. If documents or supporting documents are missing, your application may be rejected. We have prepared a checklist for each type of visa:
Family reunion (German spouse/children)
Family reunion (foreign spouse/children)
Vocational training (in German)
Without a vocational qualification or university degree, your chances of working in Germany are very low. This is because a completed vocational training or university degree is usually a prerequisite for obtaining a visa to work in Germany.
You may find more information about the simplified access to the labour market in Germany here.
FAQ about moving to, and taking up employment in Germany as a skilled worker.
Please book an appointment online to submit your application in person at the German Embassy in Bucharest.
What happens during processing?
The German Embassy in Bucharest will review your application and make a decision on whether or not to grant you a visa. To this end, it will check whether your application meets the legal requirements. Depending on the purpose of your trip, it can take up to three months to check your application. The German Embassy will contact you as soon as it has made a decision on your application. We hope you will understand that we are not able to answer any questions on the status of your application during this processing period. After that, enquiries are only answered if they are made by email by the applicant, his/her legal representative or another person authorized in writing by the applicant.
Return of your passport
As soon as the German Embassy has reached a decision on your application, you will get an answer. In case of rejections. There are various reasons why your visa application may be rejected. The reasons will be stated in the letter notifying you that your application has been rejected. You are welcome to submit a new application at any time with complete, informative and verifiable documentation.
Have a good trip! Information for visa holders
If all the information on your visa label is correct, you are free to travel. Please check the information on the label as soon as your passport is returned to you. You should let us know immediately if there are any mistakes so that we can issue you a new visa.
Your visa will state your full name and passport number and include your photo. It will also state the number of days you can stay and the period of validity, that is, the time by which you must have received your residence permit for Germany.
Therefore, please do not forget to register at the resident’s registration office shortly after you arrive in Germany and to make an appointment with the foreigner’s authority. Your entry visa will allow you to travel within the Schengen area.