Do You Need a Tourist Visa for Germany in 2025? A Country-by-Country Guide

In 2025, whether you need a tourist visa for Germany depends on your nationality (the passport you travel with), how long you’ll stay, and what you’ll do. Germany applies the Schengen short-stay rules: most leisure and business visits up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day window fall under the “C-type” Schengen regime. Below you’ll find a clear, country-by-country guide (grouped by region), followed by precise rules on stay limits, fees, processing times, airport transit and documents—so you can plan confidently.

Short-stay scope (what counts as “tourist”): Tourism, family visits, short business trips, conferences, short unpaid training, and similar non-remunerated activities fall under Schengen “C” (≤90 days in any 180-day period).

The 90/180-day rule (with a quick example): Add every day you were inside Schengen during the past 180 days (including the day you enter and the day you leave). Your total must never exceed 90. Example: If you arrive on March 1 and depart May 29, you’ve used all 90 days; you must stay out until at least August 27 before coming back.

Passport validity at the border: Your passport must be issued within the last 10 years and be valid for at least 3 months beyond the day you plan to exit Schengen. Expect officers to ask for your return/onward ticket, proof of accommodation, and proof of funds.

EES & ETIAS timing in 2025: Non-EU/EEA/Swiss travelers who don’t need a visa will start being registered by the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) in late 2025; it captures fingerprints/face biometrics on first entry. ETIAS (the online travel authorization for visa-exempt travelers) is not yet required during 2025.

If you do need a visa: You’ll apply for a Schengen “C” visa with Germany as your “main destination” (where you spend the most nights, or—if equal nights—your first entry). Standard processing is up to 15 calendar days (can extend to 45), and you can apply up to 6 months before travel. Fees were updated in 2024.

Below are the passports that do not need a visa for short tourist/business visits to Germany in 2025. ETIAS will be introduced later, but not in force during 2025. Micro-states Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican are included.

Americas (visa-exempt): Argentina; Antigua & Barbuda; Bahamas; Barbados; Brazil; Canada; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Dominica; El Salvador; Grenada; Guatemala; Honduras; Mexico; Nicaragua; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; St Kitts & Nevis; St Lucia; St Vincent & the Grenadines; Trinidad & Tobago; United States; Uruguay; Venezuela.
Not exempt (need a visa): Belize; Bolivia; Cuba; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Haiti; Jamaica; Suriname; Guyana.

Europe (outside EU/Schengen) & Western Balkans (visa-exempt): Albania (biometric passport); Bosnia & Herzegovina (biometric); Georgia (biometric); Israel; Kosovo (biometric; visa-free since 2024); Moldova (biometric); Montenegro; North Macedonia (biometric); Serbia (biometric); Ukraine (biometric); United Kingdom.
Not exempt (need a visa): Belarus; Russia; Turkey.

Asia-Pacific (visa-exempt): Australia; Brunei; Hong Kong SAR (HKSAR passport); Japan; Malaysia; New Zealand; Singapore; South Korea; Taiwan (passport with ID number); Macau SAR; Israel (also listed above); many Pacific states including Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu.
Not exempt (need a visa): Bangladesh; Cambodia; China (PRC); India; Indonesia; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan; Laos; Mongolia; Myanmar; Nepal; Pakistan; Philippines; Sri Lanka; Thailand; Uzbekistan; Vietnam.

Middle East (visa-exempt): United Arab Emirates.
Not exempt (need a visa): Bahrain; Iran; Iraq; Jordan (see airport-transit note below); Kuwait; Lebanon; Oman; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; Syria; Yemen.

Africa (visa-exempt): Mauritius; Seychelles.
Not exempt (need a visa): Most other African passports, including Algeria; Angola; Benin; Botswana; Cameroon; DR Congo; Egypt; Ethiopia; Ghana; Kenya; Morocco; Mozambique; Namibia; Nigeria; Rwanda; Senegal; South Africa; Tanzania; Tunisia; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe (among others).

Territories & special cases (visa-exempt): Andorra; Monaco; San Marino; Vatican City.

Travel documents with conditions: Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR passports are visa-exempt; Taiwan passport holders must have a personal ID number on the passport; Western Balkans exemptions generally require biometric passports.

Tip: Visa policy is strictly nationality-based. Holding a residence permit for another country (e.g., UK BRP, US Green Card, Australian PR) does not change whether you need a visa—your passport does.

Where to apply (main-destination rule): Apply at the German mission/its service partner if Germany is where you’ll spend the most nights. If nights are equal across Schengen countries, apply to the country of first entry.

When to apply and processing time: You may apply up to 6 months before travel (9 months for seafarers). Standard decisions arrive within 15 calendar days after your biometric appointment; complex files can take up to 45 days.

Fees in 2025: €90 for adults; €45 for children aged 6–11; under-6s are free. External service providers may charge an additional service fee in your country.

Documents checklist (tourist): Completed form; passport (issued within last 10 years; valid 3+ months after exit; ≥2 blank pages); photo; round-trip reservation; proof of accommodation (hotel, invitation, rental); travel medical insurance covering €30,000 for medical/repatriation across all Schengen; proof of funds (Germany generally expects around €45 per day as a practical minimum—more is safer); ties to home country (employment letter, study proof, business docs), and travel plan.

Biometrics (VIS): Your fingerprints are taken at application and reused for 59 months; if your last Schengen visa is within that window, prints may be re-used (officers can still request you to re-enroll).

Single vs multiple entry: If you’ll pop in and out of Schengen (e.g., Germany → UK → back to Schengen), ask for multiple entry and justify it in your itinerary.

Who needs an Airport Transit Visa (ATV, type A): Most nationalities don’t need any visa to remain airside while connecting in Germany to a non-Schengen destination. However, some passports always require a German ATV for airside transit—commonly including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, DRC, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan (in specific cases), Lebanon, Mali, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria and Turkey. If your itinerary requires you to change terminals, collect/re-check baggage, or connect to a Schengen flight, you’ll need a C-type visa instead of an ATV.

Bring the entry basics: A passport meeting the 10-year/3-month rule; proof of accommodation; return/onward flight; and proof of sufficient funds for your stay. Even without a visa, border officers can ask for these at first entry.

Counting days smartly: Keep a simple log of your Schengen days (many travelers use a day-counter app) to avoid an accidental overstay after multiple short trips.

Health cover: Travel medical insurance isn’t mandated for visa-exempt visitors, but it’s highly recommended. Airlines sometimes check cover at check-in.

United States, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia: Visa-exempt for up to 90/180. EES biometric registration will roll out in late 2025; ETIAS starts later (not in 2025).

UAE: Visa-exempt for short stays.

Qatar & Kuwait: Still require a Schengen visa for 2025 trips to Germany (visa-waiver proposals have not yet taken effect).

Western Balkans: Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia—visa-exempt with biometric passports.

Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia: Visa-exempt with biometric passports.

India, China, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka: Schengen visa required for any tourist entry to Germany.

South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt: Schengen visa required.

Latin America: Most passports listed above are visa-exempt; not exempt include Bolivia, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Ecuador (visa required).

Proof of funds: Bank statements for the last 3–6 months showing accessible balances that match your itinerary; as a rule of thumb, ~€45/day is the German baseline, but demonstrate more if your hotels/plan suggest higher costs.

Accommodation consistency: Bookings should match your nightly plan (and the “main destination” you’re applying for). If staying with friends/family, include a signed invitation and—if relevant—a formal Verpflichtungserklärung (official letter of commitment) obtained by your host from German authorities.

Travel pattern: A realistic, geographically sensible itinerary (no implausible city hops) reduces questions. One or two intra-Schengen train/flight hops are normal.

Employment & ties: Include current employment/study proof and approved leave; business owners add registration and tax docs.

Picking the wrong consulate: Apply where you’ll spend the most nights. If nights are equal, apply where you first enter Schengen.

Passport older than 10 years: Even if it hasn’t expired, a passport issued over 10 years ago isn’t accepted for Schengen entry/visas.

Overstaying the 90/180 limit: The 90 days are total across all Schengen countries, not per country. Each entry stamp adds to your rolling total.

Transit surprises: Some nationalities need an ATV just to change planes airside in Germany. If you need to pass border control to switch terminals, you need a C-type visa instead.

Insurance gaps: Visa applicants must show policy coverage of at least €30,000, valid across all Schengen states for the entire trip. Visa-exempt travelers should carry similar cover.

• Confirm your passport’s 10-year/3-month rule compliance.
• Check your nationality’s line in the lists above.
• If you need a visa, book an appointment early (peak seasons fill quickly).
• Carry proof of funds, accommodation, and return travel—even if you’re visa-exempt.
• Understand 90/180—especially if you visit Europe often.
• Allow extra time at airports as EES rolls out late 2025.