Visa policy of Germany and Its Customs Information

IMMIGRATION AND VISAS

Requirements for a Passport

All travelers need a passport, except the following:

1. Citizens of Germany with:

• Identification Cards ‘Personalausweis’;

• The Temporary Passports ‘Vorläufiger Reisepass’;

• Kids with ‘Kinderausweis’, a German Identification Card given to children 16 years of age and younger. For children younger than ten years of age, there is no requirement for the document to include a picture of the infant. 

2. With the exception of Denmark, Iceland, the Republic of Ireland, Norway, and the United Kingdom, travelers with a national identification card given to residents of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland, and the Member States of the European Economic Region. 

3. A Gibraltar Identification Card issued by travelers to residents of Gibraltar.

4. Travelers with a Seaman Book when they’re on a business trip:

Exceptions:

• Your Seaman Book issued by Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Benin, Congo (Brazzaville), Dominican Republic, Fiji, Ghana, Guinea Republic, India, Iraq, Jordan, Liberia, Panama, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone (Only the Old Style Seaman Book), Somalia, Syria, Vietnam or Yemen

• Your Seaman Book was issued by Latvia. However, a Seaman Book will be accepted when issued to a Latvian citizen and follows the remark (“Latvijas Republikaâ€) in the citizenship field.

• Travelers with Estonian documentation Known as “Meresoidu Tunnistus†issued to non-Estonian Seamen.

5. Travelers with a ‘Laissez Passer’ given by the United Nations.

6. Travelers with a ‘Laissez Passer’ issued by the European Union.

7. Travelers with travel documentation known as ‘Titre de Voyage’ issued to persons without nationality or citizenship and refugees according to the London Convention Agreement of 1946, the Geneva Convention Agreement of 1951, and the New York Convention Agreement of 1954 given they provide proof that they can travel to the issuing/authorizing country.

N.B.

Travelers with Travel Documents/Passport known as ‘Titre de Voyage’ giving to people without nationality or citizenship and refugees who reside in Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Croatia, Honduras, Israel, Guatemala, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Panama, San Marino, Uruguay, Singapore the United States of America, Vatican City or Venezuela are visa exempted on condition that the documentation is valid for no less than four months upon arrival.

8. Travelers with travel documents/Passport and residency permits issued to accepted refugees by a Member State of the European Economic Region or Switzerland, and persons without nationality or citizenship.

9. Travelers with travel documents/PassportPassport issued by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in the Republic of Kosovo to permanent inhabitants of the Republic of Kosovo.

Document Validity

For the period of the planned visit, passports and equivalent documents, or any of them, should be valid.

• Expired travel documents/passports provided to citizens of Austria, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, or Switzerland for a period of no more than five years are approved.

• German passports that have expired are accepted without any limitations.

• The German national identification cards ‘Personalausweis’ and ‘Kinderausweis’ have expired and are approved for a period of one year.

• Temporary passports’ Vorläufiger Reisepass’ issued to people of Germany must be valid at the time of arrival.

Additional information

1. Students living in a Member State of the European Union or Liechtenstein and traveling as part of a school community from within the European Union or Liechtenstein, apart from their nationality, do not need a passport,

• Their names are stated on a ‘List of Travellers’ (LOT) stamped by the school and certified by the concerned authority in their home country;

• Their names are indicated on a ‘List of Travelers’ (LOT) stamped by the University and approved in their home country by the relevant authority.  

• A photo of the student is part of this ‘List of Travelers’ (LOT).

N.B.

This kind of ‘List of Travelers’ is not provided by all European Union member countries. Furthermore, the exemption would NOT apply to the ‘List of Traveler’s, which is only stamped without photographs by the school.

2. Ordinary passports issued by the Republic of Guinea in 1995 and 2002 are not accepted.

Minors:

German kids aged 15 or younger could be included in a parent’s or legal guardian’s passport as well as they are of a similar nationality as the parent or legal guardian and travel with either the parent or guardian.

However, if the child is ten years of age or more, a photograph of the registered child should be included in the Passport.

Children 16 years of age or older must have passports or approved documents of their own, which may be accepted in place of a passport. Yet, kids are no need to have a personal residence permit.

Warnings

Passports must have the holder’s signature. Passports without the bearer’s signature would not be considered as official travel documents, and entry into Germany will be refused to the traveler.

The Schengen Agreement, designed to lift immigration limits on travel within all the territories of the signatory member countries, became effective on 26 March 1995. This led to the emergence of a ‘Schengen area’ known as a borderless zone. Consequently, residents of the signatory countries of that agreement can travel between the countries referred to above without having their papers checked.

However, Passengers who need a visa for one or more Schengen nations to which they are ticketed and whose destination is the Schengen States for which a visa is not needed must fly with a ‘Schengen Visa.’ In addition, if one of the next visits or transit countries is a Schengen state for which a visa is required, Transit without a visa (TWOV) is not possible because the visitor will be en-suite.

Visitors from countries needing a visa for all the Schengen nations and visitors from countries requiring a visa for one or more of the Schengen countries to which they have a ticket still require a visa. Visitors should obtain Schengen visas prior to their arrival in the Schengen region.

Visa Issuance

Before arrival: Travelers are kindly advised to contact Germany’s closest representative.

Visa Exemptions

All travelers must hold a visa except the following:

1. Citizens of Germany.

• Citizens of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Republic of Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (Republic), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, or the United States of America.

Travelers with British passports/travel document endorsed ‘British Citizen’.

Travelers stay for no more than three months (90 days) in a half-year given provided they are:

• Citizens of Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Brunel, Chile, Croatia, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, Malaysia, Guatemala, Mexico, Mauritius, Monaco, Panama, Nicaragua, San Marino, Singapore, Paraguay, St. Kitts-Nevis, Vatican City, Uruguay or Venezuela

• Travelers with British passports/travel document endorsed ‘British Citizen’ or ‘British National (Overseas);

• Travelers with British passports or travel document endorsed ‘British Overseas or Territories Citizen’ that containing the label’ right of residence’ issued by Great Britain; or ‘British Subject,’ which also contains the label’ right of residence’ issued by Great Britain;

• Visitors with passports provided by Hong Kong (China Special Administrative Region) and Macao (China Special Administrative Region);

• Travelers, given they are nationals of Chad, Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, Philippines, and Thailand, with diplomatic, service, or official travel documents;

• Travelers with diplomatic, service or special passports/travel document provided that they are citizens of Turkey;

• Visitors with diplomatic passports which were given by citizens of Albania, Algeria, Bosnia Herzegovina, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Jamaica, India, Kenya, Malawi, The Republic of Moldova, Morocco, Namibia, The Republic of Montenegro, Peru, Russia, The Republic of Serbia, South Africa, The Republic of Tunisia and Ukraine

• Visitors with diplomatic passports which were given by citizens of Pakistan;

• Visitors with diplomatic or special passports they are coming from the UAE;

• Visitors with a ‘Laissez Passer’ which given by the European Union;

• Visitors with a ‘Laissez Passer’ which given by the United Nations.

• Visitors with a Residence Permit which provided by Monaco or one of the Schengen nations.

•  Visitors, regardless of their nationality, remain for a period not exceeding 90 days and hold a ‘family member’ residence permit granted by a Member State of the European Union to a representative of the family who is a citizen of a Member State of the European Economic Zone or citizens of Switzerland if they are traveling or traveling to join a citizen of a Member State of the European Economic Area or a citizen of Switzerland.

• Travelers, regardless of nationality, are residing in Liechtenstein for no more than five days and holding proof of their residence provided they are in Transit through the Schengen Area and continuing their trip to a nation outside the Schengen state’s Area apart from the means of transport.

• As long as they have a USA’ Refugee Travel Application’ (Form no. I-571), refugees, or people without nationality or citizenship. 

• Recognized refugees or people without citizenship or nationality who are residing in a European Economic Area member country or Switzerland.

1. According to the London Agreement of 1946, the Geneva Agreement of 1951, and the New York Agreement of 1954, visitors with a travel document is known as ‘Titre de Voyage’ granted to refugees or persons without nationality or citizenship provided that they are residents mentioned below:
2. Andorra, Antigua, and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, St. Kitts-Nevis, Uruguay, Vatican City or Venezuela.

Transit without Visa (TWOV)

For travelers transiting to a third country on the same or first connecting flight without leaving the transit area, TWOV is permissible.

Warning: Transit is only possible at the following airports: Cologne/Bonn, Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, and Dusseldorf (See conditions below).

1. Travelers may use the above-mentioned TWOV facility if they have a visa for a European Economic Area country provided they are:

• Nationals of Cuba, Gambia, Lebanon, Colombia, Sudan, and Syria, are needed to have a visa even when they are in direct Transit.
• Nationals of Jordan, You are needed to have a visa even when they are in direct Transit.
• Nationals of Ghana, You are needed to have a visa even when they are in direct Transit.
• Nationals of Nigeria, You are needed to have a visa even when they are in direct Transit.
• Nationals of India, You are needed to have a visa even when they are in direct Transit.
• Nationals of Turkey, You are needed to have a visa even when they are in direct Transit.
• Nationals of Angola, You are needed to have a visa even when they are in direct Transit.
• The return trip is also covered by TWOV, provided that it is a single trip that has started on or before the expiration date of the visa or residency permit.

The above-mentioned TWOV facilities may be used by travelers with passports when they have valid visas for Canada or the United States of America and are traveling to or from one of the nations for that they have a visa or are traveling to their country of origin.

Such guidelines apply to:

• Nationals of India, You are needed to have a visa even when they are in direct Transit.
• Nationals of Turkey, You are needed to have a visa even when they are in direct Transit.
• Nationals of Ghana, You are needed to have a visa even when they are in direct Transit.
• Nationals of Nigeria, You are needed to have a visa even when they are in direct Transit.

3. Travelers with passports can, on conditions that they will have a residency card for Andorra, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, the Republic of Ireland, Japan, Romania, San Marino, the United States of America, or the United Kingdom, use the TWOV facility related to above, given that they are:

Nationals of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Congo (Kinshasa), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq,  

• Myanmar, Somalia or Sri Lanka, who are required to have a visa even when they are in Direct Transit.
• Nationals of Colombia, Cuba, Gambia, Lebanon, Sudan, and Syria, You are needed to have a visa even when they are in direct Transit
• Nationals of Ghana, You are needed to have a visa even when they are in direct Transit.           
• Nationals of Nigeria, You are needed to have a visa even when they are in direct Transit.
• Nationals of Jordan, You are needed to have a visa even when they are in direct Transit.

4. Travelers can use the above-mentioned TWOV facility if they are permitted to the residence in the United States of America and have an ‘Authorization for Parole of an Alien to the United States’ along with an I-551 AND stamp approved national Passport:

Such rule applies to:

• Nationals of India, You are needed to have a visa even when they are in direct Transit
• Nationals of Turkey, You are needed to have a visa even when they are in direct Transit
• The return trip is also protected by TWOV, provided that it is a single trip that has started on or before the expiration date of the visa or residency permit.

CUSTOMS AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Import regulations  

1. Passengers arriving with products purchased only for personal use within the European Union are permitted to import:

• Tobacco products: 800 cigarettes; 400 cigarettes, each of which weights no over than three grams; 200 cigars; 1 kilogram of tobacco; 
• Alcoholic beverages: 10 liters of alcoholic beverages above 22%; 20 liters of alcoholic beverages below 22%; 90 liters of wine, but not more than 60 liters of sparkling wine; 110 liters of beer. 

2. Travelers coming from countries outside the European Union, including the Canary Islands, the Channel Islands, and other same regions, are allowed to possess free of charge:

• 200 cigarettes are allowed to passengers aged 17 years or older; 100 cigarillos weighed no more than three grams each; 50 cigarettes; 250 grams of smoking tobacco; or a reasonable mixture of these products; 
• Travelers aged 17 years and older are permitted to consume one liter of alcoholic beverages in excess of 22 percent volume; non-denatured ethyl alcohol in excess of 80 percent volume; two liters of alcoholic beverages or aperitifs made from wine or related beverages in excess of 22 percent volume; distilled liquors or liqueur wines; or a proportional combination of these properties in relation to four liters of still wine; and 16 liters of beer;
• For personal usage, fruits, Flower, vegetables, food, and medicines; Other products up to a total value of EUR 430 per adult passenger or EUR 175 per passenger below the age of 15 years are approved for airline passengers.

3. Prohibited Goods:

Animal foods not originating in the Member States of the European Union, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino or Switzerland cannot be brought into the Member States of the European Union, with the exception of a minimal number of goods originating in Andorra, Croatia, the Faeroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and small amounts of products originating in other countries.

3.1. Please search the website of the European Union for more information: http:/europa.eu/eu/

Pets:

1. Birds

To bring in birds and poultry, travelers require an import license.

* Exceptions:

Parakeets and parrots up to five in number can be imported without licenses, provided that they will be accompanied by a medical certificate given within ten days, specifying that they have not contracted an infection in the region where they have been kept within the last 30 days. A German version must accompany this medical certificate.

2. Cats and dogs

Please contact the nearest embassies in Germany for more information. Five animals can be imported without specific approval, but artists who will need dogs or cats for professional reasons can, without specific approval, import over than five dogs or cats. Pets are permitted to enter as passenger baggage, as cargo, or just in the cabin.

3. Prohibited Pets

The following regulation is valid until further notice due to the possibility of avian flu infection: it is forbidden to import pet birds & poultry and their goods from Cambodia, the People’s Republic of China, including Hong Kong (A Special Administrative Area of China), Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Laos, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Similarly, imports of meat products from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) nations, Portugal, Sardinia, Spain, Turkey, and all countries of Africa and Asia are forbidden.

Regulations on Baggage Clearance

A passenger’s baggage should be cleared at the final destination airport in Germany.

* Exemptions:

• The baggage of transit travelers bound outside Germany;
• The baggage of passengers leaving from another country in the European Union.

Airport tax

On their departures from the airport, passengers are not allowed to pay any airport fees.

Currency Importation Laws The same export rules should apply.

Currency Rules-regulations on exports

• For passengers coming from or traveling to a nation within the European Union, there are no limits on exporting their national currency (Euro-EUR) and foreign currencies.
• As far as passengers coming directly from or commuting to a nation outside the European Union are concerned, amounts greater than or equal to EUR 10,000 must be reported in another currency, including a draft of bankers and paychecks of any sort.

Additional Information on Rules-regulations

Fresh meat: The importation of raw meat and meat products is permitted, given that no volume of up to 1 kilogram and up to 30 kg of poultry is being used for business reasons. It is subject to certain veterinarian regulations to import larger amounts.

Arms and Ammunition Rules-regulations

The importation of weapons into Germany is approved for army personnel employed.

The passenger is not required to have permits because he’s only on duties and responsibilities and holding military weapons, but the guns must be registered;

If the passenger is on service and importing a weapon that belongs to him, a “weapon registration card” must be issued. The arms must be registered as well.

If the passenger operates as a U.S. military or a U.S. Department of Defense person and does not have the ‘Firearm Registration Card.’