Introduction

The need for a visa depends on nationality:

Citizens of a member state of the EU, EEA, Switzerland do not require a visa.

Citizens from Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, USA also do not require a visa, but must apply for a residence permit inside Germany if they want to stay longer than 90 days in the country.

Citizens of all other countries need a Schengen visa for a stay of up to 90 days and a national (German) visa for a stay of more than 90 days.

Overview of visa requirements for entry by Country: German Federal Foreign Office

For further information on whether your residence permit is sufficient for travelling to Germany, please contact The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI): The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration

Visa process: Step-by-Step

• You must apply for a visa in person at the German Embassy in Oslo. Please use the following checklists for the visa you are applying for.
• Only applications with complete supporting documents will be accepted. All documents have to be submitted in original plus 2 copies.
• Applications are accepted by appointment only. Each person applying for a visa (even children) has to book an appointment. Once you obtained the necessary documentation for your visa application, please send an email to info[at]oslo.diplo.de, requesting an appointment and also mention the purpose for your planned stay to Germany. We will schedule an appointment for you by e-mail.
  

  Exception: Persons applying for family reunification with holders of subsidary protection status are asked to register for their appointment over the following appointment registration system: Appointment registration for family reunion with holders of subsidiary protection status التسجيل للتقديم على تأشيرة للم الشمل الأسري لحامل حق الحماية الثانوية à Appointment-System of the German Foreign Office

• The processing of your application usually takes up to 3 months. Please make sure, that your Norwegian residence permit does not expire in the meantime.
• If you send us all documents by e-mail (address: info[at]oslo.diplo.de), as well as the completed application form and a copy of the data page of your passport, we can prepare the interview in advance.
• During visa processing, the German Embassy examines each individual application extensively in accordance with German law. Other German authorities often have to participate in the decision-making process. Therefore, the embassy cannot predict the outcome of a visa application.

Work visa

Work visa checklist

Moving to Germany as a skilled worker

Family reunion with foreign spouse or children

All relevant information about family reunion of Syrian refugees in Germany can be found here: Welcome to Germany

Persons applying for family reunification with holders of subsidary protection status are asked to register for their appointment over the following appointment registration system:

Appointment registration for family reunion with holders of subsidiary protection status التسجيل للتقديم على تأشيرة للم الشمل الأسري لحامل حق الحماية الثانوية at: Appointment-System of the German Foreign Office

Upon completion of the registration process, you will recieve two seperate e-mails:

a) the first message within 30 minutes of your registration which includes your reference number

b) the second message once your appointment date and time have been set. When you recieve the second E-Mail, please contact the Embassy regarding the documents to be submitted.

For Proof of knowledge of basic German for spousal reunification from abroad, please see:

https://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Anlagen/DE/MigrationAufenthalt/Ehegattennachzug/ehegattennachzug.html

Checklist

Family reunion with German spouse or children

Checklist

Study visa

Checklist

Regarding Proof of Subsistence:

The option of creating a blocked bank account allows you to choose between different providers.

German providers you can choose, can be found here: Opening a blocked bank account (Sperrkonto) for students

Research visa

Checklist

Visa application form

Download: Visa application form

Children under 16 years of age

In addition, children under 16 years of age must submit the following:

• 2 duly completed application forms for each child, signed by both parents
• Passports of both parents. If the original passport cannot be provided, copies certified by a German authority can be accepted
• Birth certificate, with Apostille or Legalisation if not issued in Germany, an EU country or Norway
• Proof about the relevant custody rights over the applying child (if not held by both parents)
• Translation for all certificates into the German or English language, produced by a sworn translator

Do I have to come in person?

People, who apply for a visa, have to come in person to the embassy. All must submit their own application.

Can I apply for my visa in Oslo and pick it up at another embassy?

This is not possible because the embassy of the country in which the applicant is resident has the jurisdiction.

Do I have to leave my passport at the embassy during application processing?

No, you do not need to leave your passport at the Embassy. You can take your passport back with you once you have applied for the visa. If your visa is approved, you must appear personally at the Embassy with your passport to pick up the visa.

Can I have the visa sent to me?

This is not possible anymore.

How many times do I have to come to the German Embassy in Oslo for formalities of obtaining visa?

You have to come two times. To apply and to get your visa.