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Germany visa

Europe · Western Europe

In Germany, visas fall to the federal foreign office (Auswärtiges Amt), which publishes the "Visa Navigator" and the consular services portal. The pages consulted distinguish the Schengen visa, for stays of at most 90 days in any 180 days, from the national visa, for longer stays. The application is filed in person with the German mission or the competent visa application center; some long-stay applications are first entered online.

Updated on 13 October 2026 · Official sources consulted on 17 September 2026

At a glance

Authority
Auswärtiges Amt — federal foreign office of Germany
Submission channel
Filing in person at the German mission or at the visa application center; online entry possible for long-stay visas through the "Consular Services Portal"
Electronic visa
Not stated on the portal consulted; the consular portal allows long-stay visas to be entered online and states that Schengen visa applications cannot yet be filed online
Portal language
English (pages consulted); the site is also published in German

Do you need a visa?

Kenya passport: visa required for a short tourist stay.

For a short tourist stay with an ordinary passport. To work, study or stay longer, the rules are different: check your situation.

Good to know

Visa required (Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, consolidated version of 30.12.2025).

Official source: EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, Annexes I and II (consolidated version of 30.12.2025)EUR-Lex — Règlement (UE) 2018/1806, annexes I et II (version consolidée du 30.12.2025) (new tab) Verified on 24 September 2026

All destinations for this nationality

VisaGuideline helps you prepare your application. The decision belongs to the country’s authority: check the official page before paying or applying.

Germany visa: who needs one?

Based on the verified entry rules, for a short tourist stay with an ordinary passport.

Visa exemption 60

List of nationalities

Visa required 104

List of nationalities

Information not available 7

List of nationalities

A nationality missing from this list does not establish a visa exemption. Consult the official authority.

Documented visa types

Schengen visa
Presented for short stays, up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Official page (new tab)
National visa
Presented for stays exceeding 90 days. The consular services portal states that long-stay visas corresponding to 28 purposes — including employment, study, vocational training and family reunification — may be applied for online. Official page (new tab)

Where and how to apply

The "Visas for Germany" page states that the application is filed in person with the German mission or the visa application center of the place of residence, the competent mission being determined by the area in which the applicant has their habitual residence.

The "Consular Services Portal" makes it possible to create an account, fill in an application and upload documents online for long-stay visas, then send it to the competent German mission. The portal states that an in-person appointment at the mission remains necessary for biometric data, payment and the checking of original documents, and that Schengen visa applications cannot yet be accepted online.

Steps in the procedure

  1. Consult beforehand the documentary requirements published by the authority.
  2. Fill in the application form online or obtain it from the mission.
  3. On the consular services portal: create an account, fill in the application, upload the documents and send it to the competent German mission.
  4. Book an in-person appointment at the mission or at the visa application center.
  5. Attend the appointment to provide the biometric data (fingerprints and photograph) and present the original documents.
  6. Pay the application fee.
  7. Receive notification of the decision; on the consular portal, the next steps are communicated through the user account.

Documents mentioned by the authority

The exact list depends on the visa type and on the situation; only the official page is authoritative.

Stated fees and processing times

According to the portal consulted on 17 September 2026, the "Visas for Germany" page states, for the Schengen visa, 90 EUR at the standard rate, 45 EUR for children aged 6 to 12 and 35 EUR for nationals of certain designated countries, and, for the national visa, 75 EUR at the standard rate and 37.50 EUR for minors.

According to the portal consulted on 17 September 2026, the stated processing time is at most 15 calendar days for a complete Schengen visa application, whereas the processing of a national visa may, according to the same page, take several months.

After the decision

The consular services portal states that once the decision has been taken, the applicant is informed of the next steps through their user account. The authority decides whether to issue or refuse.

The avenues of appeal in the event of a refusal are not stated on the pages consulted.

Prepare your application

Frequently asked questions

Where is the application filed?

According to the "Visas for Germany" page, the application is filed in person with the German mission or the visa application center of the place of habitual residence.

Is there an electronic visa?

Not stated on the portal consulted. The consular services portal makes it possible to enter long-stay visa applications online, but states that an in-person appointment remains necessary and that Schengen visa applications cannot yet be filed online.

What fees does the authority state?

According to the portal consulted on 17 September 2026: 90 EUR for a Schengen visa (45 EUR for ages 6 to 12, 35 EUR for nationals of certain designated countries) and 75 EUR for a national visa (37.50 EUR for minors).

Points to check with the authority

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