What is a national visa?
The national visa is also called Schengen D visa. It allows you to stay longer than three months in the Schengen area and even work or study there. With the regular Schengen visa, which is for business travelers and tourists, you cannot do that.
Who is required to have a visa?
In principle, all foreigners are subject to visa requirements. The following persons are exempt from the rule:
- Citizens of an EU member state
- EEA nationals
- Nationals of Switzerland
Where do I apply for the national visa?
The national visa allows you to stay for a longer period of time in a certain Schengen country. Therefore, you apply for it directly at the embassy of the respective country. If you want to study or work in Germany, you apply for it at the German embassy. Although the national visa is initially valid only for that country, you may travel within the Schengen area.
How long does the application take?
The procedure can take more than two months. The reason: If you apply for a national visa for Germany, the German foreigners authority must approve it. This is the foreigners authority at your desired place of residence. In some cases, other authorities are involved in issuing the visa. Then the procedure can take even longer.
After entering the country, only citizens of the following countries may apply for the visa on the spot:
- Australia
- Israel
- Japan
- Canada
- New Zealand
- Republic of Korea
- United States of America
For whom is the national visa suitable?
It is intended for all persons requiring a visa who wish to stay in Germany for a longer period of time. Its validity can be up to 12 months. Before the expiration of the 12 months you can have the visa extended.
Typical reasons for a national visa are:
- Work: You take up gainful employment.
- Study: You are planning a language course or would like to study or do scientific work in Germany for more than three months.
- Internships/Au-pair: You would like to work as an au-pair or do an internship.
What documents do I need for the national visa in Germany?
- fully completed and signed application form
- Declaration of consent for the processing of your data within the scope of the data protection regulation
- 3 biometric photos
- valid passport with at least 3 blank pages and validity of six more months
- Copy of passport
- Proof of health insurance
Our recommendation for health insurance
When applying, you must provide proof of health insurance that is valid in Germany and Europe. For this health insurance to be recognized by the visa authority, it must have cover of 30,000 euros and be valid for the entire duration of your stay.
We recommend our private health insurance Provisit Germany, as it meets all the requirements. Even if your stay in Germany lasts longer than planned, this is not a problem, as Provisit Germany can be taken out for up to 2 years.
