🇩🇪 Germany visa for EU citizens

If you're from the US, Canada, Australia, or the UK, you're likely fine for 90 days. Most other places? You'll need to apply ahead.

Who Walks In Visa-Free?

For digital nomads from EU/EEA countries, Germany is a breeze. You can live and work there indefinitely without a visa. That's the main perk of the EU. For citizens of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the UK, and the United States, it's also straightforward. You get 90 days visa-free within any 180-day period across the entire Schengen Area. This means you can hop between Germany and, say, France or Italy, and it all counts towards your 90 days.

If your passport isn't on that list, you'll probably need to apply for a Schengen visa before you travel. Some countries have visa-on-arrival, but Germany isn't one of them for short stays. For longer stays or specific purposes like remote work, that's a different story entirely, and you'll need to apply at the German embassy or consulate in your home country. Don't show up expecting to sort it out at the airport.

How Long Can You Actually Stay?

The standard Schengen visa-free allowance is 90 days in any 180-day period. This is crucial. It's not 90 days straight, then you can come back the next day. You need to count backwards for 180 days and ensure you haven't exceeded 90 days of presence in the Schengen zone. Many people get caught out by this rolling 180-day window. Overstaying can lead to fines, deportation, and bans from re-entering the Schengen Area for up to five years. While exact fines can vary, expect something in the region of €50 per day of overstay†, though it can be much higher. Always get an exit stamp in your passport when leaving a Schengen country if you entered with a visa or have had border checks. It's your proof of departure.

Working on a Tourist Stamp: The Grey Area

Germany doesn't have a specific "digital nomad visa" like some other European countries. The standard 90-day visa-free period is technically for tourism or short business trips. Working remotely for a company outside of Germany on this stamp is a legal grey area. While German authorities might not actively hunt down every remote worker, it's not explicitly permitted. If you're earning income from abroad, you generally shouldn't be doing it on a tourist allowance. Some interpret it as permissible if your employer is not German. Others say it's a violation of the visa-free status. It's a risk you take. For longer stays, you'd need to explore options like a freelance visa or a national visa for self-employment, which require a much more involved application process and proof of income, business plans, and health insurance.

What's New with German Visas?

Germany, like the rest of the Schengen zone, is slowly moving towards a more digital application process. While a full eVisa system for Germany isn't fully rolled out for all visa types yet, expect more online components for applications in the future. The Schengen visa fee for a standard short-stay visa is currently €80, though this can change. Keep an eye on the official German embassy or consulate website in your country for the most up-to-date information on application procedures, required documents, and any policy shifts. There haven't been any major overhauls to the visa-free entry rules for the core Schengen countries recently, but always check for country-specific updates before you travel.