Applying for a Visa at an Ausländerbehörde in Germany
If you want to apply for a visa after arriving in Germany, you must submit your application at your local Ausländerbehörde (immigration office). On this page, we detail who can apply for visas in Germany and what visa options are available to you. You will also find our comprehensive guides for applying for various visas at the Ausländerbehörde in Berlin.
If there is one thing that strikes fear into expats, it is visas. From completing the necessary paperwork to taking out the right insurances, securing visas is often one of the more complex aspects of moving abroad. In Germany, there are a range of different visas that you can apply for depending on whether you wish to work, study or travel.
Although our visa information is mainly tailored to expats moving to Berlin, it can also be used for visa applications made elsewhere in Germany. If applying for a visa in another part of Germany, also make sure you check if there are any additional application requirements at your local Ausländerbehörde (immigration office).
Visa guides for applying at the Ausländerbehörde in Berlin
If you already know which visa you want to apply for, then head straight to our visa guides for applying at the Ausländerbehörde (immigration office) in Berlin:
✔️ How to Apply for a Work Visa in Berlin
✔️ How to Apply for an EU Blue Card in Berlin
✔️ How to Apply for a Working Holiday Visa in Berlin
✔️ How to Apply for a Freelance Visa in Berlin
✔️ How to Apply for a Job Seekers Visa in Berlin
✔️ How to Apply for a German Language Visa in Berlin
✔️ How to Apply for a Student Visa in Berlin
✔️ How to Apply for an Au Pair Visa in Berlin
If you are unsure about whether you need to apply for a visa before or after entering Germany or you want to find out which visas you are eligible for, then read on…
Where can I apply for a visa for Germany?
🌎 Before looking at the different visa types for Germany, it is important to establish exactly who can apply for a visa at an Ausländerbehörde (immigration office) after arriving in Germany, as this is dependent on your nationality:
✅ If you are an EU citizen or a national of the EEA states of Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland, you can enter Germany with just a valid passport or ID card.
You are entitled to live and work in Germany without a visa. If you fall into this category, our visa guides are not relevant to you, although you may benefit from our other guides for Germany.
✅ If you are from Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, Israel, New Zealand, the UK, or the US, you can apply for a visa for Germany either before or after arriving in Germany.
Citizens of these countries can enter Germany visa-free for a 90-day period and then apply for a visa at an Ausländerbehörde (immigration office) in Germany. Alternatively, you can apply for a visa at a German consulate or embassy prior to arriving in Germany.
*One exception is the Working Holiday Visa for Korean citizens, which must be applied for in South Korea.
✅ If you are from Brazil, you can apply for non-work related visas in Germany.
This includes the German Language Visa and Student Visa.
✅ Citizens from all other countries not listed above must apply for a visa before entering Germany at a German embassy or consulate overseas.
You are not permitted to enter Germany without a visa. You must first be approved for a national visa by a German embassy or consulate before you can enter Germany. Follow the link for extensive guides on applying for a visa for Germany at a German embassy or consulate.
❗ If you are not eligible to apply for a visa after entering Germany, you will need to apply for your visa at a German embassy/consulate before entering Germany. To help you with this, we have also put together guides for applying for visas for Germany from overseas (i.e. at a German consulate/embassy outside of Germany).
What visa can I apply for at the Ausländerbehörde in Germany?
Now that we have established that only citizens of Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, Israel, New Zealand, the UK and the US can apply for a visa at an Ausländerbehörde (immigration office) after arriving in Germany, it is important to know exactly which visas you qualify for.
Below are some of the most visa popular options amongst expats applying for visas in Germany.
1️⃣ Work Visa
Visa length: Up to three years depending on the length of your work contract. The Work Visa can be renewed.
Age restriction: None
Main application requirements if applying in Germany:
A solid job offer and work contract from a German-based company.
German public health insurance.
Address registration (Anmeldung) in Germany.
Related resources
👍 Complete guide to applying for a Work Visa at the Ausländerbehörde in Berlin
👍 Our favourite German public health insurance for your Work Visa application
👍 Accommodation in Berlin with Anmeldung (address registration)
2️⃣ EU Blue Card for Germany
Visa length: Up to 4 years depending on the length of your work contract. The EU Blue Card for Germany can be extended.
Age restriction: None
The main application requirements if applying in Germany:
A university degree that is officially recognised in Germany.
A job offer from a German-based company with a minimum annual salary of €58,400 or a job offer from a German-based company with a minimum annual salary of €45,552 if you work in a shortage occupation.
German public health insurance.
Address registration (Anmeldung) in Germany.
Related resources
👍 Complete guide to applying for an EU Blue Card at the Ausländerbehörde in Berlin
👍 How to check if your university degree is officially recognised in Germany
👍 Our favourite German public health insurance for your EU Blue Card application
👍 Accommodation in Berlin with Anmeldung (address registration)
3️⃣ Working Holiday Visa / Youth Mobility Visa
Visa length: One year (although Canadian citizens can apply twice)
Age restriction: Only persons aged 18 – 30 (35 for Canadians) can apply for the Working Holiday Visa.
Who can apply for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany: Citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Argentina, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Israel and Chile.
Who can apply for the Working Holiday Visa at an Ausländerbehörde in Germany: Only citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan and Israel can apply for the Working Holiday Visa after arriving in Germany.
Citizens of other countries, must apply for the visa at a German embassy/consulate before arriving in Germany. See our guides for further details of how to apply for a Working Holiday Visa at a German embassy or consulate overseas.
Main application requirements if applying in Germany:
Travel/expat insurance for the full duration of the visa.
Proof of funds of at least €2000.
Address registration (Anmeldung) in Germany.
Related resource👍 Complete guide to applying for a Working Holiday Visa at the Ausländerbehörde in Berlin
👍 Our favourite expat insurance for your Working Holiday Visa application
👍 Accommodation in Berlin with Anmeldung (address registration)
👍 What you need to know about the German Working Holiday Visa
👍 Where should you apply for the Working Holiday Visa for Germany and why
4️⃣ Freelance Visa
Visa length: 1–3 years. The Freelance Visa for Germany can be renewed.
Age restriction: None
Main application requirements if applying in Germany:
At least 2–3 German-based freelance clients.
Private German health insurance or expat health insurance.
Proof of financial self-sufficiency/sustainability.
Address registration (Anmeldung) in Germany.
Related resources
👍 Complete guide to applying for a Freelance Visa at the Ausländerbehörde in Berlin
👍 Our favourite private German health insurance for your Freelance Visa application
👍 Accommodation in Berlin with Anmeldung (address registration)
5️⃣ Job Seekers Visa
Visa length: Six months
Age restriction: None
Main application requirements if applying in Germany:
A university degree that is officially recognised in Germany.
Travel/expat insurance for the full duration of the visa.
Proof of funds to show that you can support yourself throughout the 6-month visa duration.
Address registration (Anmeldung) in Germany.
Related resources
👍 Complete guide to applying for a Job Seekers Visa at the Ausländerbehörde in Berlin
👍 Our favourite travel/expat health insurance for your Job Seekers Visa application
👍 Accommodation in Berlin with Anmeldung (address registration)
6️⃣ German Language Visa
Visa length: Up to one year
Age restriction: None
Main application requirements:
A contract from a language school in Germany showing you are enrolled in an ‘intensive’ language course (i.e. at least 18 lesson hours per week).
Travel/expat health insurance for the entirety of the visa.
Proof of funds to show that you can support yourself throughout the visa duration.
Address registration (Anmeldung) in Germany.
Related resources
👍 Complete guide to applying for a German Language Visa at the Ausländerbehörde in Berlin
👍 Our favourite travel/expat health insurance for your German Language Visa application
👍 Accommodation in Berlin with Anmeldung (address registration)
7️⃣ Student Visa
Visa length: 1–2 years. The Student Visa for Germany can be renewed.
Age restriction: None
Main application requirements:
Certificate of enrollment or conditional approval for studying at a German university.
German public health insurance.
Proof of funds to show that you can support yourself throughout the visa duration.
Address registration (Anmeldung) in Germany.
Related resources
👍 Complete guide to applying for a Student Visa at the Ausländerbehörde in Berlin
👍 Our favourite German public health insurance for your Student Visa application
👍 Accommodation in Berlin with Anmeldung (address registration)
8️⃣ Au Pair Visa
Visa length: Up to one year.
Age restriction: Only persons aged 18 – 26 can apply for this visa.
Main application requirements:
An au pair contract from a host family in Germany.
Medical insurance to cover you for the duration of the visa.
Address registration (Anmeldung) in Germany.
Related resources
👍 Complete guide to applying for an Au Pair Visa at the Ausländerbehörde in Berlin
Ausländerbehörden (Immigration Offices) in Berlin
In Berlin, different visas are processed at different Ausländerbehörden (Immigration Offices). Therefore, it is important that you submit your application at the right one!
🏛️ Foreigners Office (Ausländerbehörde)
Berlin Friedrich-Krause-Ufer 24,
13353 Berlin
Germany
abh@labo.berlin.de / auslaenderbehoerde@labo.berlin.de
German immigration office responsible for processing:
🏛️ Foreigners Office (Ausländerbehörde)
Berlin Keplerstraße 2,
10589 Berlin
Germany
abh@labo.berlin.de / auslaenderbehoerde@labo.berlin.de
German immigration office responsible for processing: