Length of Stay

• Germany is a member of the Schengen Agreement. In its simplest form, the agreement eradicates all border controls between European countries. For those eligible, entrance into one Schengen country permits free travel between all 25 for a period of up to 90 days. Eligibility extends to but is not necessarily limited to citizens of the 24 other Schengen countries, the United States and Canada. For those who are not citizens of these countries, a visa may be required and additional restrictions may apply.
  
  

Purpose of Visit

• Even those who are permitted to enter Germany visa-free for the purposes of business or tourism in accordance with the Schengen agreement must apply and be approved for a visa if they intend to travel for other reasons. For the individual who wishes to work or study in Germany, the length of stay is irrelevant -- a visa must be applied for. For citizens of countries like Bangladesh, China, Cuba or Thailand, a visa is required for entrance to Germany regardless of the purpose of the visit.
  
  

Passport

• Any foreigner interested in traveling to Germany must present a passport as proof of citizenship for entry. The passport must be undamaged, have two to four blank visa pages and not expire before the end of the trip. Ideally, however, a passport should remain unexpired for six months past the date of return travel, especially if when traveling to Germany you plan on connecting in other countries. For those who do not have sufficient pages in their passport, allow enough time to order and receive more. U.S. citizens can apply for additional pages by submitting form DS-4085, Application for Additional Visa Pages, to the U.S. Department of State. U.S. passport applications are typically processed in four to six weeks.
  
  

Visa

• Applications for a visa must be processed directly by a German consulate or embassy. There are seven types of visas issued by the German government. It is important to consult with the German consulate for information concerning the appropriate visa. When submitting a visa application, the type and amount of supporting materials will vary depending on which visa is necessary. For example, a student visa will require a visa application, the appropriate fees, evidence of sufficient funds for the duration of your visit, a driver's license or utility bill in your name and a letter of acceptance from a German university. For employment, you'll need an employment contract or letter of intent from your future employer and a U.S. police certificate of good conduct in lieu of a letter of acceptance.