Every EU visa route has its own requirements, but they all sit on the same foundation. A handful of documents appear in almost every application, and some of them take far longer to prepare than the visa decision itself.
Start these early and you remove the most common cause of delay.
The basics every application needs
- A valid passport. It should be valid well beyond your planned stay, have at least two blank pages, and usually have been issued within the last ten years. If yours expires within a year, renew it first.
- Biometric photos. Germany requires 35 × 45 mm photos that meet ICAO standards. Use a professional photographer who knows the format; rejected photos are a surprisingly common problem.
- The application form, completed in full and signed. Many German missions now use the online consular services portal.
- Proof of the visa fee, usually €75 for a German national visa.
Documents that take the longest
1. Recognition of your qualification
For most work routes, and some study routes, your degree or vocational qualification must be compared with the German equivalent.
- Check your university and degree in the anabin database. If the university is listed as “H+” and the degree is listed as equivalent, you may not need a separate assessment.
- Otherwise, apply to the ZAB (Central Office for Foreign Education) for a Statement of Comparability. The fee is around €200 and it usually takes several weeks to a few months.
- For regulated professions (such as nursing, medicine, teaching or engineering titles) and vocational qualifications, recognition goes through the responsible authority or chamber. The official portal “Anerkennung in Deutschland” tells you which one.
2. Certified translations
German authorities generally expect translations by a sworn or publicly appointed translator. Translating degree certificates, transcripts and civil documents can take one to four weeks and cost from about €30 to €80 per page.
Tip: translate only what the checklist actually asks for, and get the original document legalised first if it needs it. Translating an un-apostilled document and then having to redo it is a common waste of money.
3. Apostille or legalisation
To prove a foreign public document is genuine:
- if your country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, you get an apostille from the designated authority in your country;
- if it isn’t, documents usually need legalisation through the German embassy, which can take considerably longer.
Some embassies instead verify documents themselves through a lawyer. This is common for certain countries and can take months, so check early.
4. Proof of financial means
The format depends on your route:
- Students: usually a blocked account with €11,904 for 2026. See our student visa guide.
- Opportunity Card applicants: proof of around €1,091 per month. See our Opportunity Card guide.
- Workers: your employment contract normally covers this.
- Alternatives: a formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung) from someone in Germany, or a scholarship letter.
Route-specific documents
| Route | Typical extra documents |
|---|---|
| Study | Admission letter, language certificate, APS certificate (some countries), blocked account confirmation |
| Skilled-worker visa / Blue Card | Employment contract or offer, job description, recognition statement, CV, sometimes a declaration of employment form |
| Ausbildung | Training contract, school leaving certificate, German B1 certificate, Federal Employment Agency approval |
| Opportunity Card | Qualification proof, language certificates, proof of funds, CV and motivation letter |
| Family reunification | Marriage or birth certificates, proof of accommodation, basic German (A1) in many cases |
Health insurance
Travel insurance is usually required for entry. After arrival you’ll need German statutory or private insurance. Make sure your travel policy meets the mission’s minimum cover; generic policies are often rejected.
A sensible order of work
- Check your passport validity and renew if needed.
- Check anabin and start recognition if required.
- Get apostilles or legalisation for civil and academic documents.
- Order certified translations of the legalised documents.
- Arrange proof of funds and insurance.
- Book the visa appointment, ideally while steps 2 to 5 are still running if appointment waits are long.
Common mistakes
- Submitting copies when originals are required, or vice versa. Bring both, plus extra copies.
- Translations that don’t include the apostille itself.
- Names spelled differently across documents. Fix inconsistencies before you apply, or bring an explanation.
- CVs without dates or clear job titles for work routes.
How we help
We build a document checklist for your specific route and embassy, tell you what to start first, and do a second check before anything is submitted. Start with a free consultation.
Frequently asked questions
What is an apostille and do I need one?
An apostille is a certificate that confirms a public document, such as a birth certificate or degree, is genuine. It's used between countries that have signed the Hague Apostille Convention. If your country hasn't signed it, documents usually need full legalisation through the embassy instead.
Who can make a certified translation for a German visa?
German authorities usually require translations by a sworn or publicly appointed translator (beeidigter or öffentlich bestellter Übersetzer). Some embassies also accept translations from translators accredited in your country. Check the mission's own checklist.
How long does recognition of a foreign qualification take?
A Statement of Comparability for a university degree from the ZAB typically takes several weeks to a few months. Recognition of vocational qualifications through the responsible chamber or authority can take up to four months once the file is complete.
This guide is general information, not individual legal advice. Rules and amounts change; always confirm current requirements with the responsible authority or embassy before applying.