Visa questions
Each foreign citizen who is not a citizen of the EU (European Union), the EEA (European Economic Area), Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland and the USA requires an entry visa if he/she wants to stay longer than three months in the Federal Republic of Germany or would like to engage in gainful employment.
The same applies to nationals of Andorra, Honduras, Monaco and San Marino, who do not want to engage in any gainful employment other than that provided for in Sect. 17 para. 2 of the German Residence Ordinance. EU member countries are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the UK and Cyprus. In addition to the EU countries, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein also belong to the European Economic Area (EEA). At the moment, some restrictions on free movement still apply to Croatian citizens. This means in particular that Croatian citizens in principle need an EU work permit, initially from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2015, to take up employment in Germany, which they must apply for at Central International Placement Services (ZAV) before taking up employment.
The German consular services abroad are responsible for issuing the visas in your homeland. The Reasons for entering the Federal Republic of Germany are examined by the German consular services. You cannot enter the Federal Republic of Germany until this preliminary examination has been completed and a visa has been issued. More detailed information is available on the Internet at www.auswaertiges-amt.de
What are the advantages of the Schengen Agreement for third-country nationals?
Since 26 March 1995, so-called third-country nationals (nationals from countries outside the European Union) who reside in a Schengen country (Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, the Czech Republic and Hungary) and have a valid residence permit and passport are free to enter other Schengen countries without a visa as tourists and stay there for up to 90 days within six months. Holders of a Schengen visa who have legally entered the territory of one of the Schengen countries can freely move within the territory of all Schengen countries during the time the visa is valid. Until now, the EU member states Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia apply the Schengen acquis only partially. Until the time the Schengen acquis is fully applied, which these three countries aim for, controls at their internal borders are still in effect for the time being.