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Visiting relatives/friends in Germany
Do you spend your vacation at your relatives/friends?
Visa Needed?
Entry clearance requirements are dependent on the nationality of the applicant. Citizens of many countries do not need a visa to visit Germany for stays up to 90 days within a period of 6 months. Please check our country list if you are not sure whether you need a visa.
Table of countries whose citizens require/do not require visas to enter Germany
The validity of Japanese Visa ( Residence Card ) has to last until at least three months after the intended date of departure from Germany ( also Schengen area).
Required Documents
| Required Documents Further, you must apply in person. | |
| 1 | fully completed application form (web version or only German and English versions accepted) and declaration |
| 2 | one passport photograph (strict requirements, see details) |
| 3 | return-envelope with your address For applicants at the German Consulate General in Osaka-Kobe: If you wish to receive your passport in return by mail, you can return it by takkyubin cash on delivery. In this case, please enclose a self-addressed return DIN A4 envelope. |
| 4 | National passport valid for at least 3 months after your return from the Schengen area and one copy. The passport must have at least two blank visa-pages. |
| 5 | Japanese residence card valid for at least three months after your return from the Schengen area and one copy |
| 6 | your current bank statements from the previous six months and one copy |
| 7 | confirmation letter from your health insurance for trips outside Japan and one copy
(for details see here)
PDF / 200 KB
|
| 8 | reference letter from your employer or (one original and one copy) -if you are a student = student confirmation of the university;--if you are the owner of a company = original of the commercial registration and your last come taxpayment receipt; --if you are a housewife/househusband = job letter of your husband/wife |
| 9 | letter of guarantee (Verpflichtungserklärung – to be obtained at the German Alien Authority in the place of residence of the inviter) and one copy and one passport copy and photocopy of residence permit (if applicable) from the host in Germany |
| 10 | airline reservation and one copy |
| 11 | visa fees (90 EUR, payable in Japanese yen according to the official exchange rate on the date of application) |
Please note: In individual cases, you may be required to provide additional documents.
Processing time
It is essential to allow yourself sufficient time when applying for a visa. The process may take up to 2 week, sometimes even longer.
Afghanistan*, Bahrain*, Bangladesh*, Belarus, Colombia*, Egypt*, Indonesia*, Iran*, Iraq*, Jordan*, Kazakhstan*, Kuwait*, Lebanon*, Libya*, Morocco, Nigeria*, North Korea*, Oman*, Pakistan*, Qatar*, the Philippines*, Saudi-Arabia*, Somalia*, Sudan*, Surinam*, Syria*, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates*, Uzbekistan*, Vietnam*, Yemen*, as well as Palestinians*, stateless persons* and refugees holding travel documents issued by one of the listed countries*.
*It takes about TWO TO THREE WEEKS to process visa applications of citizens of these countries.
Where to apply for a Schengen Visa
If you wish to visit only one of the Schengen countries, you must apply at the embassy/consulate of that country. If you wish to visit more than one of the Schengen countries, you must apply at the embassy/consulate of the country which is your main destination. If you do not have a main destination, you must apply at the embassy/consulate of the country which you will travel to first. The visa shall be applied for in the country where you reside legally.
