1. Processing of visa applications

As a rule, entry from Zambia is not possible due to existing entry restrictions. Visas can currently only be issued in the specific exceptional cases listed below:

• Healthcare professionals, health researchers and elderly care professionals;
• Transport personnel employed in the movement of goods; other transport staff;

• Seasonal workers in agriculture;
  

• Sailors who need to travel through Germany to reach a port from which their ship is sailing or an airport to return to a third country;

• Temporary visits in the following cases:
  - Visits by members of the so-called nuclear family (i.e. spouses, registered partners, minor children and parents of minor children) of German citizens, EU citizens, citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland or the United Kingdom or of third-country nationals with a valid residence permit for Germany, together with the nuclear family or alone. In cases in which the spouse or registered partner is a German or EU citizen or a citizen of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland or the United Kingdom, visits are possible regardless of whether the spouse or registered partner is permanently resident in Germany or abroad.
  - only for imperative family reasons (births, marriages, deaths/funerals or other specific exceptional cases where there is an imperative family reason):
  Visits by first and second-degree relatives who do not belong to the “nuclear family” (i.e. children over the age of majority, parents of children over the age of majority, siblings and grandparents) of German citizens, EU citizens, citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland or the United Kingdom or third-country nationals with a valid residence permit for Germany.
  - Visits by the third-country partner to a non-married/non-registered partner in Germany. The partner issuing the invitation must be a German citizen, a citizen of another EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland or the United Kingdom or a third-country national with a long-term residence permit for Germany.
  a. It is conditional on the relationship/partnership being long term, i.e. intended to be lasting and both partners having met in person in Germany at least once or until recently having had a joint place of residence abroad.
  b. Appropriate documentation must be provided as proof:
  a written invitation from the person resident in Germany (including a copy of ID papers), a declaration by both partners on the nature of the relationship () and proof of prior meetings in person (specifically in the form of passport stamps or travel documentation/airline tickets or proof of a joint place of residence abroad (e.g. residence registration certificate)). Supplementary proof can be provided in the form of documentation such as photos, social media, letters and email correspondence.
  - Where there are urgent reasons:
  Joint visits by unmarried couples from abroad (e.g. wedding, illness or funeral of close relatives). One of the partners must be a German citizen or a citizen of another EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland or the United Kingdom.
  a. It is conditional on the relationship/partnership being long term, i.e. intended to be lasting and on both partners having a joint place of residence abroad.
  b. Appropriate documentation must be provided as proof:
  written explanation of the urgent reason for the joint entry, a declaration by both partners on the nature of the relationship (for the joint entry) as well as proof of the existing relationship, particularly proof of a joint place of residence abroad (e.g. residence registration certificate)). Supplementary proof can be provided in the form of photos, social media, letters and email correspondence.
  

• Diplomats, staff of international organisations, military personnel, humanitarian aid workers in the exercise of their functions;

• Passengers in transit;

  Third-country nationals should enter the country of destination directly as a rule. The entry of third-country nationals into Germany (as a country of transit) for transit to another EU member state, Schengen country or the United Kingdom (country of destination) is permitted, however, if the following conditions are met:

  a. The stay in Germany (as a country of transit) is limited to the duration required for direct transit to the country of destination (or, if applicable, another country of transit);

  b. The third-country national is allowed to enter the country of destination (or, if applicable, another country of transit) in accordance with Annex I or II of the Council Recommendation of 30 June 2020 or an individual confirmation of the granting of entry issued by the country of destination.

  Under these conditions, entry by air and onward travel to the country of destination by land are also permitted.

  Third-country nationals must provide prima facie evidence for the aforementioned conditions on entry. In particular, tickets, flight tickets, etc. can be presented in order to provide prima facie evidence for scenario a. In order to provide prima facie evidence for scenario b., a current printout of the national regulations of the country of destination for the implementation of Annex I of the Council Recommendation can be submitted, demonstrating that no proof of the reason for travel is required from residents of certain countries in the country of destination. In other cases, prima facie evidence for the urgent need for entry in accordance with Annex II of the Council Recommendation must be provided. In this case, the German border officials will only check the entry regulations applicable to Germany. Alternatively, an exemption from travel restrictions certified by the competent authorities of the country of destination or a preliminary approval for entry may be presented.
  

• Persons in need of international protection or protection for other humanitarian reasons, including urgent medical reasons;

• Applications for family reunification. If entry into Germany for a permanent stay is possible due to one of the exceptions listed here, it is also possible for family members to enter Germany at the same time (e.g. the spouse and minor children of a skilled worker can enter Germany together with the skilled worker).
  

• Applications from skilled workers and highly qualified workers from the following categories:
  - skilled workers with a concrete job offer in accordance with the legal definition (sections 18 (3), 18a, 18b of the Residence Act), as evidenced by the declaration of employment
  

  - scientists/researchers (sections 18d, 18e and 18f of the Residence Act, as well as section 19c (1) of the Residence Act in conjunction with section 5 of the Ordinance on the Admission of Newly-Arrived Foreigners for the Purpose of Taking up Employment)
  - secondments (section 19c (1) in conjunction with section 10 of the Ordinance on the Admission of Newly-Arrived Foreigners for the Purpose of Taking up Employment) and in company transfers (ICT) restricted to managers and specialists (sections 19 (2), 19b of the Residence Act)
  - managers and company specialists (section 19c (1) in conjunction with section 3 of the Ordinance on the Admission of Newly-Arrived Foreigners for the Purpose of Taking up Employment)
  - Professional sportspeople and professional e-sportspeople for participation in competitions, international sports events or participation in German clubs (section 19c (1) of the Residence Act in conjunction with section 22 (1), section 22 (4), section 22 (5) or section 23 (2) of the Ordinance on the Admission of Newly-Arrived Foreigners for the Purpose of Taking up Employment)
  

  - IT specialists (section 19c (2) of the Residence Act in conjunction with section 6 of the Ordinance on the Admission of Newly-Arrived Foreigners for the Purpose of Taking up Employment)
  - employment in particular public interest (section 19c (3) of the Residence Act)
  - business travellers, if they fulfil the requirements of section 16 (2) of the Ordinance on the Admission of Newly-Arrived Foreigners for the Purpose of Taking up Employment, or to attend trade fairs.
  - self-employed persons (section 21 of the Residence Act)
  

  The prerequisite for entry as a skilled worker or highly qualified employee is proof of an obligation to be present in Germany (e.g. employment contract) and prima facie evidence that employment is necessary from an economic perspective and that the work cannot be postponed or carried out from abroad (by presentation of verification from the employer/contractor). Economic necessity refers to economic relations and/or Germany’s economy or that of the single market.
  

  Relevant documentation must be presented in the course of the visa application process (if there is a visa requirement), carried during the trip and, if necessary, presented to border control personnel.
  

  The following applies to foreign skilled workers and highly qualified employees who (a) can enter the country also for a long-term stay without a visa in accordance with section 41 (1) of the Ordinance Governing Residence, but (b) are not nationals of a country that is on the positive list: If these persons do not apply for a visa for the direct commencement of their gainful employment at the German mission abroad, but acquire their residence permit only once in Germany, they may, in order to facilitate travel, have the existing option for entry and the urgency of their entry confirmed by the German mission abroad responsible for them on presentation of an appropriate certificate from their employer. The employer’s certificate must contain a job description for their employment. In the case of researchers/scientists, the economic necessity of such activities is usually assumed to be a given if the research activity is taken up at a recognised research institution.
  The prerequisite for the entry of self-employed and employed business travellers is that they can provide sufficient evidence that it is absolutely necessary for them to enter Germany even taking the pandemic situation into account. A on the absolute necessity for a business trip at short notice personally signed by the business partner or employer in Germany is required as prima facie evidence. A declaration by a business partner or employer in the sending State (third country) is not sufficient by itself.
  The following documents are required as prima facie evidence of the absolute necessity of entry by business travellers to attend trade fairs: For trade fair exhibitors, confirmation of participation by the trade fair organiser; for trade fair visitors, the ticket for the trade fair as well as confirmation by at least one trade fair exhibitor of an appointment for a business meeting at the trade fair.
  

• Students whose studies cannot be performed entirely from outside Germany. This exemption applies to all those who have a notification of admission (even if preceded by a language course or an internship). It does not, however, apply to university applicants and those who wish to travel to Germany for a language course and then look around for a course of study (isolated language course). Documents must also be presented to border control personnel.
  

• Apprentices who are completing a qualified training course. This must be a training course for a state-recognised or similarly accredited training occupation with a planned duration of at least two years (a preparatory language course is also possible). A prerequisite is submission of confirmation from the training provider that it is necessary for them to enter Germany even taking the current pandemic situation into account (actual, not merely online presence).
  

• Participants in additional training opportunities with the goal of having vocational training courses completed abroad recognised. Here, too, confirmation is required from the training provider that it is necessary for them to enter Germany even taking the current pandemic situation into account (actual, not merely online presence).

• School pupils who attend a school for a period of at least six months (possibly with a prior language course if proof of school registration is provided at the beginning of the language course). Here, too, confirmation is required from the training provider that it is necessary for them to enter Germany even taking the current pandemic situation into account (actual, not merely online presence).
  

2. Simplified procedure for new visas

I. National visa (for long stays; D visa)

Issue of national visas under a simplified procedure is currently not possible.

II. Schengen visa (for short stays of up to 90 days; C visa)

It is not possible at present to issue a new Schengen visa (stays of up to 90 days within a period of 180 days) under the simplified procedure.