Information on the visa application process can be found here.

Please kindly check on our consular service portal whether you can submit your application online. There you will find detailed information and you will be guided step by step through the application process.

Should your visa category do not apply for online application, application forms on paper ought to be submitted. Please note that information about required documents in this case is only provided in German and Spanish.

Note: You may also consult the website of the German embassy in your home country, as the requirements stated there will equally apply to your case..

The German Embassy in Madrid can only process your visa application if you have your habitual residence in Spain or Andorra.

Habitual residence is where someone actually lives, works or studies, i.e. where they have the center of their life. In general, habitual residence is assumed if someone has been living in one place for more than six months.

The residence permit and/or an official residency registration alone do not prove habitual residence. Therefore, in cases of doubt, you may be asked to submit further documents such as an employment contract, water/electricity/gas bills or bank statements.

Yes, this is possible. However, the German embassy can only accept your application if you can prove that your habitual residence is in Spain.

Habitual residence is where someone actually lives, works or studies, i.e. where they have the center of their life. In general, habitual residence is assumed if someone has been living in one place for more than six months.

Documents that can prove your habitual residence can be a rental contract, bank statements, an employment contract, water/electricity/gas bills etc.

In principal, for any kind of employment a visa is obligatory.

Exceptions might apply for employments of up to 90 days, e.g. for internships or artistic performances. Please contact us for assessing your individual case.

For employments of more than 90 days following exceptions apply:

1. EU nationals, nationals of the European Economic Area and nationals of Switzerland do not require a visa.

2. Nationals of the following countries also do not require a visa on entry and may apply for a residence permit at the corresponing immigration office in Germany:

• Australia
• Israel
• Japan
• Canada
• New Zealand
• Republic of Korea
• United States of America
• United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Due to the long waiting times for appointments at the immigration authorities in Germany, it may nevertheless be advisable for the above-mentioned nationals to apply for a visa before entering Germany as employment cannot be taken up before a German residence permit has been granted. Therefore, please enquire about the processing times at the correspondent imigration office before entering Germany. If you wish to start working immediately after arrival in Germany, you must apply for a visa before entering the country.

A visa is obligatory for any stay of more than 90 days. Thus, it must have been granted before your relocation to Germany.

More information and exceptions are stated here.

If you have a valid Spanish residence permit „régimen comunitario - familiar ciudadano de la Unión“, you may enter Germany without a visa given that the EU citizen to whom your residence permit relates (spouse, child) is already located in Germany or that you are relocating together.

Find more information here.

If you already have a Spanish residence permit for study or research purposes, you may enter Germany for the same purpose under the EU mobility programme. Please find the corresponding requirements under following links:

Students
Researchers

If you do not fulfil the requirements, you must apply for a visa.

You may travel to Germany with the purpose of completing an internship without a visa if:

• Your passport and Spanish residence permit are valid for the entire duration of your stay,
• Your stay in Germany is no longer than 90 days,
• Your internship is a compulsory part of your degree programme and
• you have the prior approval of the Federal Employment Agency or your internship is supported by an Erasmus grant from the European Union.

If just one detail of the above mentioned does not apply to you, you will need a visa.

Applying for a research visa is only an option if you have a university degree that grants you access to a doctoral programme. Usually, this requires a Master's degree. Thus, applying for a research visa during your master programme is not possible .

If you have an employment contract as a highly skilled worker, you may apply for a visa to work as a highly skilled worker with university degree. Please apply via our online portal.

If you have an employment contract as a research assistant but do not yet have a university degree, you may apply for a visa for employment.

If your have an internship contract, you may be eligible for a visa for a study-related internship. In this case, your employer must contact the Federal Employment Agency and obtain their approval. Applying for a visa is only possible after this agreement has been obtained.

If it is your plan to work on your thesis in Germany without getting a job, a visa is not required. You may stay in Germany for up to 90 days in a 180-day period with your valid Spanish residence permit.

A visa cannot be granted for every type of job.

Please, first check whether you fulfil the requirements for an online application.

If that is not the case, your designated employer may contact the Federal Employment Agency and obtain preliminary approval. All relevant information can be found here.

There are many opportunities to work in Germany. Please access the search option on the Federal Government's portal for skilled workers from abroad to input your desired job title and view the opportunities available. It is available in numerous languages.

After a visa application has been rejected, you have two options:

1. You may submit a new visa application at any time, which will be subject to the usual fee.

For this new visa application, you will again have to present all relevant documents and documentary proof. The application will be reviewed neutrally on the basis of the current legal situation.

2. You may appeal against the visa rejection by filing an action with the Administrative Court in Berlin at your own expense.

You can appoint a lawyer for this purpose. However, there is no obligation to do so. It should be noted that separate lawyers’ fees may be incurred.

The court fees will be determined by the court. They will be based on the number of requested visas.

Further information is available on the website of the Administrative Court in Berlin.

Information on legal action

Once you have been informed that your visa application has been rejected, you may file an action with the Administrative Court in Berlin.

Information regarding legal remedies can be found on your visa rejection notice. Please refer to this information regarding legal remedies, which is binding, for further details.

Normally, the deadline for filing an action is one (1) month from the date on which the respective notice is deemed served.

Furthermore, we would like to point out that the official language of the court is German (section 184 of the Courts Constitution Act – Gerichtsverfassungsgesetz)

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide any information on the duration of court proceedings. The court determines the exact duration of the proceedings and how they are conducted.

This overview is for your information only. It is not binding and does not claim to be complete. If necessary, please ensure that you do your own research on the information presented here.​​​​​​​

If you have stayed in Germany without the required visa or residence permit, the responsible immigration authority can ask you to leave the country and request formal proof of you having left the country in form of a border crossing certificate.

The embassy certifies on the foreigners authority's form that you have left Germany and presented yourself at the embassy in Madrid. Please note that children may also have to appear in person. The certificate is issued free of charge.

Which documents must be presented?

• Valid passport,
• valid Spanish residence permit (applications for extension are not sufficient),
• travel documents (flight tickets etc.) proving the date of your departure from Germany and
• original border crossing certificate form from the foreigners authority (Grenzübertrittsbescheinigung).

Opening hours to obtain a border crossing certificate are Mondays to Wednesdays between 11:30 and 12:00 o' clock without previous appointment.

Applications for asylum cannot be submitted at the German embassy in Madrid.

Information on the asylum procedure can be found here.

You may apply for a „Working Holiday“ visa in person at the German Embassy in Madrid.

With few exceptions, you do not need a Spanish residence permit in order to apply for this type of visa.

Please find all the information about requirements and necessary documents on our website.

For some residence purposes, e.g. for studying, a language course or the „Chancenkarte“, you must prove that you have sufficient funds to cover your living expenses during your stay in Germany. For this purpose, we recommend opening up a blocked bank account.

Information about the blocked bank account can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.

Alternatively, a person residing in Germany may submit a „formal obligation form“ for your stay. To do so, this person must contact the Foreigners' Registration Office at their place of residence.