When it comes to visa processing in Germany, how long it takes really depends on two things: 1) The consulate you send your documents to for review and 2) What day of the week they are working.
The first thing that can make or break the time frame is which consulate you go to. Some may take longer than others due to various reasons like workload or timing. This is not usually known until after you apply so be aware of this before you spend all that money and effort applying!
The second factor that makes difference in process times is what day of the week the consulate is working.
The second step is to have the visa department process your documents. This means they will need to check that all of your documents are authentic as well as make sure there are no missing or broken pieces.
Once this has been completed we can move onto phase three which is receiving the visa at the airport! This takes anywhere from one day to a week depending on how busy their schedule is.
We cannot influence the timing of when someone receives their visa but what we can do is tell you how long it usually takes for us to receive word back!
So once again, stay tuned for more information! And if you’re looking to begin your search for a new home in Germany soon then why not look into buying or renting a property with our help? We have many resources available including tips on how to buy real estate in Germany efficiently.
Now, let’s talk about what happens next. When your application is received at the embassy or consular office, they will process it immediately!
Most embassies have their own timelines for processing visas – some are faster than others. Some take only days to weeks, while others can be much longer. This depends mostly on how many applications there are in comparison to the size of the visa section and staff availability.
General tips: if you need to know when your visa might be ready, just keep checking back with this article and our other articles! We also publish an article every month that gives you more tips for traveling abroad.
And don’t worry, we tell you exactly where you can check for status updates and timesframes so you’re never left waiting or confused.
Many people assume that once your application is complete, you can go about your business and start planning for your next vacation. This isn’t true!
Even after an approval has been received, there’s still one more step before getting a visa – applying for it at the consulate. This process can take anywhere from a few days to weeks depending on how many documents are involved and whether or not they have to be scanned or mailed in.
It’s important to remember that even though you might feel like you’re on top of everything else, traveling while waiting for your visa to come through could also pose some difficulties. For example, most countries require two months’ worth of proof of health coverage (medical records and insurance cards) as well as evidence of sufficient funds to cover your stay.
On average, we see processing times around 10-15 working days which really adds up when you think about it. That means if you apply in January, you’ll probably find out that you don’t have visas until May or June. So what do you do during this time? You could put extra pressure on yourself and experience stress related symptoms, or you could simply wait it out.
There are several ways to manage your stress during this period, including: practicing relaxation techniques, staying busy, avoiding media reports and updates about delayed passports, and trying to forget about the process altogether.
After all of your documents are verified, you will be given an appointment time at your country’s nearest consulate to update your passport. This can take anywhere from one day to several weeks depending on how many people work for the embassy or consulate in Germany.
Once this is done, you will receive confirmation via email and/or fax stating that your passport has been updated and what days you can travel as well as if there were any issues found while processing your paperwork!
This whole process takes around two months, but it does not need to take that long – unless something goes wrong.
This is one of the most tedious parts as it can take hours depending on how many people work for the consulate or embassy.
The consular officer will have to verify that you are indeed living in Germany at the time of application, and ensure that there are no warrants or violations of probation anywhere in the world!
This includes checking criminal records, court documents and even speaking to your employer about possible relocation.
Once this has been verified then they will issue you with an entry permit which is usually valid for 6 months- a year! You would need to come back every six months for another visa extension if you wish to stay longer than a year.
After submitting all documents and fees, you will be told that your application is being processed and an appointment has been set with the consulate or embassy in Germany where you want to visit.
This process can take anywhere from one day to several weeks depending on how many applications there are at any given time.
It’s important to remember that while it may feel like nothing is happening, someone out of sight is working hard behind the scenes to ensure that you have what you need to travel to Europe!
Once again, our experienced team members are here to help you along the way so don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you ever need assistance breaking down the process or figuring out next steps. We’re always happy to lend you a hand.
The eighth step is to pay the visa application processing fee. This varies depending on whether you are applying for a business or tourist visit. For most people, this is the trickiest part of the process!
Business visas typically have higher fees than tourism visas. This is because they require more documents and records being verified, which takes time. Consult our article about how to apply for a business visa in Germany to know more about the differences between work visa types.
For example, working as an English teacher usually requires a student visa instead of a work visa. A student visa only costs around 1,500 EUR (about $1,600 USD) while a work visa can be twice that price.
So even though a work visa is longer, it also carries a much higher cost — making it less practical if you’re paid per hour. We recommend studying online before heading into the consulate with no preparation!
We will go over some helpful tips for staying organized along the way, but remember, there is no guarantee your applications will get approved once they reach the consulate. You could spend hours waiting for a response due to unexpected delays.
The next step is to determine if this visa is actually valid for international travel. This is determined by checking whether you have enough money to make the trip!
If you do not have enough funds to cover your expenses, then you will not be able to leave the country with this visa. You can return home without spending any more money however, as you already spent money to come here.
You should always check online about how much money you need to spend to stay in a foreign country before leaving. Some sites offer free estimates of how much money you have left after budgeting for costs.
