Germany Reciprocity Schedule


Visa Classification Fee Number of Applications Validity Period
A-1 None Multiple 60 Months
A-2 None Multiple 60 Months
A-3 [1] None Multiple 12 Months
B-1 None Multiple 120 Months
B-2 None Multiple 120 Months
B-1/B-2 None Multiple 120 Months
C-1 None Multiple 120 Months
C-1/D None Multiple 120 Months
C-2 None Multiple 12 Months
C-3 None Multiple 60 Months
D None Multiple 120 Months
E-1 [2] None Multiple 60 Months
E-2 [2] None Multiple 60 Months
F-1 None Multiple 60 Months
F-2 None Multiple 60 Months
G-1 None Multiple 60 Months
G-2 None Multiple 60 Months
G-3 None Multiple 60 Months
G-4 None Multiple 60 Months
G-5 [1] None Multiple 12 Months
H-1B None Multiple 60 Months [3]
H-1C None Multiple 60 Months [3]
H-2A None Multiple 60 Months [3]
H-2B None Multiple 60 Months [3]
H-2R None Multiple 60 Months [3]
H-3 None Multiple 60 Months [3]
H-4 None Multiple 60 Months [3]
I None Multiple 60 Months
J-1 [4] None Multiple 60 Months
J-2 [4] None Multiple 60 Months
K-1 None One 6 Months
K-2 None One 6 Months
K-3 None Multiple 24 Months
K-4 None Multiple 24 Months
L-1 None Multiple 60 Months [3]
L-2 None Multiple 60 Months [3]
M-1 None Multiple 60 Months
M-2 None Multiple 60 Months
N-8 None Multiple 60 Months
N-9 None Multiple 60 Months
NATO 1-7 None Multiple 60 Months
O-1 None Multiple 60 Months [3]
O-2 None Multiple 60 Months [3]
O-3 None Multiple 60 Months [3]
P-1 None Multiple 60 Months [3]
P-2 None Multiple 60 Months [3]
P-3 None Multiple 60 Months [3]
P-4 None Multiple 60 Months [3]
Q-1 [6] None Multiple 15 Months [3]
R-1 None Multiple 60 Months
R-2 None Multiple 60 Months
S-5 [7] None One 1 Month
S-6 [7] None One 1 Month
S-7 [7] None One 1 Month
T-1 [9] N/A N/A N/A
T-2 None One 6 Months
T-3 None One 6 Months
T-4 None One 6 Months
T-5 None One 6 Months
TD [5] N/A N/A N/A
V-1 None Multiple 120 Months
V-2 None Multiple 120 Months [8]
V-3 None Multiple 120 Months [8]

Note: The euro/dollar rate for Consular fees is set by Embassy Paris for all posts in countries where the euro is used. Please check the Embassy Paris Intranet site to obtain the latest rate. Do not use the daily market rate or any other rate.

Documents

Birth, Marriage, and Death Certificates

Such certificates are available from the local registrar’s office (Standesamt) where the birth, marriage, or death occurred. For the former East Germany, this applies only to those civil status cases that occurred after October 2, 1990. For events occurring prior to this date, documents from this part of Germany are issued by the district office where the event occurred.

A registrar’s office charges a fee for each certificate and for any additional copy as well. The same amount is charged for certificates issued on an “international” form. The requested certificates are usually mailed out by the registrar’s office with the fees being collected on delivery. The applicant may enclose a self-addressed and stamped return envelope and use German postage stamps or a collection-only cheque for payment.

Civil status certificates from former German areas east of Oder and Neisse (boundaries of 1938), now belonging to Poland or Russia, are difficult and sometimes impossible to obtain. After World War II, a number of these documents were returned to Germany. Information regarding these documents can sometimes be requested from local registrars’ offices. More detailed information pertaining to these documents can be obtained at the Standesamt I in Berlin, Rueckerstr. 9, 10119 Berlin.

The following substitutes may be used for unavailable personal documents:

  1. The Familienstammbuch which some German families maintain. Births, marriages and deaths are entered in such books, and officially certified at the time of the event;
  2. Extracts from church books and parish registers. Access to or copies of these books can be requested from the following archive offices:Evangelische Kirchenbuecher:

    Evangelisches Zentralarchiv
    Kirchenbuchstelle
    Jebensstr. 3
    10623 Berlin

    Katholische Kirchenbuecher:
    Bischoefliches Zentralarchiv
    St. Petersweg 11-13
    93047 Regensburg

    If the desired documents cannot be obtained, these archive offices will furnish a negative response (Negativbescheinigung). In such cases, it is generally recommended that the document-seeker apply for a Familienbuch under the provisions of section 15a of the German Law on Civil Status (Personenstandsgesetz), which is maintained by the civil registrar having jurisdiction over the family’s place of residence. The civil registrar issues extracts or copies from this book that are fully recognized as formal certificates of birth, death, or marriage.

Police Records

(Fuehrungszeugnis) Available.

Each person over the age of fourteen may obtain an individual certificate of conduct. The application can be made verbally by personal appearance or in simple written form to the registration authority at the following addresses mentioned below. Former residents of Germany, no longer registered in Germany, can apply for an individual record through the German Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence, or directly with the Bundeszentralregister in Bonn. The application form is available at the German Embassy/Consulate, or directly from the Generalbundesanwalt beim Bundesgerichtshof Dienststelle Bundeszentralregister. Personal appearance: Besucherservice, Adenauerallee 99-103, 53113 Bonn. Their office hours are Mondays - Wednesdays: 7:30 – 16:00; Thursdays: 7:30 – 15:30; and Fridays 7:30 – 14:00. Written requrests may be sent to: Der Generalbundesanwalt beim Bundesgerichtshof, Dienststelle Bundeszentralregister, Sachgebiet BZR 32 - Internationale Rechtshilfe, 53094 Bonn.

The fee for every certificate of conduct is €13. Payment may be made by remission of a non-negotiable check or bank transfer to the following account of the “Bundeszentralregister” – Deutsche Bundesbank, Bonn Branch, Sortcode: 380 000 00, Account no.: 380 010 05; IBAN-No.: DE24 3800 0000 0038 001005; BIC/swift-No.: MARKDEF1380. Fees charged by banks for the redemption of a (foreign) check must be added to the fee for the certificate of conduct.

Processing time - minimum of three to four weeks. More detailed information about downloading the application form and payment of fees can be obtained directly from their website.

Court Records

Available. Court records involving criminal or civil proceedings are available from the court that has jurisdiction.

Military Records

Available. Records may be obtained from the Kreiswehrersatzamt having jurisdiction at the time of service.

Certificates of Residence

Certificates of residence, formerly Aufenthaltsbescheingung, now referred to as Auszug aus dem Melderegister, may be obtained from the registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt) of the applicant’s place of residence. There may be a fee for this service.

Note: Former residents of Germany may request personal documents from the proper German authorities in writing, or authorize residents of Germany to obtain such documents on their behalf.

Passport and Other Travel Documents

  • Biometric Passport (ePass): A Bordeaux-red, hard cover booklet with biometric chip and machine-readable zone.
  • Regular passport (Reisepass): A bordeaux-red, hard cover booklet with a machine-readable passport card.
  • Temporary passport: A green, hard cover booklet with machine-readable zone, fully acceptable, issued to individuals who urgently need a passport, but cannot wait the processing time needed to issue the ePass.
  • Diplomatic passport: A dark blue, hard cover booklet, with or without machine-readable zone.
  • Departmental passport (Ministerialpass): A black, hard cover booklet, issued to some higher federal and state officials, certain employees of the Foreign Office, other governmental employees on assignment abroad who do not qualify for diplomatic passports, as well as their spouses and children.
  • Service (official) passport (Dienstpass): A red, hard cover booklet, issued to the majority of governmental officials for official travel, with or without machine-readable zone.
  • Children’s Passport: Similar to the new temporary passport, dark red cover.
  • Children’s Travel Document in Lieu of Passport (Kinderausweis): A light-green tri-fold with or without photo, issued to children under sixteen years of age. A child may have a normal passport (Reisepass). A Kinderausweis may be issued to non-FRG citizens permanently or temporarily residing in the FRG. Nationality is noted in the document.
  • Travel Document for Recognized Refugees (Reiseausweis): A medium-blue hardcover booklet, issued in accordance with the 1951 Geneva Convention to asylees, refugees, and state- less persons who reside permanently or temporarily in the FRG. This document does not guarantee the holder an indefinite right to return to the FRG. The date until which return is guaranteed is specified in the document. (The German government also issues a Travel Document for Stateless Persons in accordance with the Geneva Convention of September 28, 1954.)
  • Alien’s Passport (Travel Document for Foreigners - Fremdenpass): A medium-gray hardcover booklet issued to persons who evidently do not possess a passport or passport substitute and for whom it is unreasonable to demand that they obtain such a document. The alien must hold an unlimited residence permit (unbefristete Aufenthaltsgenehmigung) or a so-called “Aufenthaltserlaubnis.” Possession of a limited residence permit is sufficient, if the alien is a family member of a German citizen, or if he/she is the spouse or minor child of an alien who holds an unlimited residence permit.

Special Clearance and Issuance Procedures

None.

Visa Issuing Posts

Berlin, Germany (Embassy) -- Nonimmigrant Visas only

Mailing Address:
PSC 120 Box 3000
APO AE 09265

Street Address:
Clayallee 170
14195 Berlin-Dahlem

Tel: +49 (0)30 8305-1217
Fax: +49 (0)30 831-4926

ConsBerlin@state.gov

Frankfurt, Germany (Consulate General) -- All categories, including K and E visa applications

Giessener Strasse 30
60435 Frankfurt am Main

Tel: +49-(0)69-7535-0
Fax: +49-(0)069-7535-2277

FrankfurtSpecialNIV@state.gov

Munich, Germany (Consulate General) -- Nonimmigrant Visas only

Koeniginstrasse 5
80539 Munich

Tel: 49-(0)89-2888-0
Fax: 49-(0)89-280-9998

ConsMunich@state.gov

Visa Services

All IV, E-1/E-2 and K NIV applications are serviced at Frankfurt.

Area Post
Baden-Wurttemberg Frankfurt
Bavaria Munich
Bayern Frankfurt
Berlin Berlin
Brandenburg Berlin
Bremen Berlin
Hamburg Berlin
Hessen Frankfurt
Mecklenburg-Vorpommem Berlin
Niedersachsen Berlin
Nordrhein-Westfalen Bonn and Frankfurt
Nordrhein-Westfalen (non-German applicants) Frankfurt
Rheinland-Pfalz Frankfurt
Saarland Frankfurt
Sachsen Berlin
Sachsen-Anhalt Berlin
Schleswig-Holstein Berlin
Thueringen Berlin