German Passport Visa-Free Countries
About travel with a German passport
German citizens are lucky to have one of the most-wanted passports in the world. As per the Henley passport index, Germany ranks 2nd, the highest result of all the European Union member states.
There are 163 German passport visa-free countries available. Only Japan and Singapore offer more visa-free countries to their citizens.
German passport holders have visa-free access to Schengen area countries, Canada, Thailand, and many others.
If you are a citizen of Germany and are interested in visa-free traveling, please read the information below.
German citizens can enjoy an unforgettable time with visa-free travel
Traveling to other countries with only a German passport can be a great way to explore other cultures and the local customs of people living in different countries. With less time spent on paperwork, you can find a moment to learn about your travel destination and its inhabitants.
Having complete information about the place you want to visit makes you more likely to have an unforgettable time there. So if you're looking for an easy way to travel without a stressful visa application process, consider visa-free travel. It's an excellent option for any traveler.
How to apply for a German passport
Only German citizens may apply for a German passport.
To apply for the passport, you should make an appointment at your municipality's citizens' office (Bürgeramt). The official will take fingerprints from your right and left hand and check necessary documents (an ID card, an expired passport, naturalization certificate) and photographs.
Applying in other municipalities is also possible, but that could require additional payment.
Please note that children up to 12 years old don't have to apply for a passport and choose a cheaper and quicker option - a Kinderpass. The document allows children to travel to many foreign destinations. Unfortunately, some countries don't accept the Kinderpass, so it is better to ensure that entering the chosen country is possible with only the Kinderpass.
The passport fee will differ depending on factors like age, location, or whether the application process is regular or express.
What are the benefits of visa-free countries for German passport holders?
Getting to a visa-free country is much easier than to a country with a visa requirement. You do not stand in long lines at embassies or spend money on numerous visits to apply for a visa.
Moreover, you cross borders of other countries with the minimum necessary documents. It certainly improves the travel experience.
163 countries where German passport holders don't need a visa
German passport visa-free countries
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Denmark
- Albania
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Eswatini
- Fiji
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Indonesia
- Israel
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kiribati
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lesotho
- Malaysia
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Namibia
- Nicaragua
- North Macedonia
- Oman
- Palau
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Tuvalu
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Brest and Grodno
- Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
- Faroe Islands
- Gibraltar
- Guernsey
- Isle of Man
- Jersey
- Kosovo
- Transnistria
- Canary Islands
- Madeira
- Mayotte
- Réunion
- Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
- Hainan
- Hong Kong
- Kish Island
- Macao
- Sabah and Sarawak
- Palestine
- Taiwan
- Açores
- Anguilla
- Aruba
- Bermuda
- Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Curacao
- Greenland
- Guadeloupe
- Margarita Island
- Montserrat
- Puerto Rico
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Sint Maarten
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Cook Islands
- New Caledonia
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Pitcairn Islands
- French Polynesia
- Wallis and Futuna
- French Guiana
- Falkland Islands
German citizens can visit 41 countries with electronic visas and 35 with on-arrival visas.
Visa on arrival countries
- Papua New Guinea
- Bahrain
- Benin
- Cambodia
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kuwait
- Laos
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Myanmar
- Rwanda
- Saudi Arabia
- Sierra Leone
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- Bangladesh
- Burkina Faso
- Comoros
- Iraq
- Lebanon
- Maldives
- Mauritania
- Mozambique
- Nepal
- Somalia
- Togo
- Jordan
- Somaliland
- Iraqi Kurdistan
- Niue
Electronic visa countries
- Suriname
- New Zealand
- South Sudan
- Grenada
- South Korea
- Sri Lanka
- Angola
- Azerbaijan
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Djibouti
- Guinea
- India
- Iran
- Kenya
- Nigeria
- Russia
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Bahrain
- Benin
- Cambodia
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kuwait
- Laos
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Myanmar
- Rwanda
- Saudi Arabia
- Sierra Leone
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- Australia
- Republic of Crimea
- Ascension Island
- American Samoa
FAQ
How to check if your destination is a visa-free country?
To ensure your travel destination does not require a visa, you can go to an embassy or consulate of a chosen country and ask for a list of places you can travel to without a visa. You can also visit the embassy website and look for such a list.
What to do if your destination is not a visa-free country?
To enter a country with a visa requirement, you must apply for a visa before your trip. The application process can take a while, so you should consider this when buying tickets or booking a hotel.
You are lucky if your destination country accepts electronic visas or visas on arrival. Application for these types of visas is quick and straightforward.
Tips for preparing for travel to non-visa-free countries
Handling paperwork is a part of travel preparation. If the country you intend to visit requires a visa, you must reserve more time for formalities. Make sure your passport is valid and check the visa application step-by-step process. Collect necessary documents, fill in a form and cover a visa fee.
The time of approval will depend on the country and application method. Online visas can be approved within hours, and paper visas within days and weeks.
Does a traveler need to research the visa requirements of each country before a trip?
When arranging trips to other countries, you should remember that specific entry rules apply to some countires, and others don't. Thus it is necessary to learn about different visa requirements initially. It will reduce unnecessary stress and complications when arriving in the chosen country.
