🇩🇪 Germany · Type D
Germany long-stay visa documents — Germany national visa (D) leading to Aufenthaltserlaubnis.
Germany issues the national D visa as an entry document. After arrival you must register your address (Anmeldung) within 14 days and convert the visa into a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) at the local Ausländerbehörde.
Start your long-stay kit — $49Type D kit · flat fee · monthly stay plan included
Which long-stay category applies to you?
- EU Blue Card
University graduates with a qualifying German job offer
Financial means: €50,700/year (standard) or €45,934/year (shortage occupations), gross- Recognised degree (anabin) and a binding employment contract.
- Skilled Worker / Fachkräfte
Recognised vocational qualification with a German job offer
- Pre-approval from the Bundesagentur für Arbeit where applicable.
- Job Seeker visa
Looking for qualified employment in Germany (6-month visa)
- Cannot work during the search beyond limited trial activities.
- Freelancer / Freiberufler
Self-employed in liberal professions (IT, design, journalism, etc.)
- Letters of intent from German clients strengthen the file.
- Student(Studienvisum)
Accepted by a German university or Studienkolleg
Financial means: Blocked account (Sperrkonto): €11,904/year (2026), ≈ €992/month - Family reunification
Spouse, registered partner or minor child of a German resident
- Basic German (A1) usually required for spouses.
Core requirements at the consulate
The list below is the baseline every Germany consulate expects. Sub-types add documents (employment contract, lease, bank statements, etc.).
| Passport validity | ≥ 1 year beyond entry, 2 blank pages |
|---|---|
| Photos | 2 biometric photos to German standards |
| Insurance | Statutory or comparable private health insurance from day one |
| Accommodation | Lease (Mietvertrag) or host declaration (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) |
| Means | Employment contract, Sperrkonto, or freelance income evidence |
| Qualifications | Anabin recognition or notarised certificates as applicable |
After you arrive in Germany
- 1Register your address (Anmeldung) at the Bürgeramt within 14 days.
- 2Convert the D visa into an Aufenthaltserlaubnis at the local Ausländerbehörde before the D visa expires.
- 3Enrol in statutory health insurance (GKV) or maintain comparable private cover.
Official sources
Germany long-stay visa — FAQ
- What salary do I need for the EU Blue Card in Germany?
- In 2026 the EU Blue Card threshold in Germany is €50,700/year gross for standard occupations and €45,934/year gross for shortage occupations (e.g. STEM, medicine, IT). The figures are updated annually — verify on make-it-in-germany.com before applying.
- How much do I need in a blocked account as a student?
- For 2026 the German blocked account (Sperrkonto) requirement is €11,904 for one academic year, released to you in monthly instalments of about €992. The amount is set by the Federal Foreign Office and adjusted yearly.
- Can I enter Germany on a long-stay D visa and then work?
- Only if the D visa was issued for a work category (Blue Card, skilled worker, freelancer). The job-seeker visa does not allow regular employment; you must convert it into a work-authorising residence permit after finding a position.
- What is the Anmeldung and when do I need it?
- The Anmeldung is the address registration at the local Bürgeramt. It must be completed within 14 days of moving into your accommodation and is a prerequisite for opening a bank account, getting a tax ID, and applying for the Aufenthaltserlaubnis.
- Do I need a real flight ticket for the long-stay visa appointment?
- For long-stay applications, consulates focus primarily on your accommodation contract, financial evidence, and purpose documentation. A flight reservation is a supporting document only — a verifiable one-way or onward booking (live PNR) is sufficient; a paid non-refundable ticket is not required. Submitting unverifiable documents can trigger refusal on grounds of false or misleading documentation under the applicable national visa rules of the destination country. Best practice is a hold-the-fare or refundable booking kept live until the decision. The SchengenDoc kit produces the monthly stay plan sample that accompanies your file.