Skip the visa application. Prepare for your trip.
Start with your passport and entry documents, then check the arrival formalities.
Before you travel
Check the passport and supporting documents listed below. Keep copies accessible during your journey.
When you arrive
Have your travel documents ready for the destination’s entry checks.
During your visit
Track your total time across the region and leave within your remaining allowance.
What to prepare for your trip
Check each item as you prepare it. Labels show which documents are required, conditional, or recommended.
Your circumstances may require additional documents. Ticks track preparation, not eligibility or admission.
Your short-stay allowance in Schengen area
Check your proposed visit against the 90-in-180-day rule. Include all previous short visits within Schengen area.
Details that can change your plans
Already hold a visa or residence permit?
A valid Schengen visa, residence permit or qualifying family-member status can change the documents you need. Confirm the rules for the permission you hold.
Official guidanceETIAS is not accepting applications yet
ETIAS is not operating and is not accepting applications, so you do not need to apply or pay an application fee now. The EU currently plans to start it in the last quarter of 2026 but has not announced the exact date. Once applications open, the official fee is €20; applicants under 18 or over 70 and qualifying family members of EU citizens are exempt. Apply through the official EU website or app, and check the current status before travel because other sites may charge extra service fees. Eligibility also depends on your travel document and residence status.
Official guidanceEES records your biometrics at the Schengen border
The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully operational at the external borders of all 29 Schengen countries. If you are a non-EU national making a short stay, EES records your passport details, facial image and fingerprints, along with your entry and exit information. You do not apply for EES in advance; registration takes place at the border. For travelers registered in EES, the digital record replaces passport stamping. Exemptions include some people with a residence permit or long-stay visa issued by a participating country. Check the linked official EU guidance for the full list. EES does not replace a visa you need or guarantee entry.
Official guidanceGermany at a glance
- Capital
- Berlin
- Currency
- EUR
- Calling code
- +49
Questions for this route
Do travelers with an ordinary passport from Serbia need a visa for Germany?
Travelers visiting Germany for tourism with an ordinary passport from Serbia do not need a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Entry conditions still apply.
How long can I stay in Germany?
The short-visit limit is 90 days in any 180-day period. Count all your short visits to Schengen area together, including both arrival and departure days. Your actual permission can be shorter; check the dates and conditions you receive.
How much passport validity do I need?
At least 3 months after planned departure. Issued within the last 10 years.
What if I’m going to work, study or stay longer?
This guide is for a short tourist visit on an ordinary passport. It does not establish eligibility for employment, study or residence. Use the destination’s official guidance for your actual purpose.
Does my country of residence change the answer?
Passport nationality and legal residence are different. This page starts with your passport. Residence can change where you apply and which application channel is available; an existing visa or residence permit may also create an exception. Check the official eligibility guidance for your circumstances.
Official websites
Use these government websites to confirm requirements and complete any application.
Check Schengen entry documents
Passport conditions and supporting evidence for border checks.
Read Germany's official entry guidance
The Federal Foreign Office explains when officials may request proof of funds and that there is no fixed daily rate.
See Germany's funds reference
The European Commission's Germany section explains the individual assessment and the €45-per-day fallback; it is not a universal fixed daily rate.
Use the official Schengen calculator
Count previous visits across the whole area.
Confirm Schengen nationality rules
Visa-required and visa-exempt passport lists.
About this guide
This guide covers short tourist visits on an ordinary passport. Your nationality, residence, travel document and purpose can affect the entry conditions. Check the linked official guidance before travel; the border authority decides admission and your permitted stay.
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