🇩🇪 Germany · Tourist / Visitor visa
Germany Tourist / Visitor visa approval odds
A short-stay visa for Germany is a uniform Schengen type-C visa, so the €90 fee, the €30,000 travel medical insurance minimum and the 90-days-in-180 limit are the same everywhere. What is specific to Germany is how much money you must show: no fixed daily amount — assessed case by case. Germany has deliberately not set a mandatory per-day reference amount. Border and consular officers assess each applicant individually against the cost of the planned stay, including the return journey. Officers apply the figure as a benchmark alongside your ties, purpose and travel history rather than as a pass mark, and a Germany visa lets you travel the whole Schengen area once issued — but you must apply to Germany if it is your main destination.
Last reviewed August 2026 per our editorial standards. Source: European Commission — Annex 25 of the Visa Code Practical Handbook: reference amounts required for the crossing of the external border, fixed by national authorities .
Germany assesses a tourist visa on whether you are a genuine visitor who will return home on time. As an approximate starting point, this route runs near a 84% base approval — your finances, ties and history then push your personal odds up or down.
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Your trip
The essentials. Pre-filled if you came from a specific page.
Key requirements
- Passport valid 3+ months beyond departure and issued within the last 10 years
- Completed application, photo, and biometrics
- Travel medical insurance of at least €30,000
- Round-trip itinerary and confirmed accommodation
- Proof of sufficient funds; €90 visa fee (2026)
Visa fee (cost)
€90 per adult, €45 for children 6–12, free under 6 — plus a service fee (typically €30–45) where an external centre (VFS/TLS) handles the application.
Money & funds
No fixed daily amount — assessed case by case. Germany has deliberately not set a mandatory per-day reference amount. Border and consular officers assess each applicant individually against the cost of the planned stay, including the return journey.
Typical timeline
Apply up to 6 months ahead and at least 15 days before travel; standard decisions take about 15 calendar days, occasionally up to 45.
Common refusal reasons
- Insufficient or unclear means of subsistence
- Doubt about the purpose or intent to leave
- Missing or insufficient travel medical insurance
- Unjustified or inconsistent itinerary
- Previous Schengen overstay or visa misuse
Germany tourist visa refusal rates by nationality (2025)
Published outcomes for the countries we cover, grouped by where the application was lodged rather than by passport. All rows use the European Commission's basis: refusals as a share of applications decided. None of these predicts an individual decision — they show how strictly the bar has been applied.
| Nationality | Refused | Issued | Decided |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | 5% | 95% | 14,810 |
| Kuwait | 5.1% | 94.9% | 22,644 |
| Saudi Arabia | 8% | 92% | 50,841 |
| India | 10.5% | 89.5% | 152,870 |
| the Philippines | 11.2% | 88.8% | 25,467 |
| Vietnam | 12.5% | 87.5% | 24,554 |
| Sri Lanka | 13.6% | 86.4% | 4,435 |
| Cameroon | 19.1% | 80.9% | 3,819 |
| Egypt | 20.7% | 79.3% | 50,577 |
| Nepal | 20.8% | 79.2% | 3,685 |
| Turkey | 21.2% | 78.8% | 217,312 |
| Pakistan | 24.2% | 75.8% | 19,006 |
| Senegal | 25.7% | 74.3% | 1,593 |
| Morocco | 25.8% | 74.2% | 11,958 |
| Tanzania | 25.8% | 74.2% | 3,879 |
| Kenya | 29% | 71% | 10,039 |
| Nigeria | 29.2% | 70.8% | 7,672 |
| Bangladesh | 30% | 70% | 5,808 |
| Ghana | 33.5% | 66.5% | 9,106 |
| Algeria | 34% | 66% | 11,484 |
| Ethiopia | 38.2% | 61.8% | 3,887 |
| Uganda | 41.4% | 58.6% | 5,557 |
Source: European Commission — Schengen short-stay visa statistics for consulates . Every nationality above links to its own page with the year-on-year movement and a comparison across destinations.
What actually moves the needle
Strong ties to home — a stable job, family, or property
This is the heart of tourist decisions for Germany. Make it concrete and documented rather than assumed.
Funds that clearly cover the whole trip
Officers weigh this alongside everything else — gather clear evidence before you apply.
A specific, time-limited plan with bookings
Officers weigh this alongside everything else — gather clear evidence before you apply.
Avoid the common pitfall
The most frequent reason this route fails is a vague itinerary or thin finances that make your return look uncertain. Address it directly and you remove the biggest doubt.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Schengen visa in 2026?
€90 for adults, €45 for children aged 6–12, and free for under-6s — the same across all Schengen countries. Service centres (e.g. VFS) may add a service fee.
Which country do I apply to for a Schengen visa?
The country of your main destination (most nights), or your first point of entry if the trip is evenly split.
Is travel insurance mandatory for a Schengen visa?
Yes. You need travel medical insurance covering at least €30,000 for the whole Schengen area and stay.
How long can I stay on a Schengen visa?
Up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period across the whole Schengen area.
Explore related visa odds
Germany tourist visa odds by nationality
- Turkish citizens
- Indian citizens
- Nigerian citizens
- Pakistani citizens
- Bangladeshi citizens
- Filipino citizens
- Egyptian citizens
- Moroccan citizens
- Indonesian citizens
- Vietnamese citizens
- Nepali citizens
- Sri Lankan citizens
- Ghanaian citizens
- Kenyan citizens
- Ethiopian citizens
- Algerian citizens
- Ugandan citizens
- Senegalese citizens
- Tanzanian citizens
- Cameroonian citizens
- Saudi citizens
- Kuwaiti citizens