Are you planning a trip to Germany? Perhaps to volunteer or intern with us at Volunteer in Germany (Halle/Salle), however, you don’t know the German requirements for obtaining an entry visa? In this article, we provide relevant information for obtaining an entry visa for Germany.

What kind of visa do you need to enter Germany?

There are two main types of visas in Germany. One type of visa is a Schengen visa, and it is valid for less than or equal to three months (90 days). It is for tourism, trade, and family or other visits.

Second, a lengthier entry visa is called the “National Visa“. This one is for stays that are generally more than three months in length. National Visas cover entry purposes such as work, work searches, or study. The National Visas are provided to people who plan on residing in Germany.

I am volunteering or interning in Germany – what then?

The Volunteer in Germany will provide you with an invitation letter to intern or volunteer at our center. This invitation letter will be used to apply for a German entry visa at your German embassy. It will be attached as part of the documents that you are required to submit for your visa application.

How do I apply for a German student visa?

You will apply for a student visa at your local German consulate or embassy.  The addresses of the various German consulates and embassies throughout the world are on the website of the German Foreign Ministry. The website will inform you as to the documents and conditions that are necessary to apply for an entry visa. The forms are on the German embassy websites, and you can download them from there.

Documents required to apply for an entry visa to Germany:

• Valid passport.
• Proof of participation in health insurance.
• Proof of the ability to finance the study in Germany.
• Proof of admission to German courses in Germany comes as an invitation letter from a German language teaching institute.

How do I apply for a Volunteer in Germany program?

All you have to do is send an email to info@eceurope.org   Type the name of your chosen program in the subject line. In the body of the email, please ask us for an application form for the program for which you wish to apply. We will then send you the form and other instructions. After you complete the application and return it to us, we will write you an invitation letter.  

Please be aware that we charge an application fee of 100 Euros which is non-refundable. This means that in the event you are not issued an entry visa to Germany, the 100 Euros will not be returned to you; however, if you are issued a visa, the 100 Euros will be applied towards your program fee for the Volunteer in Germany program.