Germany Visa Fees 2026: Every Official Charge Listed
Germany's visa fees are set by law. Short-stay fees come from the EU Visa Code and long-stay fees from the German Residence Ordinance. This guide lists every fee a newcomer is likely to meet, from the visa itself to the residence permit and the settlement permit, with the waivers. Figures come from the Federal Foreign Office and the text of the Residence Ordinance as read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
A Schengen visa for stays of up to 90 days normally costs EUR 90, or EUR 45 for children aged six to under 12; children under six pay nothing. A national visa for work, study or family reunification costs EUR 75, or EUR 37.50 for minors. After arrival, a residence permit or EU Blue Card costs 100 euros to issue, and a settlement permit 113 euros in the standard case. Spouses and minor children of German citizens, and people on publicly funded scholarships, pay no national visa fee.
Visa fees before you travel
| Visa | Who | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Schengen visa (stays of up to 90 days) | Adults and children from 12 | EUR 90 |
| Schengen visa | Children from six to under 12 | EUR 45 |
| Schengen visa | Children under six | No fee |
| Schengen visa | Nationals of Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine who are not visa exempt | In principle EUR 35 |
| Schengen visa | Nationals of Cabo Verde | EUR 67.50 |
| National visa (longer stays) | Adults | EUR 75 |
| National visa | Minors | EUR 37.50 |
The Federal Foreign Office notes that the reduced Schengen fees under visa facilitation agreements do not cover national visas, so the standard EUR 75 applies there. For Belarusian nationals the reduced fees have been partially suspended, and for nationals of the Russian Federation fully suspended. The fee is paid at your appointment at the German mission; the federal portal Make it in Germany says it is paid in local currency.
Who pays no visa fee
Schengen visas
- Children under six years
- School pupils, undergraduates, postgraduates and accompanying teaching staff travelling for study or training
- Representatives of non-profit organisations aged 25 or less taking part in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events organised by non-profit organisations
- Researchers travelling to carry out research or to take part in a scientific seminar or conference
National visas
- Foreign nationals receiving a scholarship from public funds during their stay in Germany, and their spouse or partner and minor children as long as they are covered by the funding
- Members of diplomatic missions, consular posts and international organisations in Germany, and their spouse and children up to and including the age of 25
Both
- Spouses, same-sex registered partners and minor unmarried children of German citizens, and the parents of minor German citizens
- Family members of EU and EEA nationals who enjoy freedom of movement
- Foreign exhibitors at German trade fairs who present an official trade fair pass
German missions will also consider waiving or reducing the fee in individual cases, for example where the trip promotes cultural or sporting interests or for humanitarian reasons. Questions about a specific case go to the mission handling the application.
Fees after you arrive
A national visa gets you into the country. For a longer stay you then apply to the local foreigners authority for a residence title, and the Residence Ordinance sets separate fees for that.
| Act | Fee under the Residence Ordinance |
|---|---|
| Issue of a residence permit, EU Blue Card or ICT card | 100 euros |
| Extension for a further stay of up to three months | 96 euros |
| Extension for a further stay of more than three months | 93 euros |
| Change of the purpose of stay, including extension | 98 euros |
| Settlement permit, standard case | 113 euros |
| Settlement permit for self-employment | 124 euros |
| Settlement permit for highly qualified persons | 147 euros |
| EU long-term residence permit | 109 euros |
| Express production of the residence card in urgent cases | 35 euros on top |
| Certificate under Section 81(5) of the Residence Act (Fiktionsbescheinigung) | 13 euros |
| Extension of a national visa | 25 euros |
| Extending a Schengen visa in Germany beyond 90 days as a national visa | 60 euros |
For minors the ordinance sets half of the fees for residence permits, settlement permits and national visas. Make it in Germany tells applicants that fees for the residence permit may add up to €100.
Reductions inside Germany
- People who receive a scholarship from public funds for their stay are exempt from the residence permit fees.
- People who cannot support themselves without benefits under Book II or Book XII of the Social Code are exempt from the fees for issuing or extending a residence permit.
- The authority may reduce or waive fees where the applicant's financial circumstances in Germany call for it.
- No fee is charged for changing a condition on the residence title that concerns employment.
Fees an employer or sponsor may pay
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Fast-track procedure for skilled workers, agreed between the employer and the foreigners authority | 411 euros |
| Declaration of commitment by a sponsor | 29 euros |
The fast-track fee must be paid when the agreement with the foreigners authority is concluded, and the skilled worker still pays the EUR 75 visa fee at the German mission. The federal brochure for employers stresses that the €411 applies irrespective of the result: it is a processing fee and does not entitle the worker to a pre-approval or a visa. Under the procedure the visa appointment takes place within three weeks.
Costs that are not government fees
- Blocked account: students and jobseekers who prove their funds this way pay the provider a set-up fee. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) puts it at between €70 and €150.
- Citizenship later on: naturalisation costs 255 euros per person, and 51 euros for a minor child naturalised with a parent.
What a typical move costs in official fees
| Case | Fees set by law |
|---|---|
| Skilled worker moving alone | EUR 75 national visa, then 100 euros for the residence permit or EU Blue Card |
| Student with a publicly funded scholarship | No national visa fee and no residence permit fee |
| Spouse of a German citizen | No national visa fee; then the standard 100 euros for the residence permit |
| Tourist or business visitor who needs a visa | EUR 90 Schengen visa |
Frequently asked questions
How much is a German visa in 2026?
A Schengen visa normally costs EUR 90 and a national visa for a longer stay EUR 75, according to the Federal Foreign Office. Children aged six to under 12 pay EUR 45 for a Schengen visa, and minors pay EUR 37.50 for a national visa.
How much is a German work visa?
A work visa is a national visa, so the fee is EUR 75. After arrival, the residence permit or EU Blue Card costs 100 euros under the Residence Ordinance.
How much is a German student visa?
EUR 75 for the national visa. Students on a scholarship from public funds pay no national visa fee.
Where do I pay the German visa fee?
At your appointment in person at the German mission, where you also provide your fingerprints and photo. Make it in Germany says the fee is paid in local currency.
Do children pay German visa fees?
Children under six pay nothing for a Schengen visa and children from six to under 12 pay EUR 45. For a national visa, minors pay half the regular rate, EUR 37.50.
Does my spouse pay a visa fee if I am German?
No. Visa fees are waived for the spouses, same-sex registered partners and minor unmarried children of German citizens, and for the parents of minor German citizens.
How much does a German settlement permit cost?
113 euros in the standard case, 124 euros for the self-employed and 147 euros for highly qualified persons. The EU long-term residence permit costs 109 euros.
Official sources
- Federal Foreign Office — Visas for Germany (visa fees)
- Residence Ordinance (Aufenthaltsverordnung), Section 46 — Fees for the visa
- Residence Ordinance, Section 45 — Fees for the residence permit and the EU Blue Card
- Residence Ordinance, Section 44 — Fees for the settlement permit
- Residence Ordinance, Section 47 — Fees for other acts
- Residence Ordinance, Sections 50, 52 and 53 — Minors, exemptions and reductions
- Make it in Germany (Federal Government) — At a Glance: EU Blue Card
- Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy — Possibilities of skilled worker immigration, 2026 (fast-track procedure)
- DAAD — Costs of education and living
All figures verified against the official texts above on 13 October 2026. The ordinance is in German; the English wording here is our own summary. Fees change, so confirm the amount with the German mission or foreigners authority handling your case. Information, not legal advice.