Basic information

• Only the visa office of the Embassy in Warsaw is responsible for visa applications. The Consulates General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Krakow, Wroclaw and Gdansk do not issue visas and do not provide information on visa applications.
• Please note that you must come to the embassy in person with all the necessary documents to submit your application. Please make an appointment via our appointment system on the Internet. Please plan that the processing time after application is usually several weeks.
• Your application can only be accepted if the documents are complete. The documents must be submitted in the original with two copies of each. Documents in foreign languages must be submitted with an official German translation.
• A fee of approximately 400 zloty (75,- Euro depending on the exchange rate) is charged for processing a visa application. The fee is to be paid in Polish zloty at the time of application. It is a processing fee. There is no right to reimbursement in case of rejection or withdrawal of the application.

General information

The applications are sent to the responsible immigration authority and, if necessary, to the Federal Employment Agency for comment. The processing time is usually at least four (4) weeks, but may increase to several months in individual cases. As soon as a decision has been made, the applicant will be informed immediately by the Embassy. In order to relieve the visa office, it is urgently requested that applicants refrain from making inquiries about the status of their application, as this delays the general processing of visa applications.

After a positive decision on the application, you will be asked to provide proof of existing travel insurance coverage for the validity period of the visa before the visa can be issued. Please note that you must receive your visa in person.

Please make sure to submit complete application documents! Incomplete applications may lead to the rejection of the visa application.

The Embassy reserves the right to request additional documentation.

The following list enables you to check whether your application documents are complete by ticking them off. All documents listed here must be submitted in the requested form and order.

Checklist

• Two (2) application forms including instructions according to § 54 AufenthG, completely filled out and signed
• Two (2) recent biometric passport photos (format: see photo sample board)
• Valid passport (signed by hand and with at least two (2) completely free pages)
• Two (2) plain copies of the data page of your valid passport
• Proof of habitual and legal residence in Poland by Polish residence permit (e.g. visa/residence card), valid for at least 3 months, with two (2) copies.
  In individual cases, further proof of habitual residence (e.g. bank statements, ZUS statements, rental contracts, etc.) may be necessary.
• Last registration certificate in Poland, with two (2) copies
• Fully completed questionnaire „Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis“ with one (1) copy
• Employment contract/binding offer of employment, with details of the type and duration of employment and gross salary
• Excerpt from the commercial register of the company located in Germany, with two (2) copies
• Proof of German language skills or confirmation from employer that German language skills are not required, with two (2) copies
• Curriculum vitae with one (1) copy
• In case of non-academic qualification: proof of qualification in the form of formal recognition notice from the relevant body in Germany, with two (2) copies. Please note that the notice of recognition must be available at the time of application, as this is the most important basis of the application. Subsequent submissions are generally not possible!
• In case of academic qualification: proof of qualification, if applicable university diploma, with two (2) copies
• Proof of the comparability of your degree - You can find out whether your foreign university degree is recognized or comparable in the ANABIN database.
  For further guidance on appropriate evidence of the comparability of your foreign university degree, please refer to a separate article.
• If available, the preliminary approval of the Federal Employment Agency, which your employer can request, with two (2) copies.
• If you have already reached the age of 45 at the start of employment, a minimum annual salary of € 48,180 gross, or proof of adequate pension provision is required!