O no visa requirement for citizens of EU/EEA countries

Citizen of EU and EEA states do not need a visa to enter or reside in Germany.

O moreover, no visa is needed in the following cases:

- citizens of Australia, Canada, The United States of America, New Zealand, Japan or South Korea do not need a visa in advance. After entering German territory they can apply for a visa at the local alien authority.

- citizens of Andorra, San Marino, Honduras or Monaco are also allowed to apply for their visa after entering German territory, unless they intent to work in Germany. Exceptions are possible, depending on each individual case.

- holders of a Polish long-term visa or a Polish residency permit do not need a visa for short term stays of 90 days per half a year in Germany

O Long Term stays in Germany over 90 days and citizens of other countries

As long as you are not a citizen of a country whose citizenship allows you to enter Germany freely (please check the list of states below), you are residing legally in Poland (e.g. Karta pobytu, D-Visa) and you plan to stay in Germany for more than 3 months (family reunion, studying) or to work in Germany, you need a visa for entering the country. Visa-free entry for the purpose of carrying out activities under Vander Elst is currently possible only under the conditions set out in section 17a of the Ordinance governing Residence in conjunction with section 30(3) of the Ordinance on the Employment of Foreigners (refers to employees who are third-country nationals and who hold a long-term resident status in another member state of the European Union („rezydent długoterminowy-WE“), and applies for no longer than 90 days within a period of 12 months.

If you are already in Germany AND have a Polish residence permit that allows you to legally stay in Germany AND you meet the eligibility criteria for a residence permit, you may contact your local alien authority directly and apply for a visa according to § 39 Nr. 6 Aufenthaltsverordnung. Please contact your competent local alien authority for more information on this subject.