If you have a visa-exempt passport (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan…), today you can enter Germany visa-free with a valid passport, for up to 90 days. Once ETIAS starts, you'll need to apply before you travel (€20). Germany may ask you to show €45 per day. Visa-required nationalities (India, China, South Africa…) need a Schengen visa.
What you need for Germany, by passport
| Your passport | Today | Once ETIAS starts |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-exempt US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan… | No visa Valid passport + EES registration | ETIAS required Online application, €20 |
| Visa required India, China, South Africa, Turkey, the Philippines… | Schengen visa | Schengen visa ETIAS doesn't apply |
| EU, EEA or Switzerland | Nothing extra | Nothing extra |
Not sure which group you're in? Use the Do I need ETIAS? checker or see the official list of nationalities.
What border officers in Germany can ask for
Even without a visa, officers in Germany can check that you meet the Schengen entry conditions. Keep these handy, printed or on your phone:
- A valid passport. Valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave Europe and issued within the last 10 years.
- Purpose and accommodation. Hotel booking, invitation letter or the address where you'll stay, plus anything that backs up your trip (tourism, business, family).
- A return or onward ticket. Proof that you'll leave before your 90 days are up.
- Travel insurance. Not mandatory if you travel visa-free, but strongly recommended, and you may be asked about it.
- Enough money: €45 per day. (reference amount set by the country, European Commission, 08/06/2026)
Where your border check happens when you travel to Germany
Main international airports in Germany: Frankfurt (FRA), München (MUC), Berlin Brandenburg (BER), Düsseldorf (DUS).
If Germany is the first Schengen country on your trip, the passport check and EES registration happen at the airport where you land. If you connect through another Schengen hub (Paris, Amsterdam, Helsinki, Madrid…), the check happens there and your flight to Germany is treated as an internal Schengen flight.
All of Germany's land borders are with other Schengen countries, so there are no routine passport checks when you cross them by car, bus or train. Countries can reintroduce temporary checks, so always carry your passport.
The EES at airports and borders in Germany
In Germany, the Entry/Exit System (EES) is used at every external border crossing point, from Frankfurt (FRA) to seaports and land crossings. It started on 12 October 2025 and has been fully live since 10 April 2026. The first time you enter, officers take 4 fingerprints and a photo (no fingerprints for children under 12) and record the date; Germany no longer stamps passports. On later trips your data is only verified.
Germany in depth: hubs, connecting flights and host guarantees
Frankfurt and Munich are two of the busiest connecting hubs in Europe. If you change planes there on the way to another Schengen country, your passport check and EES registration happen in Germany. If you stay airside and fly on to a non-Schengen destination such as London or Istanbul, you do not enter Schengen at all.
Germany has no external land borders, but in recent years it has repeatedly reintroduced temporary checks at its land borders with neighbouring Schengen countries. Carry your passport on trains and coaches from Austria, Poland, Czechia, Switzerland or France.
Visitors staying with friends or relatives can use a Verpflichtungserklärung: a formal declaration in which the host, at the local foreigners' office, commits to cover your living costs. It is the strongest proof of means you can show a German border officer.
Good to know about Germany
- Verpflichtungserklärung: a formal declaration of commitment your host in Germany can sign at the immigration office to cover your costs.
- Frankfurt is a very common layover: if you leave the airport, you enter Schengen and must meet the requirements.
How long you can stay
You can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Days in Germany add up with days in every other Schengen country, so a week in Germany after a month elsewhere leaves you around 53 days. Check your balance with the 90/180 calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do you need to enter Germany?
€45 per person per day (European Commission table, 08/06/2026).
Can I work in Germany with ETIAS?
No. To work you need a German visa or work permit.
Do US citizens need a visa for Germany?
No. US citizens can visit Germany visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Today a valid passport is enough; once ETIAS launches, you will also need an approved ETIAS (€20) before you travel.
Do UK citizens need ETIAS for Germany?
Not yet, because ETIAS has not started. Once it launches, British passport holders will need ETIAS to visit Germany, unless they are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement as residents of an EU country.
Keep reading
Sources
- European Commission: reference amounts (08/06/2026)
- European Commission: who should apply for ETIAS
- German Federal Foreign Office
This guide is independent and for information only. Rules can change: before you travel, always double-check on the official ETIAS website and with the authorities of the country you're visiting.