GermanyVisits and short stays

Germany visa for trade fairs and events

Schengen visa (type C) for trade fairs, culture and sports events

In short

Exhibitors and visitors at German trade fairs, and artists, athletes or participants in cultural and sports events of up to 90 days, apply for a Schengen visa with the organiser's confirmation. Use the trade fair or event checklist of the German mission responsible for you.

Apply on VIDEX – Schengen visa application form checked 25 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Fee
€90Adults EUR 90; children aged 6 to under 12 EUR 45; under 6 free. If an external service provider receives the application, it adds its own service fee.
Processing time
Usually 15 days after the mission receives the file, up to 45 days in individual cases; any waiting time for an appointment comes on top.
Work
Participation in the event; paid performances may need a separate assessment under employment rules.
Where to apply
The German embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence, or its external service provider, trade fair or event category.

Who applies in this category

Trade fair visitors and exhibitors, members of sports teams attending competitions, musicians, actors and other artists travelling for a performance, and participants in congresses or cultural programmes. Groups such as teams or ensembles should apply together, with one organiser letter listing all members.

Event documents

Add to the core file the organiser's invitation or registration confirmation with the dates and your role. Exhibitors show the stand rental contract; visitors show their fair ticket. For paid performances bring the contract, as short-term activities by artists or athletes can fall under special employment rules.

Required documents

Identity

  • VIDEX application form, printed and signed, with the signed declaration under Section 54 of the Residence Act
  • Passport issued within the last 10 years (extended passports are not accepted), with two blank pages and valid at least three months beyond the planned departure; copies of Schengen, UK, US and Canada visas held in the last 10 years
  • One biometric photo, 35 × 45 mm, not older than six months
  • Civil status extract showing your family details, where the mission's checklist asks for it

Travel

  • Travel and accommodation bookings

Money

  • Bank statements and payslips for the last three months; pension statements for the last three months if retired

Work

  • Employees: original employer letter addressed to the mission (position, start date, approved leave, signatory) plus proof of social insurance or employment; business owners: proof of company and tax registration; students: student certificate

Insurance

  • Travel medical insurance with at least EUR 30,000 cover for the whole Schengen area, paying providers directly, valid from one day before departure to one day after return

Other

  • Organiser invitation or registration confirmation with dates and your role

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Work

  • Exhibitors: stand rental contract; visitors: trade fair ticket
  • Artists and athletes: contract or federation letter

Family

  • Minors: notarised travel consent of both parents or proof of sole custody

Plan well ahead

Large trade fairs are fixed months in advance, while visa appointments can have waiting lists. Book as soon as you have the fair or event registration, and apply no later than 15 days before travel.

Refusals

A refused applicant can file a remonstration as explained in the refusal letter or apply again. If the event date passes, a new application with new dates is the only practical route.

How to apply, step by step

  1. Find the German embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence and book an appointment in the "Trade fair or event" category as it instructs, either with the mission itself or with its external service provider. Choosing the wrong category can mean the file is rejected and any service fee is lost.
  2. Before the appointment, fill in the VIDEX application form online, print it and sign it together with the declaration under Section 54 of the Residence Act.
  3. Collect the documents on the official checklist for your purpose; bring originals and one set of copies.
  4. Attend in person (everyone aged 18 or over), give fingerprints and pay the EUR 90 visa fee plus any service fee, in the way the mission sets.
  5. The mission decides, usually within 15 days of receiving the file and in some cases up to 45 days. Your passport stays with the mission meanwhile.
  6. Collect the passport as the mission or its service provider instructs and check the dates, number of entries and permitted days on the visa sticker before you travel.

Frequently asked questions

Can a team apply together?

Yes. Teams and ensembles should register and apply as a group with one organiser letter naming all members.

I visit a fair as a buyer. Which category?

Visitors to a trade fair use the trade fair or business category with the fair ticket and an employer letter.

Do I need a different visa for a paid concert?

The Schengen visa is still used for short stays, but paid activity is assessed under employment rules; bring the contract.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Germany

Visits and short stays

Business and self-employment

Study and training

  • Student visa Validity: The visa is usually issued for several months; the residence permit in Germany is normally granted for two years at a time, at least one year, and renewed while studies progress.
  • Language course visa Validity: For the length of the course.
  • Researcher visa Validity: At least one year, or the length of the research project if shorter.
  • Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: Up to six months for the EU internship permit
  • Au pair visa Maximum stay: Six to twelve months

Work

  • Work visa Processing time: Appointment waiting times depend on the mission; after submission the Federal Employment Agency approval adds a few weeks. The accelerated skilled-worker procedure shortens this.
  • Skilled worker visa Validity: Up to four years, or the length of the employment contract plus three months if shorter.
  • EU Blue Card Validity: Up to four years, or the length of the contract plus three months.
  • Job seeker visa Maximum stay: Up to one year; a follow-up Opportunity Card of up to two years is possible for a qualified job that does not yet meet another permit.
  • Intra-company transfer visa Validity: Length of the transfer, at most three years (one year for trainees).
  • Working holiday visa Maximum stay: Up to 12 months, once

Family

  • Family reunification visa Validity: Visa for entry; the residence permit is then issued in line with the sponsor's permit.
  • Spouse and partner visa Processing time: Same appointment system and waiting times as other family reunification visas at the mission responsible for you.

Residence

Faster processing

  • Fast-track and priority visa services Processing time: Recognition authority: decision within two months; Federal Employment Agency: one week; mission: appointment within three weeks and decision usually within three weeks of a complete application.

Protection

  • Asylum and international protection Processing time: Regular procedure: six months from the application; accelerated procedure: at most three months; border procedure: at most twelve weeks.

Germany visa guide