United Kingdom
Germany
Germany visa for British citizens
Entry requirement
Germany admits British citizens without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
- Maximum stay
- 90 days
- Where to apply
- Nothing to apply for in advance
Checked 31 October 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at uk.diplo.de
For longer stays: study, work and residence
Germany: visa decisions in the United Kingdom
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 26,657 | 25,077 | 1,468 | 5.5% | 93.6% |
| 2024 | 30,169 | 28,452 | 1,371 | 4.6% | 82.7% |
| 2025 | 32,725 | 31,251 | 1,038 | 3.2% | 76.4% |
In 2025, Germany’s embassy and consulates in the United Kingdom (London and Edinburgh) received 32,725 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 31,251. 3.2% of applications were refused. In 2024 the rate was much the same, 4.6%. Applications rose by 8% compared with 2024 (30,169).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 10.5% of the applications lodged in the United Kingdom that year, from 1.0% at the consulates of the Netherlands to 32.0% at those of Iceland. Germany’s consulates worldwide refused 13.1%. Germany was the 4th most applied-for Schengen state in the United Kingdom.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in the United Kingdom, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
German citizens travelling to the United Kingdom
GermanyUnited Kingdom Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) United Kingdom visa for citizens of Germany
Travel advice for Germany
- US State Department Level 2: Exercise increased caution
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
British citizens planning a trip to Germany can compare how foreign ministries rate it: the US State Department rates Germany at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 12 May 2025) and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to Germany (updated 11 August 2026). The advice is aimed at each government’s own nationals.
Good to know
How long British citizens can stay in Germany
British citizens may stay in Germany for up to 90 days. Days in Germany count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period across all member states.
Germany and the Schengen area
Visa-free stays of British citizens in Germany count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period, shared with every other member state.
Germany’s neighbours for British citizens
Switzerland, Poland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, France and Austria admit British citizens visa-free.
German citizens travelling to the United Kingdom
German citizens do not need a visa for the United Kingdom, but they need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before departure; it covers stays of up to 180 days.
Frequently asked questions
Do British citizens need a visa for Germany?
Germany admits British citizens without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
How long can British citizens stay in Germany?
British citizens can stay in Germany for up to 90 days, within the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180.
Do German citizens need a visa for the United Kingdom?
German citizens do not need a visa for the United Kingdom, but they need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before departure; it covers stays of up to 180 days.
Can British citizens enter Germany visa-free?
Yes, British citizens can enter Germany without a visa and stay for up to 90 days.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 31 October 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.