United States
Germany
Germany visa for US citizens
Entry requirement
US citizens do not need a visa for Germany: stays of up to 90 days are visa-free.
- Maximum stay
- 90 days
- Where to apply
- Nothing to apply for in advance
Checked 31 October 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at germany.info
For longer stays: study, work and residence
Germany: visa decisions in the United States
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 19,967 | 19,168 | 634 | 3.2% | 92.1% |
| 2024 | 24,316 | 23,312 | 836 | 3.5% | 95.1% |
| 2025 | 23,122 | 22,085 | 871 | 3.8% | 94.9% |
In 2025, Germany’s embassy and consulates in the United States (New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles and Boston) received 23,122 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 22,085. The refusal rate was 3.8%. That is barely different from 2024 (3.5%). Applications fell by 5% compared with 2024 (24,316).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 4.9% of the applications lodged in the United States that year, from 0.4% at the consulates of Greece to 20.5% at those of Sweden. Germany’s consulates worldwide refused 13.1%. Germany was the 3rd most applied-for Schengen state in the United States.
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 States, 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 States
GermanyUnited States Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) United States 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.
US 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).
Good to know
How long US citizens can stay in Germany
US 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 US 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 US citizens
Switzerland, Poland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, France and Austria admit US citizens visa-free.
German citizens travelling to the United States
Before flying to the United States, German citizens must obtain an ETA online; stays of up to 90 days are allowed.
Frequently asked questions
Do US citizens need a visa for Germany?
US citizens do not need a visa for Germany: stays of up to 90 days are visa-free.
How long can US citizens stay in Germany?
US 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 States?
Before flying to the United States, German citizens must obtain an ETA online; stays of up to 90 days are allowed.
Can US citizens enter Germany visa-free?
Yes, US 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.