Before you move
Time
4 to 12 weeks at the consulate (skip if visa-exempt)
Cost
€75 to 100 (national visa fee)
Difficulty
Hard
EU vs non-EU
EU/EEA: You don't need this. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens can live and work freely with no visa, your only paperwork is the Anmeldung. See "Register your address" instead.
Non-EU: Citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and Israel can enter visa-free and apply for their residence permit at the Berlin LEA after landing, see "Get your residence permit". Everyone else needs the right entry visa from a German consulate before flying, then converts it once the Anmeldung is done.
What to bring
Passport valid 6+ months beyond your stay
Proof of the permit route you're applying for (job offer, enrolment, freelance contracts)
Proof of health insurance
Proof of funds or a Sperrkonto, route-dependent
Not needed: A pre-arrival visa at all, if you hold a US, UK, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, Japanese, South Korean, or Israeli passport, apply at the LEA after you land instead
Your options
German consulate (home country)
Where the entry visa is issued
€75 to 100
Required for nationalities outside the visa-exempt list. Book the appointment the moment you know your move date, slots are the real bottleneck.
Immigration lawyer
For complex cases or peace of mind
€500 to 1500
Worth it for mixed income sources, a switch of status, or a Blue Card file with shortage-occupation questions. They also chase consulate and LEA slots.
Prices checked August 2026
Do it
- 1
Check if you're visa-exempt
US, UK, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, Japanese, South Korean, and Israeli citizens can skip straight to landing and applying at the LEA. Everyone else needs a consulate visa first. If you are using that route, count the 90 days from your entry into the Schengen area, not into Germany, and start the LEA application well inside it.
- 2
Pick your route
EU Blue Card for a qualifying job offer, a regular work permit, the freelance route, or a student/job-seeker visa. See "Which German visa or permit do you need?" for the full comparison.
- 3
Book your consulate appointment early
If you need one, slot availability is usually the real bottleneck, sometimes longer than processing itself.
- 4
Assemble the file
Passport, proof of your route (job offer, enrolment, client letters), health insurance, and proof of funds, a Sperrkonto for student and job-seeker routes.
- 5
Fly, then convert at the LEA
The visa is an entry document, not the residence permit. Book your Anmeldung first, then your LEA appointment to convert it.
Common questions
How do I know if I'm visa-exempt?
It's based on nationality, not visa type: US, UK, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, Japanese, South Korean, and Israeli passport holders enter visa-free and apply at the LEA. Check the current list before booking anything, exemptions can change.
How far ahead should non-exempt nationalities start?
Three to four months before the move. Consulate appointment slots are usually the slow part, not the processing.
Can I switch routes once I'm in Germany?
Sometimes, the Chancenkarte and student routes have some flexibility, but don't plan your move around an assumed switch.
Read more
Which German visa or permit do you need?
Full guide · 7 min read
Full checklist tracking and task completion live in the Ternli app for Berlin.