Research in Germany
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Who needs a research visa
All persons who wish to work as a researcher at/ for an institution in Germany (including their spouses and minor children) are required to obtain a residence permit. In order to enter Germany, a research visa has to be issued.
Citizens of Canada, Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and the United States, Switzerland, as well as EU citizens may apply for their residence permit after entering Germany without a visa.
The application can be submitted at the competent Aliens Authority after arrival in Germany. You don't have to apply for a German visa before leaving Canada. However, we recommend that a visa (which includes the work permit) is being issued in advance, especially in cases where an employment is intended to begin directly after arrival in Germany, since the employment cannot be started before having the obligatory work permit!
Citizens of other countries are required to apply and obtain a research visa prior to enter Germany in order to receive a residence permit.
Please note: A research visa is a so called national visa and does also entitle you to enter the other Schengen countries for a stay up to 90 days. List of Schengen countries
Where and how to apply
The German Foreign Missions only accept applications from Canadian residents. Applications from persons holding a Canadian student visa, work permit or long-term visitor’s visa are also accepted.
You have to submit your application only in person at the German Consulate in Toronto or German Consulate in Vancouver. Please note that with the introduction of the Visa Information System (VIS), being the new common visa IT system of all Schengen States, visa applications for a long-term stay can not be filed at the offices of our Honorary Consuls (except Honorary Consuls in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland).
You must book an appointment when applying at the German Consulate in Toronto or Vancouver.
Request an appointment with the Visa Section in Toronto
Request an appointment with the Visa Section in Vancouver
The processing of an application for a research visa takes approximately two weeks. The visa application can be submitted at the earliest 3 months prior to the planned trip.
The German Foreign Mission will issue a residence permit in the form of a visa with the duration for the first three months. A final residence permit will be granted in Germany by the Aliens Authority. The Aliens Authority requires all residence permit holders to register upon their first arrival.
Required documents
Please download the checklist below to overwiew the documents have to be submitted upon application.
Checklist research visa [pdf, 83.54k]
Please note:
Only applications which include ALL the relevant forms fully completed, signed by the applicant and being submitted with ALL the relevant documentation will be accepted!
In individual cases, you may be required to provide additional documents.
Passport requirements
Please note these important regulations concerning the passport for all applicants:
- Its validity has to extend the duration of the visa you are applying for by at least three months.
- It has to contain at least two blank pages.
- It must have been issued within the last ten years. A passport older than ten years that has been extended for a period exceeding ten years from the time of issuance cannot be accepted.
