Berlin at a Glance
Expat Info Berlin: Visa Types
Travelling to Berlin from abroad in your car, prepare for border checkpoints.
Type of Visa
The following are mostly types of visas for people planning on moving to Berlin for over three months. Keep in mind that the application process will take between one and three months.
- The business visa, like the tourist visa, is only valid for 90 days. However, it can be used to move about freely in the EU/Schengen countries. Submit a copy of your hotel reservation(s) and return ticket with the application. Often, you will also be asked for bank statements, health insurance cover, and business references.
- Employment visas are obligatory for every non-EU citizen who plans to work in Germany. You need to already have a job offer from a German company before moving to Berlin. In that case you only need to present a copy of your work agreement. However, the nationals of some countries (e.g. Australia or Japan) can enter Germany without an employment visa and look for work, provided they have sufficient funds to pay for their daily cost of living.
- Permanent residence with German spouse: This type of visa is an option for non-Germans who are married to a German citizen. You have to provide your marriage certificate in order to apply. Once the residence is granted, you are a legal permanent resident of Germany.
- A relatives / friends visa is necessary when you plan to visit a friend or relative in Berlin. Provide a copy of the letter from your host or two to three addresses of people you want to visit. They have to state that they are willing to take responsibility for you while you are in Germany. Furthermore, you could have to submit bank statements, proof of health-care coverage, and references.
- A study visa requires an acceptance letter from the university, institution, or program you want to attend. You also have to provide proof that you have sufficient funds to support yourself and that you have a health insurance plan.
- The airport transit visa only applies to citizens of certain countries, such as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Lebanon, Myanmar, Syria, or Turkey. With this visa citizens of these countries may remain in the airport’s transit area only.
You can find information on registration and how to obtain a residence permit after your arrival in Berlin in our article on living in Berlin.
The Art Scene
Berlin is known for its art scene. Musicians, actors, fashion designers, and artists from all over the world flood into the city to try their luck. Some are successful, others not so much.
The art scene has also evolved, perhaps even mingling with the high-tech expectations of today’s world. Beside rather gritty and daring pieces, Berlin’s artists now tend to show sleek and modern works. The flair of Berlin’s art scene used to lie in the small, slightly run-down studios. However, it can now be compared to high-end art scenes such as London and Paris. The former heart of the art scene, the Scheunenviertel, has become more expensive and chic, and the artists are fleeing it in favor of former No Man’s Land (the streets near the historical location of the Berlin Wall), Schöneberg, Kreuzberg, or Neukölln.
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