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General Information on National Visas (Long-term Visas)

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For long-term stays of more than 90 days.
Here you will find general information about applications for national visas as well as required documents.

National visas are issued for long-term stays for a particular purpose. Usually issued for 90 days, in rare occassions it may be issued for up to a year. After entering Germany, visa holders must apply for a residence permit.

Preparing your application

You should start preparing your application as soon as you have plans to stay long term in Germany. The entire visa application process can take several months.
Please prepare your application as follows:

  • Please fill out the visa application form here. If you prefer to fill in the form by hand, please download and print the application form .
  • Please compile the documents you need to submit with your application. If documents or supporting documents are missing, your application may be rejected. We have prepared a checklist for each type of visa (please find the PDF documents at the bottom of the page). Please note that documents not written in German, English or French language need to be translated by an offcial translator in Germany first.
  • Please make an appointment to submit your application. Please find the link to our appointment booking sytsem here
  • The online appointment booking system is free of charge. You must make the appointment yourself or through a trusted person. The booking options are the same for everyone. Agencies and other facilitators do not have any special or preferential access to the appointment booking system, even if they claim otherwise. Offers which advertise this are not trustworthy and are ultimately responsible for making the appointment situation worse for everyone.
  • Please take note of the information on data protection during the visa application process in accordance with Art. 13 and 14 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation).

Important information
Please do not send the Visa Section any documents unless requested to do so, particularly not before you have applied for a visa. We are not able to store such documents and will not know to which application they belong. Please always bring the complete documentation with you to your appointment.

The German Embassy can only accept applications if you have lived in Uganda or South Sudan for more than 6 months with a valid residence permit. If this is not the case you are not eligible to apply. In that case your appointment will be deleted.

Submitting your application

In order to submit your application, please attend your appointment at the Embassy in person. During this appointment, we kindly ask you to submit all of your application documents, pay the fee and answer questions about your planned trip. Your photograph and fingerprints will also be taken on this occasion.

Please note that documents that are not written in German, English or French must first be translated by a translator based in Germany.

Visa Fees

The visa fee for national visas is 75,00 Euro (for minors 37,50 Euro) payable in Uganda Shilling and in cash only. The visa fees are determined according to §46 AufenthV and set in Euro, but are to be paid cash in Uganda Shilling only. Please note that neither Euro in cash nor credit card payments are accepted. The Uganda Shilling value of the visa fee is determined by the current exchange rate of the German Embassy Kampala.

What happens during processing?

The Embassy will review your application and make a decision on whether or not to grant you a visa. To this end, it will assess whether your application meets the legal requirements. Processing can take up to three months. We hope you will understand that we are not able to answer any questions on the status of your application during this processing period. After that, enquiries can only be answered if they are made by the applicant, his/her legal representative or another person authorised in writing by the applicant.

Return of your passport

As soon as the Embassy has decided on your application, you would be contacted by phone or email. You should collect your passport in person. If you are not able to collect it yourself, you can authorise another person to collect it for you. In order to do so, please fill out a power of attorney.

There are various reasons why your visa application may be rejected. The reasons will be stated in the letter notifying you that your application has been rejected.
You are welcome to submit a new application at any time with complete, informative and verifiable documentation.

Have a good trip! Information for visa holders

If all the information on your visa label is correct, you are free to travel. Please check the information on the label as soon as your passport is returned to you. You should let us know immediately if there are any mistakes so that we can issue you a new visa.
Your visa will state your full name and passport number and include your photo. It will also state the number of days you can stay and the period of validity, that is, the time by which you must have received your residence permit for Germany.
Therefore, please do not forget to register at the residents registration office shortly after you arrive in Germany and to make an appointment with the foreigners authority. Your entry visa will allow you to travel within the Schengen area.

Checklists of Visa Types & Other Information

You are already married to a German national or a person living permanently in Germany and thus want to live together in Germany? Do you consider the reunifaction with another family member? Please…

You intend to get married to a German national or a person living permanently in Germany and consequently want to live together in Germany? Please apply for a visa for marriage.

You are already married to a German national or a person living permanently in Germany and thus want to live together in Germany? Do you consider the reunifaction with another family member? Please…

You wish to apply for a long term visa for family reunion to a family member of EU/EEA nationality (not German) or you are moving together with EU/EEA spouse to Germany. Please study the necessary…

You intend to study at a German University? Please apply for a study visa.

Are you planning to attend a language course in Germany? Please read about requirements and the application procedure here.

Are you planning to stay in Germany as an Au-Pair? Please read about requirements and the application procedure here.

You are planning to travel to Germany in order to seek for a job. Here is more information on the requirements and application procedure.

This is a visa for applicants who wish to work in Germany. Here is more information on the requirements and application procedure.

You wish to go to Germany for voluntary work? Please read more on the application process and requirements here.

Information in accordance with Art. 13 and 14 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation)

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