Processing of visa applications

Entry to Germany for fully vaccinated persons

Persons who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 with vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) (or equivalents of these vaccines used in third countries) can enter Germany. This includes persons who wish to enter Germany for the purpose of visits or tourism. Fully vaccinated persons as defined above can apply for visas at the competent mission abroad if required.

However, this does not apply to entry to Germany from countries that are classified as areas of variant of concern. Transportation to Germany from these areas continues to be prohibited.

Only persons who are fully vaccinated with one or different vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) (list of approved vaccines here) or with equivalents of these vaccines used in third countries (list here) can enter Germany. The plan is to extend this to other vaccines with a comparable level of protection as soon as the necessary tests have been completed.

Proof of vaccination

To enter Germany, all travellers must present proof of vaccination that meets the requirements listed under 1., 2. and 3. below in full.

1.  It must be a digital EU COVID certificate or comparable proof of vaccination in digital or physical (paper) form in German, English, French, Italian or Spanish. Photographs of paper records cannot be accepted as digital proof. Proof in digital form should have been issued digitally by the authorised issuer and transmitted digitally to the entitled holder.
2.  Proof of vaccination must contain the following information:
   
   1.  the personal data of the vaccinated person (at least their family name, first name and date of birth or the number of a valid passport or other official photo ID, which is to be presented upon inspection),
   2. date of vaccination, number of vaccinations,
   3. name of vaccine,
   4. name of disease vaccinated against, and
   5. identifiers that indicate the person or institution responsible for administering the vaccination or issuing the proof of vaccination, for example an official symbol or the name of the issuer.
3.  Furthermore, the vaccination needs to meet certain requirements as provided for in Section 22 (a) 1 of the Protection against Infection Act for the individual to be considered fully protected. To be considered fully vaccinated with approved vaccines, the requirements are
   
   1.  up until 30 September 2022: two vaccination doses;
   2. up until 30 September 2022: one vaccination dose if in addition the individual can provide proof of:
      
      1.  an antibody test with proven infection with coronavirus prior to the vaccination, followed by administration of vaccination; or
      2.  a positive test by means of a nucleic acid test (for example, PCR) prior to the vaccination dose ; or
      3. a positive test by means of a nucleic acid test (for example, PCR) taken at least 28 days ago and after first vaccination dose was administered;
   3. from 1 October 2022: three vaccination doses; the last vaccination dose must be administered at least three months after the second one;
   4. from 1 October 2022: two vaccination doses if proof can be provided in addition of:
      
      1.  an antibody test with proven infection with coronavirus prior to the first vaccination dose, followed by administration of two vaccinations; or
      2. a positive test by means of a nucleic acid test (for example, PCR) prior to the second vaccination ; or
      3.  a positive test by means of a nucleic acid test (for example, PCR) taken at least 28 days ago and after the second vaccination was administered.

Before you travel, please check your vaccination certificate meets the above requirements.

Children under the age of 12 who are not yet vaccinated can enter the country with proof of a negative test result (PCR test or antigen test) when accompanied by at least one fully vaccinated parent. Children under the age of six do not require proof of a negative test result.

Further information is available here Link.

Information about mandatory testing and proof of immunity, mandatory digital entry registration and quarantine regulations can be found here.

Visas for persons who are not fully vaccinated only if absolutely necessary

Visas can also still be issued to persons who are not yet fully vaccinated with a recognised vaccine if the intended entry to Germany is absolutely necessary. The circumstances under which entry is considered to be absolutely necessary are explained in German, English and French on the website of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community under the heading Coronavirus – FAQs and answers, and then under “Travel restrictions/border control”.

German

English

French

General Information on Visa Applications

Do I need a visa?

Generally speaking, all foreigners require a visa for stays in Germany. A visa is not required for visits of up to 90 days in an 180 day period for nationals of those countries for which the European Community has abolished the visa requirement.

List of all countries whose citizens require a visa to enter Germany.

For whom is the German Embassy in Kenya the competent visa authority?

To enter Germany and the Schengen area, Kenyan, Burundian, Eritrean and Somali nationals will require a visa. Seychellois nationals only need a visa for stays exceeding 90 days.

All applicants residing in Kenya and Somalia have to make their application in Nairobi. The German Embassy Nairobi has outsourced the application process for Schengen visa to the external service provider TLScontact. All applications for Schengen visa  must be handed in at the Visa Application Center of TLScontact in Nairobi. Please refer to the website of TLScontact which will guide you through the process.

Long term visa applicants residing in Kenya, Somalia, Eritrea, Burundi and Seychelles apply at the German Embassy Nairobi.

Short term visa applicants (Schengen Visa) residing in Seychelles (third country nationals) need to apply at the German Embassy in Nairobi as the competent visa section.

Kindly observe:

Short term visa applicants (Schengen Visa) residing in Burundi need to apply at the Belgian Embassy in Bujumbura as the competent visa section for German Schengen visa applicants. 
Short term visa applicants (Schengen Visa) residing in Eritrea need to apply at the Italian Embassy in Asmara as the competent visa section for German Schengen visa applicants.
The visa applicants residing in South Sudan must apply at the German Embassy Kampala, Uganda.
Please note that you have to reside in one of those countries for more than six months in order to be eligible to apply with the Embassy in Nairobi.

Which type of visa do I need?

The type of visa you need and the required procedures depends on how long you plan to stay. 
Are you planning a short visit to Germany, e.g. for a holiday? Or would you like to stay longer, e.g. to attend university? Please choose how long you are planning to stay.

Which type of visa do I need for my trip to Germany?

You will find further information on requirements, and how to book an appointment below.