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Do British citizens need a visa for Germany?
United Kingdom 
Germany United Kingdom passport holders can enter Germany without a visa for up to 90 days.
No visa needed
- Entry requirement
- Visa-free
- Maximum stay
- 90 days
- Apply before travel
- No
- Last updated
- February 2026
Before you travel
Checked November 2026⚠️ German missions warn that some private visa agencies make false claims about the process and that forged bookings or documents lead to refusal; in the US they work only with one contracted provider. Use only the official links below.
At the border
- Passport (or travel document) must have been issued within the last 10 years and stay valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area.
- Visa-free and visa holders alike may stay no more than 90 days in any rolling 180-day period, counted across all Schengen countries together.
- Entry/Exit System: on your first crossing since EES started, border officers record your passport data, a facial image and fingerprints; passports are no longer stamped since 10 April 2026.
- Visa applicants need travel medical insurance valid across the Schengen area with at least EUR 30,000 cover, including emergency care and repatriation.
- You must be able to pay for your stay and travel from your own funds or income; Germany's pages do not set a fixed daily amount.
- Schengen visa applications cannot yet be filed online; you can fill the form online but must apply in person (often at an external visa centre). The Consular Services Portal (digital.diplo.de) is for long-stay visas.
Recent changes
- October 2025: the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) began a phased rollout at external borders on 12 October 2025.
- April 2026: EES became fully operational on 10 April 2026 and replaced manual passport stamping for short-stay non-EU visitors.
- July 2025: the European Commission set the future ETIAS fee at EUR 20 instead of EUR 7; ETIAS itself has not launched.
Official source: Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) - visa information · Not yet confirmed officially: No fixed daily funds amount found for Germany
What United Kingdom passport holders need to do
- Check your passport validity. Many countries ask for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date.
- Be ready to show a return or onward ticket, proof of accommodation and proof of funds at the border.
- Leave before the permitted stay ends. Working or studying usually needs a different visa.
Germany is in the Schengen area, so days spent in any Schengen country count toward the same limit. Use the Schengen 90/180 calculator to check how many days you have left.
United Kingdom is one of 93 passports in the “visa-free” group for Germany. See the full Germany visa requirements for every passport.
Other easy destinations in Europe for United Kingdom passport holders
Germany is one of 118 destinations in the “visa-free” group for the United Kingdom passport, which ranks #6 worldwide with a mobility score of 162. Of 45 destinations in Europe, 44 need no visa arranged in advance; the easiest are listed below.
| Destination | Requirement | Max stay |
|---|---|---|
 Albania | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Andorra | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Austria | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Belarus | Visa-free | 30 days |
 Belgium | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Bulgaria | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Croatia | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Cyprus | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Czech Republic | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Denmark | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Estonia | Visa-free | 90 days |
Frequently asked questions
Do British citizens need a visa for Germany?
United Kingdom passport holders can enter Germany without a visa for up to 90 days.
How long can United Kingdom passport holders stay in Germany?
Up to 90 days without a visa, counted within any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area.
Do Germany citizens need a visa for the United Kingdom?
Germany passport holders can enter the United Kingdom without a visa for up to 180 days.
Germany visa requirements for other passports
Data last updated February 2026. This page covers short visits such as tourism. Rules can change at short notice and differ for work, study or long stays. Confirm with the embassy or official immigration website of Germany before you book.