A passport valid for three months beyond the length of stay and issued within the past 10 years is required by all nationals listed in the chart above except (1) EU nationals holding a passport or national ID card which is valid for the duration of stay.

EU nationals are not required to possess a return ticket or show sufficient funds.

If travelling with a pet from the UK to Germany, the animal must have a microchip, rabies vaccination certificate and EU pet passport. If being vaccinated for the first time or if the previous period of validity of the last vaccination has expired, the vaccination should take place at least 21 days before travelling.

If you are entering Germany from a country with a high risk of rabies, your pet must have a rabies titer test and samples must be processed at approved laboratories. Once the test results are accepted, your pet can enter Germany within three months after the date the blood was drawn.

Visa processing usually takes at least five working days, but may take longer in some cases.

If applying for a visa, you'll be asked to detail how you intend to support yourself for the duration of your stay.

If you wish to extend a stay once in the country, you should apply to the Ausländeramt (literally 'Outsider Authorities') office in the nearest major town.