Federal Republic of Germany
Germany visa processing times
How long does each Germany visa take? Below are the typical decision windows for all 8 routes we track, each sourced directly from Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). Click any route to see the full breakdown, including what drives the timeline and whether a priority service is available.
Quick facts: The fastest route is the EU Blue Card (Germany) at 4 weeks – 3 months. The slowest is the Family reunion residence permit at 3 months – 12 months.
| Route | Typical wait | Reality check | Sponsor needed? | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU Blue Card (Germany)# Work and residence permit for highly qualified non-EU professionals with a qualifying German job offer. | 4 weeks – 3 months | Official window with caveat Delay trigger: After 3 months | Yes | 2026-06-22 |
| Chancenkarte (Germany Opportunity Card)# Points-based 1-year residence permit that lets non-EU skilled workers from any country move to Germany without a job offer to search for qualifying work. Six points or full qualification recognition required. | 4 weeks – 3 months | Official window with caveat Delay trigger: After 3 months | No | 2026-06-22 |
| Skilled Worker residence permit (§18a/§18b AufenthG)# Sponsored work and residence permit for qualified non-EU workers from any country worldwide who have a German job offer and a recognised qualification. | 4 weeks – 3 months | Official window with caveat Delay trigger: After 3 months | Yes | 2026-06-22 |
| Job Seeker visa (§20 AufenthG)# Historic 6-month job-search visa for applicants abroad, superseded by the Chancenkarte; §20 AufenthG now covers job search after study or training completed in Germany. | 4 weeks – 3 months | Official window only Delay trigger: After 3 months | No | 2026-06-22 |
| German Student residence permit# Residence permit for international students enrolled at recognised German higher education institutions. | 4 weeks – 3 months | Official window only Delay trigger: After 3 months | Yes | 2026-06-22 |
| Recognition Partnership (Anerkennungspartnerschaft)# Residence permit allowing skilled workers to complete their qualification recognition while living and working in Germany. | 2 months – 4 months | Official window only Delay trigger: After 4 months | Yes | 2026-06-22 |
| Freelance / Self-employment residence permit (§21 AufenthG)# Residence permit for self-employed workers and liberal professionals establishing a business in Germany. | 2 months – 4 months | Official window with caveat Delay trigger: After 4 months | No | 2026-06-22 |
| Family reunion residence permit# Residence permit for spouses and children of German residents or citizens. | 3 months – 12 months | Official window with caveat Delay trigger: After 365 days | No | 2026-06-22 |
Source authority: Make it in Germany — Official portal for skilled workers. Processing times are indicative and change without notice — always confirm before applying.
Cite or reuse this dataset
This figure is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0. Cite the Visa Atlas page for the compiled, dated dataset, and cite the official source for the underlying government rule.
Suggested citation
Visa Atlas, "Federal Republic of Germany processing times dataset", https://visaatlas.org/processing-times/germany. Last verified 22 June 2026.
- JSON endpoint
- https://visaatlas.org/api/public/processing-times
Primary sources (8)
- Make-it-in-Germany - EU Blue Card
- Make-it-in-Germany — Opportunity Card
- Make-it-in-Germany — Skilled Worker visa
- Make-it-in-Germany — Recognition Partnership
- Make-it-in-Germany — Freelance residence permit
- German Federal Foreign Office - Job Seeker visa
- Make it in Germany - Studying
- Make it in Germany - Family reunification
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest Germany visa to get?+
Among the 8 routes we track, the EU Blue Card (Germany) has the shortest published decision window at 4 weeks – 3 months. Processing times are indicative and depend on case complexity, so always confirm the current figure on Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).
Which Germany visa takes the longest to process?+
Of the routes we track, the Family reunion residence permit carries the longest published window at 3 months – 12 months. Permanent-residence and family routes typically sit at the slower end, while short-term and points-tested routes tend to be quicker.
Are these Germany processing times official?+
Yes. Every window on this page is the figure published by Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), shown with the date it was last checked. The figures are indicative rather than guarantees, and the linked source is authoritative on the day you apply.