Visa Glossary

Admission Letter (Zulassungsbescheid)

The admission letter serves as proof for your acceptance into the respective university and is required for the student visa application.

Biometric Data (Biometrische Daten)

Biometric data refers to a unique type of personal information relating to a person’s physical, psychological or behavioral characteristics. This includes fingerprints, facial images and voiceprints that are crucial for identity verification in legal and security contexts.

Biometric Photograph (Biometrisches Foto)

The biometric photograph is a photograph that meets specific requirements and is used for, e.g., a visa or resident permit. See here

Blocked Account (Sperrkonto)

In Germany, the blocked account is a bank account you are required to open for your visa application as proof of financial resources and from which you cannot withdraw the stipulated monthly allowance until you have arrived in Germany.

Certificate of Enrollment (Immatrikulations-bescheinigung)

In Germany, the certificate of enrollment serves as proof for your enrollment at the respective university and contains your personal data, name of the degree program, the semester you are currently enrolled for etc. The document is recognized by authorities.

Declaration to Consent according to EU-GDPR (Einwilligungserklärung zum Datenschutz nach EU-DSGVO)

With the declaration of consent, you agree to the processing of your personal data for, e.g., the visa or residence permit application according to the EU General Data Protection Regulations (EU-GDPR).

Declaration regarding a contract of employment (Erklärung zum Beschäftigungs-verhältnis)

The declaration regarding a contract of employment is a form that your employer must fill in for the EU Blue Card application in Germany.

Electronic Residence Permit (Elektronischer Aufenthaltstitel - eAT)

The German residence permit is issued on a credit card size plastic card with a small embedded chip containing your personal data, biometric data as well as all ancillary provisions. It is referred to as an electronic residence permit (Elektronischer Aufenthaltstitel - abbr. eAT).

Entrepreneurship/
Self-Employment (Unternehmertum/
Selbstständigkeit)

Entrepreneurship is focused on innovation, building, managing and scaling your own business with the goal of creating value and growth whereas self-employment is a form of gainful employment in which you mainly provide services or sell products independently and directly to your customers (e.g. consulting services) with the aim of building trust and attracting repeat business. Both terms are often used interchangeably.

Entry Visa (Visum zur Einreise)

The entry visa is a visa that permits you to enter or travel through another country. It lasts 90 days.

Entry Visa Exemption (Visafreie Einreise)

Citizens from EU/EEA member countries and Switzerland are not required to obtain an entry visa to enter or travel through Germany.The entry visa exemption also applies to citizens from Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the USA - i.e. the citizens from these countries are permitted to enter, travel through or stay in Germany for certain purposes for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte EU)

The EU Blue Card is a special work and residence title for non-EU/non-EEA academics and persons with similar qualifications who would like to take up gainful employment in the respective country. It can be issued for a maximum of 4 years.
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The following EU countries provide the possibility of obtaining an EU Blue Card: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

European Economic Area - EEA (Europäischer Wirtschaftsraum - EWR)

The agreement on the European Economic Area (abbr. EEA) provides the possibility of free movement of goods, services, people and capital within the 30 member countries:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland (non-EU), Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein (non-EU), Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway (non-EU), Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden

European Free Trade Association - EFTA

The European Free Trade Association (abbr. EFTA) is a regional trade organization promoting free trade and economic integration for its 4 member countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland

European Union - EU (Europäische Union)

The European Union (abbr. EU) is a political and economical union of 27 countries located in Europe:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus (non-Schengen), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland (non-Schegen), Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden

Fictional Certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung)

A fictional certificate is an official document issued by the foreigners authority in the non-EU/non-EEA citizen’s municipality and serves as a temporary proof of your legal rights to reside in Germany.

Freelancer

As a freelancer, you are technically self-employed, but work individually on short-term projects for several clients. Freelancers are, e.g., artists, language teachers, writers etc. To work as a freelancer in Germany, you can apply for a self-employment visa.

Health Insurance Requirement (Kranken-versicherungspflicht)

In Germany, it is compulsory for every resident to have health insurance. Whether it is a statutory or private health insurance, international students must prove that their health insurance coverage meets the German health insurance standards.

Invitation Letter (Einladungsschreiben)

In certain cases, you will be requested by the German Embassy/consulate to submit an invitation letter for the visa application (e.g. family visit, conference attendance etc.) as proof of your purpose of visit.

Job Seeker Visa (Visum zur Arbeitsplatzsuche)

A job seeker visa is a residence title which allows qualified professionals to reside in Germany for up to 6 or 18 months for the purpose of seeking gainful employment.

Mini-Job (Minijob/Aushilfsjob)

A mini-job is a side job that allows you to earn up to 538 EUR per month without having to pay taxes.

National Visa - Type D (Nationales Visum - D-Visum)

The national visa (type d) is a residence title allowing non-EU/non-EEA citizens to enter and reside in Germany for more than 90 days for certain purposes, e.g. to study or to take up gainful employment. It is usually initially issued for 90 days and upon your arrival in Germany, you must apply for a residence permit within the 90 days.

Proof of Accommodation (Wohnungsgeber-bestätigung)

The proof of accommodation form must be filled in by your landlord and is required for the compulsory registration of your German home address with the registration authority in your municipality.

Proof of Financial Resources (Finanzierungsnachweis)

You are required to submit proof of financial resources, i.e. documents that serve as a guarantee that you are able to afford the cost of living throughout your stay in Germany (e.g. blocked account statement, scholarship confirmation, declaration of commitment etc.).

Registration Certificate (Meldebescheinigung)

In Germany, the registration certificate is an official document issued by the registration authority. It is compulsory for every person residing in Germany to register their home address with the registration authority in their municipality within 2 weeks after moving into a residence.

Residence Permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis)

In Germany, a residence permit allows non-EU/non-EEA citizens to reside in Germany for extended stays, i.e. for more than 90 days for certain purposes (studying, working etc.)

Residence Title (Aufenthaltstitel)

In Germany, a residence title is the authorization for non-EU/non-EEA citizens to enter and reside in Germany. It can be issued in form of, e.g., a visa, residence permit, EU Blue Card etc.

Return Travel Ticket (Rückreiseticket)

For the application for a Shengen visa, e.g., you are required to present your return travel ticket to the respective embassy/consulate to prove that your stay will not exceed the 90 day period.

Schengen Visa - Type C (Schengen-Visum Typ C)

The Schengen visa (type c) is also referred to as a short-term visa allowing non-EU/non-EEA citizens to enter and circulate in the Schengen area for up to 90 days within any 180 day period. It can be issued as a single-entry, multiple-entry or airport transit visa.

The following are the member countries of the Schengen Agreement and Convention: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland (non-EU), Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein (non-EU), Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway (non-EU), Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland (non-EU)

Self-Employment/
Entrepreneurship (Selbstständigkeit/
Unternehmertum)

Self-employment is a form of gainful employment in which you mainly provide services or sell products independently and directly to your customers (e.g. consulting services) with the aim of building trust and attracting repeat business. Entrepreneurship is focused on innovation, building, managing and scaling your own business with the goal of creating value and growth. Both terms are often used interchangeably.

Self-Employment Visa (Visum zur Selbstständigkeit)

The self-employment visa is a residence title allowing you to enter and set up a business in Germany, e.g. to found your startup. The self-employment visa is usually initially issued for up to 3 years.

Short Term Visa (Kurzaufenthaltsvisum)

The short term visa is also called Schengen visa (type C) and allows its holder to enter, travel through and stay in the respective country for certain purposes for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and to circulate in the Schengen area:

‍Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland (non-EU), Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein (non-EU), Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway (non-EU), Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland (non-EU)

Student Visa (Visum zum Studieren)

The student visa is a residence title allowing non-EU/non-EEA citizens to enter and reside in the respective country for their studies. In Germany, you must apply for a residence permit within 90 days upon your arrival. This regulation also applies to citizens from the following countries that are exempt from the entry visa requirement:

Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, USA

Visa (Visum)

A visa is an official document issued by the embassy or consulate of a country and allows its holder to enter, travel through or reside in that respective country. It is usually endorsed in the passport.

Visa Application Form - VIDEX (Visumsantragsformular)

In order to apply for a visa for Germany, each applicant must fill in the visa application form VIDEX with their personal data and other relevant information.

Visa Extension (Visumverlängerung)

In case the validity of a visa is shorter than the intended stay in Germany, the visa holder must apply for a visa extension to the foreigners authority in their municipality.

Work Visa for qualified professionals (Visum zum Arbeiten für Fachkräfte)

The work visa for qualified professionals is a residence title allowing non-EU/non-EEA skilled workers to enter and take up qualified employment in Germany. You must meet specific requirements, e.g. your qualification (completed vocational training or studies) must be recognized in Germany.

Work Visa for professionally experienced workers (Visum zum Arbeiten für Berufserfahrene)

Experienced professionals who would like to work in a non-regulated profession in Germany can apply for a work visa for professionally experienced workers. To be eligible for this type of visa, you must have a vocational qualification (min. 2 years) or higher education degree that is recognized by the government in the country in which you obtained it. There are very specific requirements you have to meet.Non-regulated professions are, e.g., biologist, economist, journalist, baker, etc.

Working Student (Werkstudent)

In Germany, the term working student is referred to an individual who is enrolled at a university as a full-time student and, in addition, takes up part-time employment. Working students are allowed to work 20 hours per week during the lecture period. During the semester break, they are allowed to work 40 hours per week.

‍International students are allowed to work 140 full days or 280 half days per year on their student resident permit. 4 hours count as half a working day.

Your Guide to Understanding Visa Terms