Visa and the German Embassy in Singapore
Short visits: no visa, no work
Singapore is on the EU list of countries whose citizens need no visa for short stays in the Schengen area (Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/1806): up to 90 days in any 180 days. A visit is for tourism, business meetings or job interviews, not for working.
Living, studying or working: national visa first
Unlike US, Canadian, Japanese or Korean citizens, Singapore citizens are not on the list in § 41 AufenthV and so cannot simply enter visa-free and apply for any permit in Berlin. The normal way is a national (D) visa from the German Embassy in Singapore before you travel (§ 41 AufenthV).
The national visa is issued for up to 90 days; in Berlin you then get the residence permit from the immigration office (LEA). Cases that need the approval of the Berlin authority (§ 31 AufenthV) can take several months (embassy: national visa).
Edge case, not a plan: § 39 Nr. 3 AufenthV lets visa-free visitors apply in Germany only if the legal entitlement arose after entry, and not for study (§ 16b), § 16e or § 19e (§ 39 AufenthV). Whether a job offer received during a visit qualifies is decided case by case and is risky; apply from Singapore.
How to apply
- Check your route with the Visa Navigator and the embassy category page (table below).
- Many long-stay purposes can be applied for online in the Consular Services Portal; you still attend in person (embassy: portal).
- Appointment: book online via the embassy appointment system, one appointment per person (embassy: appointments). The page does not say whether booking is free; it should be.
- Students of all kinds apply through VFS Global, Haw Par Centre, 180 Clemenceau Avenue #05-03, Singapore 239922 (embassy: study, VFS Global). VFS service fee €34.13 (paid in SGD); processing usually 5 to 6 weeks (embassy).
Embassy pages by purpose
| Purpose | Embassy page | Here |
|---|---|---|
| Employment / Blue Card | Employment, Blue Card | Skilled worker |
| Opportunity Card | Chancenkarte | Opportunity Card |
| Self-employment | Self-employment | Freelance |
| Study, language course, research | Study, Language course, Research | Study |
| Family, marriage | Family reunion, Marriage | Family |
| Health insurance for the visa | Health insurance | Health |
Fees and processing
- Visa fee: the equivalent of €75 in SGD, paid in cash or by Visa/Mastercard (embassy: employment). Minors €37.50 (§ 46 (2), § 50 AufenthV).
- Processing for work and family visas: about 6–8 weeks after a complete application; the embassy does not answer status enquiries and asks you not to buy flights before the visa is issued.
- Documents not in English or German need an official translation (Documents).
- Faster for skilled workers: the employer can request the accelerated procedure (§ 81a AufenthG) at the Berlin immigration office.
If the visa is refused
The informal remonstration against visa refusals was abolished on 1 July 2025. You can sue at the Administrative Court of Berlin within one month (§ 74 VwGO), or within one year if the notice had no instructions on legal remedy (§ 58 (2) VwGO). A new application is always possible. Get legal advice.
A question this page does not answer? Contact us. Free orientation only, no legal advice for individual cases.