Where to apply for a German national visa
A national visa is filed in the country where you actually live, not where appointments are faster. Here is what that means in practice, with a comparison of the seven missions our clients use most.
Updated: September 17, 2026
Not sure where you can apply? Four questions will show your mission →
Georgia
Applying in Tbilisi: a Georgian residence permit, the portal or the waiting list.
Read more →BelgradeSerbia
Only with a Serbian residence permit: booking is free, decisions from 3 weeks.
Read more →RussiaMoscow
One filing channel for all of Russia: embassy waiting list, appointments in Moscow.
Read more →Tel AvivIsrael
Directly at the embassy, no visa centre. And when no D visa is needed at all.
Read more →YerevanArmenia
Filed at the embassy only: an Armenian residence permit and six months in the country.
Read more →Astana and AlmatyKazakhstan
Two missions and the TLScontact visa centre: the channel depends on your category.
Read more →Istanbul and AnkaraTurkey
Filed in Istanbul only: an ikamet and six months of living in the country.
Read more →A national visa (visa D) is required for any stay in Germany longer than 90 days: work, EU Blue Card, Opportunity Card, studies, family reunification, freelancing. It is filed according to where you live, not your citizenship: a mission only accepts applications from residents of its consular district.
The main rule: apply where you live
German missions word it in much the same way: the applicant must live in the district and be able to prove it. The embassy in Tbilisi, for example, treats you as a resident if you have been in the country for at least six months, and states plainly that applications are not accepted from people who travelled to the country only in order to file. In Belgrade you need a valid Serbian residence permit.
Three practical consequences:
- Visa-free stay alone does not open the door. Checklists list the local residence permit as a separate item for non-citizens.
- The filing country is chosen before you move. First a lawful status in the country, then the appointment and the documents.
- Money cannot speed up an appointment. Slots are free, and intermediaries have no privileged access to them — the missions say so explicitly.
Comparison of missions
| Where | Who can apply | Channels | Fee | Particularity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tbilisi, Georgia | Residents of Georgia: residence permit, roughly 6 months of stay | Auslandsportal or the RK-Termin waiting list | €75, cash in GEL | No visa centre; appointments take 3–4 weeks |
| Belgrade, Serbia | Holders of a long-term Serbian residence permit | Auslandsportal, embassy booking, Visametric | €75, €37.50 for children under 17, cash in RSD | Passports are returned via the Abholliste |
| Moscow, Russia | Residents of Russia; the whole country files centrally | Embassy waiting list, no direct booking | €75, cash in roubles or a German-issued card | A biometric passport is required from 01.01.2026 |
| Tel Aviv, Israel | Residents of Israel | Auslandsportal and the embassy booking system | €75, cash in ILS | § 41 AufenthV covers some routes — a visa is not always needed |
| Yerevan, Armenia | Residents of Armenia: residence card plus at least 6 months of stay | RK-Termin; Auslandsportal for some categories | €75, in AMD only, paid on filing | TLScontact handles Schengen only; the visa D is filed at the embassy |
| Astana and Almaty, Kazakhstan | Residents of Kazakhstan: residence permit or registration; you file in your district | TLScontact, RK-Termin, Auslandsportal | €75, €37.50 for minors, in KZT only; TLS service fee €28.80 | Two consular districts; since 01.07.2025 some categories go via TLS |
| Istanbul, Turkey | Residents of Turkey: centre of life in the country, roughly 6 continuous months | Auslandsportal or the iDATA waiting list (€12) | €75, €37.50 for children; payment currency not stated | All non-Turkish nationals file in Istanbul; telc is not accepted |
Processing officially takes "up to three months" everywhere. In practice it depends on the category: the Blue Card is decided fastest, family reunification and self-employment take longest. Exact figures per mission are on the pages above.
What is the same in every country
- The category is chosen once and determines everything: booking channel, document package, fee and timeline. A mistake here costs months.
- The Videx form for long stays is separate from the Schengen one: filled in online, printed and signed by hand.
- Completeness: originals plus one set of copies, arranged in the order of the mission's checklist. An incomplete set is a ground for refusal.
- Translations and apostille: civil-status documents and diplomas normally need an apostille and a German translation. Electronic apostilles are not accepted everywhere.
- You must appear in person: fingerprints are taken on site.
- Remonstration was abolished on 1 July 2025. After a refusal you either file again with a stronger package or go to court.
How to choose the filing country
If you already hold a residence permit in one of these countries, the question is settled — you file there. If you have no status yet, work in this order: first find out which visa fits you (our quiz and Opportunity Card points calculator), then check where you can realistically obtain a lawful status and how long that takes, and only then book an appointment.
To go through your whole case — visa route, filing country and documents — book a consultation: 45 minutes, €90, credited towards a package.
FAQ
Can I apply in any country that has a German embassy?
No. A mission accepts applications only from residents of its consular district, and residence must be proven. Travelling to a country specifically to file is explicitly named as a reason not to accept the documents.
How much does an appointment cost?
Nothing, anywhere: both the embassy booking systems and the Auslandsportal are free. You only pay the visa fee, usually €75.
Can an agency get a slot faster?
No. Missions warn directly that intermediaries have no privileged access to slots and advise against handing over control of your booking.
Which is faster, the online portal or a paper application?
Usually the Auslandsportal: it checks completeness in advance and work categories get earlier appointments. But the channel is set by your category, not by you — some categories are still paper only.
Can I enter on a Schengen visa and sort out the permit in Germany?
As a rule no: relocation requires a national visa. There are exceptions for citizens of certain countries — Israelis under § 41 AufenthV, for example, which is covered on the Tel Aviv page.
What if my application is refused?
Remonstration was abolished on 1 July 2025. You can file again with the weak points fixed, or go to court. Before refiling it is worth analysing the reason for refusal with an expert.