What to Know Before Travelling to Germany

What do you need to know before travelling to Germany? First, the visa: Turkish citizens holding an ordinary (maroon) passport must obtain a Schengen visa, which allows a stay of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. In addition, passport validity, customs limits and the new border registration system should be known before the trip.

In short

• A Schengen visa is required for Germany with a maroon passport; the stay is limited to 90 days within 180 days.
• The passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and must remain valid for at least 3 months after the trip ends.
• On a multi-country route, apply for the visa at the representation of the main country or the one where you will stay longest.
• Declare in writing at customs any cash amount of €10,000 or more.
• There may be queues at the airport due to EES; allow extra time.

Visa: the essence of the rule, duration and passport requirement

Holders of ordinary (maroon) passports must obtain a visa from German diplomatic missions to enter or transit through Germany. This visa is a Schengen visa.

The permitted stay is 90 days within 180 days. Holders of service, special (green) and diplomatic passports may travel without a visa within the same 90/180-day limit. For current application conditions and appointment information, see the Germany visa page.

Duration and fee

The visa processing time is 15 days, but it may extend to 45 days. Therefore, plan at least a month and a half in advance. The visa fee has been confirmed as €90; check the current tariff for the application centre's additional service fees.

Passport requirement

• The passport must have been issued within the last 10 years.
• The passport must remain valid for at least 3 months from the end date of the trip.

If your passport does not meet these requirements, renew it first, then apply for the visa. Do not leave the application until too close to your travel date.

If you are visiting more than one country

If you are combining Germany with other Schengen countries, you must apply for the visa at the representation of the country you intend to visit or where you will stay the longest. Otherwise, German authorities may cancel the visa on grounds of false declaration.

This rule is especially important for package tours. On routes covering Germany together with the Benelux countries, France or Switzerland, the main country is determined based on the number of nights in the itinerary. For example, in programs such as the Bargain Benelux & France & Germany Tour or the Super Promo Benelux & France & Germany Tour Route, clarify which country's representation should issue the visa by checking the number of nights in the tour program. Refer to the relevant tour page for duration and date information.

Stays exceeding 90 days

A Schengen visa (type C) allows a stay of up to 90 days within six months. If your stay will exceed 90 days, a national visa (type D) is required. The route, reservations and statements in your application file must be consistent with one another; inconsistency causes problems later.

New registration at the border: EES

The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully operational at all external border crossings since 10 April 2026. The facial image and fingerprints of short-stay non-EU travellers are recorded. Manual passport stamping has ended.

The practical consequence of this system is waiting time. Queues may occasionally form at German airports, especially during busy travel periods. Therefore, it is wise to allow extra time for border control.

• Do not keep connection times short on connecting flights.
• Arrive early at the airport for your return flight as well.
• Have your passport ready at hand for biometric registration.
• If travelling with family or a group, keep everyone's documents in an easily accessible place.

Keep in mind that queue times vary according to how busy it is. When making reservations, allow time not only for the flight schedule but also for the first thing you will do after landing (hotel check-in, transfer, tour meeting).

Customs: cash, alcohol, tobacco and goods

Anyone bringing €10,000 or more in cash and securities into Germany from outside the EU must declare the amount to customs in writing.

Duty-free limits

• Tobacco: For travellers at least 17 years old, 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos/small cigars or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco (or a proportional mix).
• Alcohol: 1 litre of spirits above 22% or 2 litres of alcoholic beverages at or below 22% (or a proportional mix); plus 4 litres of still wine and 16 litres of beer. Travellers under 17 may not bring alcohol or tobacco products.
• Other goods: €430 for travellers arriving by air from outside the EU; €175 for travellers under 15.
• Medicine: The duty-free amount corresponds to the traveller's personal needs.

The limits are per person and depend on age. Keep these limits in mind when buying gifts. Goods exceeding the limit may require customs processing; check the current rules of the customs authorities for unclear cases.

Points to watch out for

The following are the points that require the most attention during the application and the trip. These will save you unnecessary loss of time.

• The passport not having been issued within the last 10 years, or not having at least 3 months of validity after the return date.
• Applying to the wrong country's representation on a multi-country trip.
• Applying for the visa without accounting for the 15-day processing time and possible extension.
• Incorrectly dividing alcohol and tobacco limits among family members; those under 17 cannot bring these products.
• Carrying prescription medicine in excess of personal needs.
• Not allowing enough time for border registration at the airport.

Read the cancellation terms when making ticket and accommodation reservations. Entering into a non-refundable reservation before the visa result is finalized creates unnecessary risk. Baggage and cabin rules vary from airline to airline, so check your airline's current rules.

Step by step: until departure

1. Determine your route. Is it Germany only, or several countries? Choose the main country accordingly. For city selection, you can check the Germany places to visit guide.
2. Check your passport. Verify the issue date and the validity requirement.
3. Apply for the visa. Processing time is 15 days, extending to 45 days if delayed; plan your schedule accordingly.
4. Finalize transportation and accommodation. If you prefer a ready-made program, check out tours abroad.
5. Prepare for the flight. For the process, see the online check-in guide.
6. Check baggage rules. Check your airline's current rules.
7. Arrive early at the airport. Allow extra time for EES registration and possible queues.

If you want to travel as a group, you can check routes such as the Full Benelux & France & Germany Tour; visa and route planning becomes easier with a program.

Checklist before departure

A few days before departure, check off the following items one by one. If any item is missing, resolve it first.

• The passport was issued within the last 10 years and remains valid for at least 3 months after the return.
• A Schengen visa has been obtained; the stay does not exceed 90 days within 180 days.
• The visa was obtained from the correct country's representation.
• If the cash amount will reach or exceed €10,000, the written declaration has been prepared.
• The alcohol, tobacco and goods limits are known.
• Medicines are limited to personal needs and accompanied by documentation if necessary.
• Extra time has been allowed for EES registration at the airport.
• Baggage and cabin rules have been confirmed with the airline.
• Visa approval, reservations and insurance documents are printed or accessible offline on your phone.

To see the current status of visa and country information, open the Germany visa page again right before your trip. If you want to prepare a route, check out tours to Germany.

Frequently asked questions

Can Turks travel to Germany without a visa?

No. Holders of ordinary (maroon) passports must obtain a Schengen visa. Holders of service, special and diplomatic passports may travel without a visa, provided they do not exceed 90 days within 180 days.

How many days does it take to get a Germany visa?

The processing time is 15 days and may extend to 45 days. Therefore, it makes sense to apply at least a month and a half before travelling.

How long can you stay in Germany with a visa?

A Schengen visa allows a stay of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Stays exceeding 90 days require a national visa (type D).

How much cash can I bring with me to Germany?

If you are bringing €10,000 or more in cash and securities from outside the EU, you must declare the amount to customs in writing. There is no separately confirmed rule on this page for lower amounts; check the current customs rule.

Can cigarettes and alcohol be brought into Germany?

Yes, within the limit. A traveller at least 17 years old may bring 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco. For alcohol, 1 litre of spirits above 22% or 2 litres of lower-alcohol beverages, plus 4 litres of still wine and 16 litres of beer, may be brought in duty-free.

What is EES, and how does it affect me entering Germany?

EES is the EU's entry/exit system and has been operating at all external border crossings since 10 April 2026. The facial image and fingerprints of short-stay travellers are recorded. Waiting times at airports may increase during busy periods.

Sources

• Germany / Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs — mfa.gov.tr
• iDATA - FAQ - General Information — idata.com.tr
• Customs online - Cash — zoll.de
• Customs online - Travellers' allowances — zoll.de
• Importing goods (travel souvenirs) from non-EU countries into Germany (customs control) — service.rlp.de
• Customs — dus.com