Germany has confirmed that nationals from six countries can enter and apply for residence permits after arriving, without obtaining a visa firstThe exemption applies only to those not seeking employment, meaning anyone intending to work must still obtain a visa before travelling to GermanyThe visa-free entry benefit is largely aimed at people relocating for reasons such as family reunification, retirement, or other non-employment purposesPAY ATTENTION: Mark Legit.ng as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!Germany has confirmed that citizens of six countries are permitted to travel to the country without a visa and apply for a residence permit after arrival, under one important condition.The exemption comes with a significant restriction. It applies exclusively to those who do not plan to take up employment in Germany. Any citizen from the six listed countries who intends to work must obtain a visa before travelling, just as nationals from other countries are required to do.Germany mentions the countries allowed visa-free entry but not immediate employment. Photo credit: Getty Images Source: UGCGermany restricts 6 visa-free countriesAccording to the federal government’s official guidance on long-stay visas, nationals from the countries below are eligible to enter Germany and submit their residence permit applications once they are already in the country.PAY ATTENTION: From breaking news to viral moments.
Follow Legit.ng on Instagram!AndorraBrazilEl SalvadorHondurasMonacoSan MarinoThis arrangement sets them apart from most nationalities, who are required to secure the appropriate visa before crossing the German border.This means the visa-free entry benefit is largely aimed at people relocating for reasons such as family reunification, retirement, or other non-employment purposes. Those moving for job opportunities cannot rely on this arrangement and must go through the standard visa application process from their home country before arrival.What this means for these six countriesFor eligible nationals, the ability to arrive in Germany and handle the residence permit process locally offers a degree of flexibility that most other nationalities do not enjoy. Rather than navigating consular appointments and lengthy pre-departure paperwork, citizens of these six countries can settle in first and then address their immigration status through German authorities.The policy reflects bilateral agreements and existing diplomatic arrangements between Germany and these specific nations. Notably, none of the six countries listed is in Africa, meaning the continent’s citizens are not covered by this provision and must continue to apply for the relevant visa before travel.In a similar report, Legit.ng published that Germany announced eight countries whose citizens can enter without visa and apply after their arrival.Germany: Countries eligible to study without visaMeanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Germany released a list of countries whose citizens are not required to obtain a visa before traveling to Germany to study.The list includes citizens from countries such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Israel, and the Republic of Korea.
Source: Legit.ng Oluwadara Adebisi (Human Interest Editor) Adebisi Oluwadara is a Human Interest Editor who joined Legit.ng in January 2026. He has over seven years of experience in press release writing and journalism. He graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Technology. However, he was mentored in journalism and became a certified journalist after completing the Google News Initiative courses in Advanced Digital Reporting and Fighting Misinformation.
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