ETIAS for Germany

ETIAS APPLICATION

Citizens of the United Kingdom will soon need to apply for ETIAS before travelling to Germany. The new visa waiver for Europe will be available to British passport holders from 2026.

etias-germany

Requirements to enter Germany from the UK

British citizens do not need a visa for short trips to Germany. Tourists and business travellers with a valid UK passport can spend up to 90 days in Germany without a visa.

From 2026, however, they must register with the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). ETIAS is a new visa waiver for Europe. It will be mandatory to go to Germany from the United Kingdom.

ETIAS will make Germany an even safer destination for tourists and residents. It will screen foreigners entering the country without a visa, helping to identify security threats.

UK passport holders can already apply for ESTA for the US and the Canadian eTA. ETIAS is the European equivalent.

When will ETIAS be necessary to travel from the UK to Germany?

ETIAS for Germany will be operational from 2026. There will be a short implementation period, after which the visa waiver will become mandatory.

UK passport holders will need to apply for ETIAS travel authorisation online before visiting Germany, or another country in the Schengen zone. Tourists, transit passengers, and business travellers will be eligible.

ETIAS for Germany will be valid for:

  • Up to 3 years, or until the passport expires (whichever happens first)
  • Multiple trips to Germany or other EU countries
  • Trips of up to 90 days per 180-day period

How to apply for ETIAS for Germany

UK passport holders will apply for ETIAS for Germany online. They will need:

  • Valid UK passport
  • Email address
  • Debit or credit card

British nationals will complete an electronic application form with:

  • Personal information
  • Passport data
  • Travel information
  • Safety and security information

To finalise the request, British applicants will pay the ETIAS for Germany processing fee using a debit or credit card.

Travellers who meet the ETIAS requirements for Germany receive the approved visa waiver by email.

Travel to Germany after Brexit

Rules for travelling between the UK and Germany changed when the United Kingdom left the European Union.

British citizens can still visit Germany without a visa after Brexit. However, visa-free stays are now limited to 90 days per 180-day period.

There are some other ways in which travelling between the UK and Germany has changed since Brexit:

  • British passports must be valid for at least 3 months after the date the travellers will leave the Schengen Area and cannot be more than 10 years old
  • Passengers from the UK can no longer use EU border gates when entering Germany
  • Proof of funds or onwards travel could be required on arrival in Germany
  • Citizens of the UK need a visa to work in Germany or stay longer than 3 months

Passengers travelling from the UK to Germany after Brexit may also be affected by changes to medical care and mobile roaming charges.

British tourists should check all the latest information.

Information about Germany

Germany is a popular European destination for British holidaymakers; tourists visit Germany to enjoy its cities and countryside. Germany is also visited by many British business travellers.

The German capital, Berlin, is the most visited city. The Reichstag Building and the Memorial of the Berlin Wall are amongst the top attractions. The German countryside boasts many picturesque villages, castles, and palaces.

Other places to visit include Munich, Frankfurt, and the Rhine Valley.

  • Capital CityBerlin
  • LanguageGerman
  • CurrencyEuro
  • Plug TypesTypes C and F
  • Emerency Phone Number112

Recommended insurance to travel to Germany

British passport holders can use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in the EU until it expires.

With a valid EHIC, British citizens can receive state-provided medical care if they fall ill or have an accident whilst in Germany.

Due to Brexit, expired EHIC cards will be replaced by the new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).

UK citizens should still take out travel insurance when visiting Germany. Neither the EHIC nor the GHIC is a substitute for insurance that covers medical expenses.

British consular services in Germany

The UK has several representations in Germany. British citizens in Germany can request consular services at the embassy or consulates.

Consulate

British Embassy in Berlin

Location

Berlin

Address

Wilhelmstrasse 70 10117 Berlin Germany

Consulate

British Honorary Consulate in Bremen

Location

Bremen

Address

Herrlichkeiten, 5-6 28199 Bremen Germany

Consulate

British Honorary Consulate in Dresden

Location

Dresden

Address

c/o TUDAG TU Dresden Aktiengesellschaft Freiberger Straße 37 Dresden 01067 Germany

Consulate

British Consulate General in Düsseldorf

Location

Düsseldorf

Address

Willi-Becker-Allee 10 40227 Düsseldorf Germany

Consulate

British Honorary Consulate in Frankfurt am Main

Location

Frankfurt am Main

Address

Freshfield Bruckhaus Deringer Bockenheimer Anlage 44 60322 Frankfurt am Main Germany

Consulate

British Honorary Consulate in Hamburg

Location

Hamburg

Address

Alsterufer 36 20354 Hamburg Germany

Consulate

British Honorary Consulate in Hanover

Location

Hanover

Address

Friedrichswall, 10 30159 Hannover Germany

Consulate

British Honorary Consulate in Kiel

Location

Kiel

Address

United Canal Agency GmbH, Schleuse Maklerstrasse 11-14 24159 Kiel Germany

Consulate

British Consulate General in Munich

Location

Munich

Address

Möhlstrasse 5 81675 Munich Germany

Consulate

British Honorary Consulate in Stuttgart

Location

Stuttgart

Address

Königstraße 1A 70173 Stuttgart Germany

German consular service in UK

Citizens of the United Kingdom can get information about German residency and work visas at a German representation.

uk-map

Consulate

German Embassy in London

Location

London

Address

23 Belgrave Square London, SW1X 8PZ United Kingdom

Consulate

German Honorary Consulate in Aberdeen

Location

Aberdeen

Address

Ledingham Chalmers LLP, Solicitors Johnstone House 52-54 Rose Street Aberdeen, AB10 1HA United Kingdom

Consulate

German Honorary Consulate in Birmingham

Location

Birmingham

Address

c/o E.ON UK plc Westwood Way Westwood Business Park Coventry CV4 8LG United Kingdom

Consulate

German Honorary Consulate in Bristol

Location

Bristol

Address

c/o Burges Salmon LLP One Glass Wharf Bristol BS2 0ZX United Kingdom

Consulate

German Honorary Consulate in Cardiff

Location

Cardiff

Address

42 St Margaret's Road Whitchurch Cardiff, CF14 7AB United Kingdom

Consulate

German Honorary Consulate in Dover

Location

Dover

Address

c/o Dover South Services Limekiln Street Dover, CT17 9EF United Kingdom

Consulate

German Consulate General in Edinburgh

Location

Edinburgh

Address

16 Eglinton Crescent Edinburgh, EH12 5DG United Kingdom

Consulate

German Honorary Consulate in Glasgow

Location

Glasgow

Address

The Pentagon Centre, Suite 215 36 Washington Streeet Glasgow, G2 1AL United Kingdom

Consulate

German Honorary Consulate in Guernsey

Location

Guernsey

Address

BW Bank, Elizabeth House Les Ruettes Brayes St. Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 1BP United Kingdom

Consulate

German Honorary Consulate in Hull

Location

Hull

Address

Reilinger Strasse 19 Barrow upon Humber, DN19 7 DI United Kingdom

Consulate

German Honorary Consulate in Jersey

Location

Jersey

Address

Ingouville House Ingouville Lane St. Helier JE3 1EZ United Kingdom

Consulate

German Honorary Consulate in Kirkwall

Location

Kirkwall

Address

Shore Street Kirkwall, KW15 1LQ, Orkney United Kingdom

Consulate

German Honorary Consulate in Leeds

Location

Leeds

Address

c/o Cobbetts, Trafalgar House 29 Park Place Leeds LS1 5PS United Kingdom

Consulate

German Honorary Consulate in Lerwick

Location

Lerwick

Address

Shearer Shipping Services Ltd. Garthspool Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0RJ United Kingdom

Consulate

German Honorary Consulate in Liverpool

Location

Liverpool

Address

Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry 22 Great Victoria Street Liverpool L1 3DZ United Kingdom

Consulate

German Honorary Consulate in Londonderry

Location

Londonderry

Address

Arbins Gate 2 Londonderry, Northern Ireland United Kingdom

Consulate

German Honorary Consulate in Newcastle upon Tyne

Location

Newcastle upon Tyne

Address

One NorthEast, Stella House, Goldcrest Way Newburn Riverside Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8PS United Kingdom

Consulate

German Honorary Consulate in Plymouth

Location

Plymouth

Address

Escombe Lambert Ltd. Victoria Wharves Plymouth PL4 0EG United Kingdom

Consulate

German Honorary Consulate in Southampton

Location

Southampton

Address

Bowling Green House, 1 Orchard Place Hampshire, SO40 8 FT United Kingdom

Major airports in Germany

Germany is easily accessible from the UK. There are direct flights to Germany from UK cities including London, Birmingham, Glasgow, and Manchester.

ETIAS will be valid to enter Germany through any of its international airports. The British traveller’s visa waiver will be verified when crossing the external Schengen border.

The most important airports in Germany include:

plane

Airport

Frankfurt Airport

Location

Frankfurt

IATA Code

FRA

Airport

Munich Airport

Location

Munich

IATA Code

MUC

Airport

Düsseldorf Airport

Location

Düsseldorf-Lohausen

IATA Code

DUS

Airport

Berlin Brandenburg Airport

Location

Berlin

IATA Code

TXL

Airport

Stuttgart Airport

Location

Stuttgart

IATA Code

STR

Airport

Cologne Bonn Airport

Location

Cologne

IATA Code

CGN