Germany

Security

The decision to travel is your responsibility. You are also responsible for your personal safety abroad. The purpose of this Travel Advice is to provide up-to-date information to enable you to make well-informed decisions.

Be vigilant and aware of your surroundings at all times, and maintain a high level of personal security awareness. Monitor local media and follow the advice of local authorities. Consult our Global Issues page for information on the security situation in Europe.

Crime

Violent crime in Germany is low. However, petty crime (mugging, pickpocketing and purse snatching) occurs in major cities and train stations, airports and Christmas markets.

Pickpockets often work in teams and target trains, railway stations and airports. Their methods include distracting the attention of a victim who is boarding or alighting from a train or surrounding the victim in line-ups or at check-in counters.

Extremist youth gangs are a threat, particularly in some smaller urban areas and in parts of former East Germany. Gang members have been known to harass or attack individuals because of their race or for looking “foreign”. 

Arson attacks on parked vehicles have occurred.

Demonstrations

Demonstrations occur and have the potential to suddenly turn violent. Avoid all demonstrations and large gatherings, follow the advice of local authorities and monitor local media.

Strikes may occasionally interfere with mail, telephone, transport and other services.

Transportation

Roads and public transportation are excellent in the west and good throughout the east.

Rail service is widely available and reliable.

Consult our Transportation Safety page in order to verify if national airlines meet safety standards.

General safety measures

Exercise normal safety precautions. Ensure that personal belongings, passports and other travel documents are secure at all times.

Emergency services

Dial 112 for emergency assistance. Dial 110 In the event of a traffic accident.

Entry/Exit Requirements

It is the sole prerogative of each country or region to determine who is allowed to enter. The following information on entry and exit requirements has been obtained from the German authorities. However, these requirements are subject to change at any time. It is your responsibility to check with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany or one of its consulates for up-to-date information.

Passport

Canadians must present a passport to visit Germany, which must be valid for at least the expected duration of your stay in that country. Before you leave, ask your transportation company about its requirements related to passport validity, which may be more stringent than the country's entry rules.

If you intend to reside in Germany for three months or more, you must register with the German authorities (Einwohnermeldeamt) within seven days of your entry into the country.

Visas

Tourist visa: Not required for stays up to 90 days*

Business visa: Not required for stays up to 90 days*

Student visa: Required

* The 90 days begin upon initial entry into any country of the Schengen area.

Extension of tourist visits longer than 90 days is not possible; you must apply for a residence permit and provide a valid reason. If you stay beyond the 90-day limit unexpectedly (for example, due to illness), contact the Foreigners' Office (Ausländerbehörde) to get a certificate (Grenzuebertrittsbescheinigung) that must be submitted to the border authorities upon departure.  For more information, dial 030 90269 4000 to reach the Foreigners' Office Service. 

For the latest information on German immigration law, consult the German Ministry of the Interior website.

Schengen area 

The following 26 countries comprise the Schengen Area: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

The Schengen area has common rules regarding visas and controls at external borders:

You do not need visas for short-term visits of up to 90 days within a six-month period. Your stays are cumulative, and include visits to any country within the Schengen area. Some countries require that you register with local authorities within three working days of your arrival.

It is important to get your passport stamped when entering the Schengen area. The absence of an entry stamp from the initial Schengen port of entry could create difficulties during subsequent encounters with local police or other authorities throughout the Schengen area.

After 90 days of stay in the Schengen area, you must leave for another 90 days before you can re-enter.

If you overstay the permitted 90 days in the Schengen area, you may be fined or deported. To visit for longer than 90 days, you must obtain a long-stay national visa. 

Children and travel

Children need special documentation to visit certain countries. Please consult our Children page for more information.

Health

For the latest Travel Health Notices and information on vaccinations, outbreaks and diseases, consult the website of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

PHAC strongly recommends that you consult with a travel medicine clinic or health care provider preferably six weeks before departure.

Diseases

Tick-borne encephalitis can be contracted in wooded areas in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate and south Hesse from spring to autumn. If you plan to visit forested areas, seek advice regarding inoculations before leaving Canada. Consult PHAC’s Lyme Disease Fact Sheet for information and recommendations on tick-borne encephalitis.

Medical services

Good medical care is widely available. A hospital stay or medical treatment is expensive, and immediate cash payment is often expected. German hospitals do not issue the detailed breakdown of expenses that is usually required by Canadian insurance companies. Such a detailed bill has to be requested from the hospital or the doctor.

Laws & Culture

You are subject to local laws. Consult our Arrest and Detention FAQ for more information.

Canada and Germany are signatories to the European Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. This enables a Canadian imprisoned in Germany to request a transfer to a Canadian prison to complete a sentence. The transfer requires the agreement of both Canadian and German authorities.

Identification

Carry adequate identification at all times, as police have the right to ask to see it. Keep a photocopy of your passport in case of loss or seizure.

Illegal drugs

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are strict. Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences or heavy fines.

Driving laws

You must be at least 18 years old to drive a vehicle in Germany. An International Driving Permit is recommended.

A Canadian driver's licence can be used for a maximum of six months. After six months, your Canadian licence must be exchanged for a German one. Allow up to six weeks for German authorities to exchange the licence.

You must always carry your driver's licence as well as insurance, vehicle documents and written permission from the registered owner if the vehicle does not belong to you.

Observe traffic laws and regulations, particularly rights-of-way and speed limits. Much of the autobahn network authorizes much higher speeds than normally allowed in Canada. Exercise caution.

The use of cellular telephones while driving is prohibited, unless they are fitted with a hands-free device.

Penalties for drinking and driving are strict. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.05 percent. Convicted offenders can expect heavy fines, and driver's licences may be confiscated immediately.

Money

The currency of Germany is the euro (EUR).

Traveller’s cheques can be exchanged at most banks and some shops. Credit cards are widely accepted at major hotels, shops and restaurants. Automated banking machines (ABMs) are widely available.

When crossing one of the external border control points of the European Union (EU), you must make a declaration to customs upon entry or exit if you have at least €10,000, or the equivalent in other currencies. The sum can be in cash, cheques, money orders, traveller’s cheques or any other convertible assets. This does not apply if you are travelling within the EU or in transit to a non-EU country. For more information on the EU legislation and links to EU countries’ sites, visit the web page of the European Commission on cash controls.

Disasters & Climate

Temperatures can be lower at high altitudes in the Alps. There is a possibility of flooding in spring and summer.