Traveling with a tourist visa

If you want to travel outside the European Union, you often need a tourist visa. Algeria, China, India, Iran, Russia and Vietnam are just some of the countries where visas are required for visitors. The visa entitles you to stay in the destination country for a certain period of time for tourism purposes - as a package or individual traveler. How long the residence permit is valid for varies from country to country. The costs and requirements for visa applications also vary considerably in some cases.

A tourist visa is usually issued by the visa department of the embassy or consulate of the respective destination country. In Germany, the relevant offices are located in major cities such as Berlin, Bonn, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg and Munich. The application procedure and the documents to be submitted vary depending on the destination.

In some cases, it is possible to complete the visa application online. However, many consulates require you to submit your documents in person or through an authorized representative. In addition to the completed application forms and your passport, you will often need a whole range of other documents to obtain your visa.

To enter Russia, you must present an official invitation. You will receive a tourist invitation, also known as a visa support letter or voucher, from a hotel, for example. You must also provide proof of your willingness to return and sufficient financial means, e.g. in the form of a payslip or bank statement. A current passport photo and international health insurance are also essential. Non-EU citizens require a registration certificate.

If you are traveling to China, the Chinese embassy has similar requirements to the Russian consulate. You do not need to provide proof of travel insurance, but you must submit booking confirmations for your flight and hotel instead. When you apply for your visa with us, you will receive a detailed overview of the documents to be submitted for your destination country.

No general statement can be made about the period of validity of a tourist visa. Most visas are valid for three months. Here too, however, there are different arrangements depending on the country. In principle, a distinction can be made between single, double and multiple visas. The latter variants allow you to enter and leave the country twice or more. In some cases, there is also the option to extend an existing residence permit on site.

In most cases, a tourist visa is sufficient, provided you are going on a temporary vacation trip. However, if you are planning to stay longer in the destination country, work or study there, a work visa or student visa is usually required. Our visa service will be happy to advise you on whether you need a tourist visa or another permit and will assist you with any questions you may have.