Visa requirements for Germany differ according to an expat’s nationality as well as their reason for being in the country. The situation is quite straightforward for nationals of EU-member states, who can enter the country with nothing more than a valid passport. Their citizenship allows them to live and work in Germany without a visa. They are, however, required to get a residency permit once they’ve arrived in the country.
Requirements for non-EU citizens are a more complicated. For short-stays, non-EU citizens may need to apply for a Schengen visa before travelling to Germany. If they are planning to live or work in Germany they will need the necessary work or residency permit.