The Visa Section of the German Consulate General Toronto does not offer consultation by phone. Please contact us by email.

National visas are issued for long-term stays for a particular purpose. After entering Germany, visa holders must apply for a residence permit as a general rule.

All applications for a national visa have to be submitted at the German Consulate General in Toronto.

A Youth Mobility Visa (YMA) can also be applied for by mail. The necessary residence permit for Germany has then to be applied for with the locally competent foreigners authority. 

Application preparation

Canadian citizens can submit their application at the competent foreigners authority after arrival in Germany. There is no obligation to apply for a German visa before leaving Canada. Only in cases where an employment is intended to begin directly after arrival in Germany (e.g. work, study, internship), we recommend that a visa (which includes the work permit) is being issued in advance. Employment cannot be started before having the obligatory permit.

Nationals of Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States may also apply for the necessary permit after arrival in Germany. The same applies for nationals of Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco and San Marino who do not intend to take up employment. All other applicants have to apply for their residence permit before leaving Canada.

Prepare your application in the following steps:

• Please take your time to fill out the VIDEX Form diligently. The filled, printed and signed form has to be presented at the interview.
• Please print and sign the Declaration Use of Mail Services
• Follow the instructions on the basic data protection regulation: Visa Declaration
• Please compile the accompanying application documents. Missing documents or evidence may lead to rejection of the application. We have compiled the appropriate checklists for you:

• Please read through all the visa application instructions on this page

  Keep in mind that the demand for appointments is very high! Therefore, make sure you make an appointment in good time.

• Book an appointment through the online system for the Consulate General in Toronto: Book an appointment with the Visa Section ​​​​​​​

Important information 

Please do not send any documents to the Visa Section unless requested to do so, particularly not before you have applied for a visa. We are not able to store such documents and will not know to which application they belong. Please always bring the complete documentation with you to your appointment.

Submitting your application

In order to submit your application, please attend your appointment at the German Consulate General Toronto in person. Please hand in your complete documentation and pay the fee. The German Consulate General will ask you questions about your planned trip and take your fingerprints. 

What happens during processing?

The German Consulate General in Toronto will review your application and make a decision on whether or not to grant you a visa. To this end, it will check whether your application meets the legal requirements. The interest on entry must be balanced against the security interest of the Federal Republic of Germany. Depending on the purpose and circumstances of your trip, it can take up to three months to check your application, in individual cases even longer. For that reason, it is highly recommended to apply for your visa early. The German Consulate General will contact you as soon as it has made a decision on your application. We hope you will understand that we are not able to answer any questions on the status of your application during this processing period. After that, enquiries are only answered if they are made by email by the applicant, his/her legal representative or another person authorized in writing by the applicant.

Return of your passport

As soon as the German Consulate General has reached a decision on your application, your passport will be mailed to you by using the Canada Xpresspost envelope provided by you.
There are various reasons why your visa application may be rejected. The reasons will be stated in the letter notifying you that your application has been rejected. You are welcome to submit a new application at any time with complete, informative and verifiable documentation.

Have a good trip! Information for visa holders

If all the information on your visa label is correct, you are free to travel. Please check the information on the label as soon as your passport is returned to you. 
Your visa will state your full name and passport number and include your photo. It will also state the number of days you can stay and the period of validity, that is, the time by which you must have received your residence permit for Germany.
Therefore, please do not forget to register at the registration office ("Einwohnermeldeamt") shortly after you arrive in Germany and to make an appointment with the foreigners authority. Your entry visa will allow you to travel within the Schengen area.