Visas & Passports
- Passport / Visa: Now that you have your tickets, it's time to start preparing for the journey to Germany. One of the critical components of your preparations is to make sure you have a passport. You will need a passport that is valid throughout your stay. Unless you are staying for more than 90 days, a visa is not required for U.S. citizens.
- Other foreign nationals require a valid passport and, depending on their country of origin, might require a visa to enter Germany. In this case their passport must be valid for at least another three months after the scheduled return.
- The German Embassy and the German Consulates can provide you with detailed information. More Info
- All the information you will need is available via the State Department website at travel.state.gov. Further, the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) is the U.S. Department of State's single, centralized public contact center for U.S. passport information. Telephone: 877-4USA-PPT (877-487-2778). Customer service representatives and operators for TDD/TTY are available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, excluding federal holidays.
- If you are applying for a passport for the first time, you will have to apply in person at one of the thousands of designated application acceptance facilities in the U.S. (list available online). Under most circumstances, you can renew your passport via mail. The total fees to get a first-time passport are $97 and the State Department estimates delivery within six weeks, but you can pay an additional fee for expedited service. The same timeline applies for renewal but the total fees are 67 dollars.
- Vaccinations & Immunizations: Currently the Center for Disease Control does not list any Required Vaccinations for a trip to Western Europe. However, you may want to continue to check back on the CDC's website for updates.
Things You Should Know
Things you should know...
- Weather: Germany is a big country so, as would be expected, there are certain climate variations from region to region. The climate throughout Germany is fairly temperate with distinct differences between the seasons. Precipitation is high in Germany especially through the summer months with frequent heavy downpours throughout the country. As a general rule of thumb winter temperatures range from 68-86°F (20-30°C) during the summer months. More Info
- Currency: Euro (For the most up-to-date exchange rates, please contact your local travel agency.) More Info
- Language: The official language of Germany is German, but many Germans speak English.
- Vaccinations: No vaccinations are required for entry into Germany.
- Medical Insurance: Don't assume your insurance coverage will go with you when you travel. It is very important to find out the details from your insurance provider BEFORE you travel. You should ask your insurance company two questions:
- Does my policy apply when I am outside of the U.S.?
- Will it cover emergency expenses such as a trip to a foreign hospital or an evacuation?
If your policy doesn't cover you while you travel, consider taking out another medical insurance policy for the duration of your trip. You can find more information on our medical insurance overseas page. More Info
Preparation Checklist
- Passport (Be sure to make three photo copies)
- Airline Tickets & Itinerary
- Match Tickets
- Maps
- Adaptor & Convertor
- Toiletry Items
- Personal Medicines
- Cold Remedies
- Camera
- Cold Weather Outerwear
- Rain Poncho
- Comfortable Shoes
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
Cell Phone Use In Germany
Cell Phone Communication Information:
- All of Europe, including Germany, uses the GSM standard for its telecommunication networks. The frequencies that are used to transmit the cell phone signal run on one or both of the 900 and the 1800 MHz spectrums. Therefore, to be able to use your cell phone in Germany, your phone has to have the 900 and 1800 "bands."
- There are several ways you can tell if your phone has the correct frequency- ask your carrier, read your manual or check to see if there is a slot for a SIM chip.
- If your cell phone does not work, you can either buy or rent one in Germany.
- More Info
