Germany Allows Work Without Visa for 31 Countries

The German government has confirmed that citizens from 31 countries can live and work in Germany without needing a visa or residence permit, as per official guidance published in 2026. This exemption applies to nationals from all 27 European Union (EU) member states, along with citizens from Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Iceland.

The complete list includes countries such as Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Germany itself. Citizens from countries not on this list, including various African nations, must apply for a job seeker's visa, work visa, or residence permit based on their circumstances.

The guidance also details options for international students who wish to remain in Germany after completing their studies to seek employment, noting that additional permit conditions apply to those from non-exempt nations.