Can I travel to other countries in Europe with my Germany visa?

Yes, you can travel to other European countries with a Germany visa — but it depends on the type of visa you have.

✅ If You Hold a Schengen Visa Issued by Germany

A Schengen visa allows you to travel to all 27 Schengen countries, which include:

• Germany
• France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Greece, Portugal
• Nordic countries: Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland
• Eastern Europe: Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, etc.
• Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania

• Others: Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Malta

  
  

You can move freely within these countries for the duration of your visa, as long as:

• Your first entry is through Germany (or you spend the most time there).
• You respect the 90-day rule (i.e., you don’t exceed 90 days of stay in any 180-day period across the Schengen zone).

⚠️ If You Hold a National Visa (Type D) for Germany

A German National Visa (Type D) is for stays longer than 90 days (e.g., work, study, family reunion). With this visa:

• You can travel to other Schengen countries for short stays (up to 90 days in a 180-day period), but your main residence must remain in Germany.
• Travel to non-Schengen countries in Europe (e.g., UK, Ireland, Albania, Serbia, etc.) is not allowed unless you have a separate visa for those countries.

🔍 Not Part of the Schengen Zone

Some European countries are not part of the Schengen Area and require separate visas. These include:

• United Kingdom
• Ireland
• Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus (although Bulgaria and Romania started partial Schengen access in 2024 for air and sea travel)

• Ukraine, Moldova, Serbia, Turkey, Russia, etc.

  
  

Always check entry requirements with the consulates of those countries before traveling.

✈️ Summary