Germany Athlete Visa Application Process
A Germany sports visa is a visa that professional athletes, sportsmen and coaches must obtain in order to work in Germany for a certain period of time within an official sports club or competitive sports organization and to reside in Germany during this period. A Germany sports visa is a long-term (D type) visa and is issued for stays longer than 90 days.
People who have a Germany sports visa must convert their visa into a residence permit in order to be able to do sports professionally after entering the country. Athletes who have a residence permit with a Germany sports visa have the right to reside, work and benefit from health services in Germany for the duration of the visa.
What are the Germany Athlete Visa Requirements?
The conditions that must be met to obtain a Germany sports visa are listed below.
- The coach or athlete applying for a visa must be accepted to work for a German club or comparable competitive sports organisation.
- The applicant coach or athlete must be at least 16 years old.
- The sports club or organisation to which the applicant is affiliated must pay the applicant sufficient funds to enable him/her to continue his/her life in Germany.
- Athletes or coaches residing in Germany within a sports club must be paid at least 50 percent of the statutory pension insurance income threshold.
- The applicant’s athletic and professional qualifications must be mutually confirmed by the central association responsible for sports and the German Sports Federation.
Who can apply for a Germany Athlete Visa?
Persons who are over the age of 16 and who will be professional athletes or coaches in a German sports club or organization for a certain period of time, who have been accepted by the relevant organization, can apply for a German sports visa.
How to Apply for a Germany Visa as an Athlete?
The requirements for applying for a Germany athlete visa are listed below.
- You should go to the long-term visa application process section on the official German representative websites, determine the relevant visa type from the reason for going to Germany table, and prepare the necessary documents.
- A business relationship declaration document must be obtained from the sports club or organization located in Germany.
- An online visa appointment must be made through the iDATA national visa appointment system, which is the official service provider for Germany visa applications.
- On the appointment date, you must go to the relevant iDATA application center with your visa documents, pay the visa fee, and complete your visa application by having your biometrics done.
What are the Required Documents for a Germany Athlete Visa?
The documents required for a Germany athlete visa are listed below.
- Germany sports visa application form : The visa application form must be completely filled out and signed by the applicant sportsman. For Germany D type visa applications, 2 application forms must be submitted.
- Passport : The applicant must attach two photocopies of the passport and the page containing his/her personal information to the application.
- Biometric photo : Two biometric passport photos measuring 35 mm x 45 mm are required for visa application. The photos must be dated at least 6 months before the application date.
- CV : The applicant must submit two photocopies of his/her CV. If the CV is in Turkish, a copy translated into German must be attached.
- Employment contract : The employment contract of the athlete applying for a visa with the club in Germany and, if any, supporting documents must be submitted, together with two photocopies.
- Employment relationship declaration : The employment relationship declaration prepared by the sports club or organization in Germany must be received with two photocopies and attached to the visa application.
- Professional qualification documents : Official documents and certificates proving the athletic and professional qualifications of the applicant athlete or coach must be submitted with the visa application.
- Documents of professional activity : Documents of professional activity showing the activities in the field of sports performed, proving the official tournaments, competitions and sports clubs in which the applicant athlete has participated, must be attached to the application.
- Travel health insurance : A health insurance policy valid until the start date of the employment contract or until the health insurance registration in Germany is made, two photocopies and a German copy must be submitted.
How to Fill Out the Germany Athlete Visa Application Form?
The Germany sports visa application form, which has the characteristics of a national visa application form, can be accessed from the website of Germany’s foreign representatives in Turkey. The Germany sports visa application form can be filled out in printed form or online, and 2 forms are submitted during the application.
The Germany sports visa application form includes sections such as the applicant’s identity information, family member information, passport information, as well as questions about where they will live during their stay in Germany, which club they will work for, and previous trips to Germany. The sections in the application form that ask for identity information must be answered as written in the passport.
When filling out the Germany sports visa application form, accurate and up-to-date information must be provided, and supporting and substantiating documents must be submitted for the information provided in the form. After the Germany sports visa application form is filled out completely, the last page of the form must be signed with a wet signature.
How Much Does a Germany Athlete Visa Cost?
Germany athlete visa fees are given in the table below.
| Services | Fees |
|---|---|
| Germany athlete visa fee | 100 EUR |
| Filling out the application form and petition | 60 EUR |
| Meeting | Free |
| Biometric operations | 40 EUR, |
| Consulting service | 60 EUR |
| Total | 260 EUR |
How Many Days Does It Take to Get a Germany Athlete Visa?
Germany sports visa procedures take an average of 8 to 10 weeks after the necessary documents are checked. The Germany sports visa application process may be extended if inconsistencies are detected between the documents submitted for application or if additional documents are requested from the applicant.
For Germany national visa applications, application files received from Turkey are sent to Germany and evaluated and approved by the authorized foreigners office. The approval process for a type D Germany visa application made from Turkey may be extended depending on the intensity of the file’s evaluation in Germany.