Do I need a passport and visa to move to Germany?

by Kristen
(Waterview, Va, USA)

Question: I have never had a passport. I am getting married to a U.S. citizen and relocating to Germany. What is required of me and my 16-year-old daughter?

Answer: You and your daughter need to obtain passports and, possibly, visas to Germany.

If you are relocating because your fiancé is in the U.S. Armed Forces, then you can obtain no-fee passports and no visa is required.

Under the NATO Status of Forces Agreement, members of the US Armed Forces and their dependents are exempt from German laws and regulations relating to aliens. When entering Germany, you must be in possession of a copy of orders and a military identification card. Dependents should have a military identification card and a valid passport containing certification or a stamp by the military authorities indicating their dependent status.

Note, it is recommended that you and your daughter also get regular, fee-based passports. No-fee passports can only be used for official travel related to military duty. You need the regular passports for leisure travel.

For Passport and VISA inquiries, call (703) 602-3663 / 3620 (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Civilian DoD employees) or (703) 614-1651 (Marine Corps).

If your fiancé is not a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, then you need to obtain regular U.S. passports and visas to Germany. Click the links below for more information.

New Passport Requirements

German Missions in the United States