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Practical Information

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There are several things you should know before traveling to Germany. Knowing these basics will make it easy for you to adjust to your new surroundings.

1) Visa Information
Canadian and United States citizens can stay in Germany for up to 90 days without a visa, whether traveling on business or on vacation. Those staying longer than 90 days or who plan to seek employment, along with all other foreign nationals traveling to or through Germany, may need a visa, and are strongly advised to contact the nearest German Embassy or Consulate.

2) Open Hours
Stores in Germany generally open between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., and most close between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Friday; Saturday until 4 p.m.; and on Sunday, almost all stores are closed. Exceptions are gas stations and convenience stores, which carry some food items as well as snacks and beverages.

Banks and post offices are generally open from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday; some banks have extended hours on Thursday. Pharmacies open at 8 a.m.

Museums are generally closed on Mondays. Throughout the year, many cities have a “Long Night of the Museums,” where all the city’s museums are open through the night.

2) Traveling with Pets
To bring domestic dogs or cats into Germany, you are required upon entry to provide a valid International Vaccination Certificate with a stamp or seal clearly identifying the issuing agency or showing the address of the issuing veterinarian. If it is not in German or multilingual including German, it must be accompanied by a certified German translation.

You are required to present the Certificate at your initial point of entry into the European Union. If you have already done so and have not since left the EU prior to arriving in Germany, you will not be required to present it again.

Guide dogs are exempt and require no special certification. For all other animals, please contact a German Embassy or Consulate.

Certain dogs deemed “especially dangerous” by the Federal Republic of Germany can be brought into the country for no longer than four weeks; they are: Pit-bull Terriers, Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers. Vaccination documentation is required.

Many German federal states have enacted stricter laws applying to dogs other than the ones listed above. If unsure about the status of a particular dog, contacting the nearest German Embassy or Consulate or the appropriate federal state(s) is strongly recommended. Service dogs are exempt.

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