Stranded Schengen Visa Holders in Germany Permitted to Stay & Seek Employment Until September 30

Posted date: 22 Jul 2021

Holders of expired Schengen visas who are stuck in Germany since March because of the Coronavirus outbreak and unable to go home still, due to existing travel restrictions and absence of travel means, will be able to continue staying in Germany until September 30.

The decision has been taken by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, which at the same time has noted that foreigners with expired Schengen visas in Germany, unable to leave, will remain exempt from the requirement of obtaining a residence permit.

“Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, this regulation regulates the extension of the temporary exemption from the requirement of a residence permit for holders of Schengen visas in the federal territory and the temporary exemption from the requirement of a residence permit for transit through the federal territory for the purpose of leaving the Schengen,” paragraph one of the Ordinance reads.

The Ordinance applies to all foreigners who were in the federal territory of Germany on March 17, 2020, with a valid Schengen visa or who entered the federal territory after March 17, 2020, remained in Germany until June 30.

In order to facilitate their stay in Germany, the Ministry of Interior has decided to permit these persons to seek employment “to which their Schengen visa has been entitled.”

The Ordinance has been backed by the Federal Council and signed by the Minister of Interior Horst Seehofer. It has been published in the Federal Law Gazette on June 17 and became effective on the day after the announcement. It will expire on September 30, 2020.

A previous Ordinance permitted Schengen Visa holders to stay in Germany only until June 30. Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the new Ordinance extends the permitted period of stay until September 30.

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GSP Admin