GoGermany Visa Requirements

Visa Entry

[Special Reminder]

The entry restrictions for travelers from China to Germany have been fully lifted. Travelers entering Germany from China do not need to present a negative nucleic acid test certificate. The current waiting time for visa appointments at the German Embassy in China is quite long. Please make an appointment as soon as possible to submit your visa application.

1、 Visa Notice

Chinese mainland residents traveling to Germany need to obtain visas in advance. When traveling from Germany to a third country, please note that if you do not leave the international transit area of the airport during the transit period and your final destination is a non Schengen country, you do not need to apply for a visa; If you need to enter the Schengen area during transit due to changing airports or other reasons, you need to hold a visa.

Individuals holding Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Region passports who come to Germany for family visits, tourism, or business activities do not need to apply for a visa.

Germany is a Schengen Agreement country, and Chinese citizens who travel to multiple Schengen Agreement countries at the same time should, in principle, submit visa applications to the country with the longest planned stay. (Please refer to the websites of relevant embassies in China for details).

Germany currently has six embassies and consulates in China, namely the German Embassy in China, the Consulates General in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenyang, and Hong Kong. In addition to the five visa centers in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Shenyang, visa application processing centers have also been established in Wuhan, Chongqing, Jinan, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Xi'an, Changsha, Kunming, Nanjing, and Fuzhou. Applicants generally apply for visas at the aforementioned embassies or visa centers based on their jurisdiction.

The division of the German Embassy and Consulates in China:

Scope of the German Embassy in China:

Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Qinghai, Gansu, Xinjiang, Xizang, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Hunan, Jiangxi, Shandong

Scope of the Consulate General in Shanghai:

Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai

Scope of the Consulate General in Guangzhou:

Guangdong, Fujian, Hainan, Guangxi

Scope of the Consulate General in Chengdu:

Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Chongqing

Scope of Consulate General in Shenyang:

Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang

Hong Kong and Macau

For detailed application methods and precautions for German visas, please refer to the "Visa and Entry" section on the website of the German Embassy in China under the "Services" section.

2、 Entry and Exit Notice

When Chinese citizens enter Germany, they need to carry valid passports, visas, airline tickets, invitation letters related to the purpose of entry, admission notices, hotel reservation certificates, medical insurance certificates, contact person addresses and contact information in Germany, and other documents for border inspection officials to verify.

When handling entry procedures, one should truthfully answer inquiries from German border inspection officials. If one does not understand German or cannot understand the questions correctly, they may request the German side to provide a Chinese translation; Do not nod or sign documents without understanding; If denied entry, the German side should be requested to provide basic rights such as humane treatment; If you feel that you have been treated unfairly, you should express your opinion to the German side in person and request to contact the Chinese Embassy in Germany.

3、 Special Reminder

（1） Chinese citizens traveling to Germany should pay attention to understanding and strictly abide by the entry regulations, especially the length of stay and validity period of the visa (for example, a visa with multiple stays of 90 days per year refers to allowing multiple entries and exits within one year, with a cumulative stay of 90 days per 180 days, rather than each stay of 90 days). They should neither enter Germany in advance nor leave the country after the visa expires, in order to avoid delaying their trip and suffering unnecessary economic losses.

（2） Chinese citizens traveling to Germany should check whether they have signed their passport before entering, and should not entrust others to sign on their behalf. If the passport is unsigned or if the signature on the passport does not match the person's signature, the German side will consider the passport invalid and has the right to refuse entry to the passport holder.

（3） Individuals holding diplomatic passports who stay in EU member states such as Germany for a maximum of 90 days per 180 days are exempt from visa requirements.

（4） Holders of official passports who transit through Germany to visa free countries such as Bulgaria, Cyprus, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania, Croatia, etc., need to apply for a German or Schengen entry visa in advance.

Customs epidemic prevention and control

1、 Customs regulations

Passengers from EU countries can bring personal use items into Germany duty-free; Passengers from non EU countries are not allowed to enter Germany with a duty-free quantity exceeding the following regulations:

（1） Tobacco: 200 cigarettes, or 100 small cigars, or 50 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco.

（2） Alcoholic beverages: 1 liter of alcohol with a degree of 22 or higher or non denatured alcohol with a degree of 80 or higher; Or 2 liters of alcohol with an alcohol content below 22 degrees; Or 4 liters of still wine; Or 16 liters of beer.

（3） Medication: Consistent with the dosage required for personal travel.

（4） Engine fuel: The existing amount of fuel in the main fuel tank of a motor vehicle or 10 liters of fuel stored in a portable fuel tank.

（5） Other: Total value not exceeding 300 euros; The total value of air or sea freight entering the country shall not exceed 430 euros; The total value of goods carried by passengers under the age of 15 shall not exceed 175 euros.

It is particularly important to note that each person's duty-free items such as tobacco and alcohol must be carried separately, otherwise they will be considered as items carried by one person.

Note: Only individuals aged 17 and above are allowed to bring duty-free tobacco and alcoholic beverages into the country.

2、 Animal and plant inspection and quarantine

The restricted items for German animal and plant inspection and quarantine are mainly as follows:

（1） Animal products or dairy products: Meat or dairy products from countries outside the European Union are prohibited from being brought into the country (except for small quantities of personal items brought in by Andorra, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino, and Switzerland).

（2） Other portable foods: unopened infant nutrition and medical special nutrition should not exceed 2 kilograms; Foods that contain only a small amount of milk or cream, such as cream candies, chocolates, cookies, etc; Animal products other than meat and dairy products should not exceed 2 kilograms (such as honey); The total weight or individual weight (whichever is greater) of fish, shrimp and other products shall not exceed 20 kilograms.

3、 Financial regulatory regulations

Individuals carrying cash or negotiable securities (such as traveler's checks) entering or transiting through Germany shall not exceed 10000 euros; If the amount exceeds this limit, it must be declared before customs clearance. Otherwise, German customs may seize the funds on the grounds of "anti money laundering", investigate the source of cash and the purpose of carrying it in and out of the country, and ultimately confiscate or impose a certain amount of fine. It should be noted that if the travel expenses of the group are entrusted to one person for safekeeping and the total amount exceeds 10000 euros (including 10000 euros), they must also be declared when entering or leaving the country.

4、 Epidemic prevention requirements

If bringing pets into Germany, a valid veterinary certificate issued by a veterinarian, identification, electronic proof, and a valid certificate of vaccination against rabies must be presented to the German side.

5、 Common contact information

（1） Berlin Customs Administration, Address: Mehringdamm 129c，10965 Berlin， Phone: 0049-30-690090.

（2） Hamburg Customs Administration, Address: Koreastra ß e 420457 Hamburg, Phone: 0049-40-80003-0, Fax: 0049-40-80003-1200, Email Address: poststelle.hza-hamburg@zoll.bund.de .

（3） Munich Customs Administration, address: Sophienstr. 680333 M ü nchen, telephone: 0049-89-599500.

（4） Frankfurt Customs Administration, Address: Hahnstr. 68-70，60528 Frankfurt am Main， Phone: 0049-69-2578290.

（5） Dusseldorf Customs Administration: Address: Am Stufstock 1-740231 D ü sseldorf, Phone: 0211-2101-0.

6、 Special Reminder

（1） In recent years, in order to prevent viruses such as avian influenza from entering Germany, major international airports in Germany have increased their "food, animal, and luggage" checks on flights from non EU countries, including China. These checks mainly target poultry and meat products such as pig trotters, chicken feet, and shark fins carried by passengers. Customs may require passengers to declare in writing whether they are carrying relevant food. Therefore, Chinese citizens and groups traveling to Germany are reminded not to carry the above-mentioned poultry products in their luggage to avoid affecting their itinerary.

（2） Chinese citizens who do not reside in the EU and shop in Germany can request a tax refund. According to German law, goods with a purchase amount exceeding 25 euros can enjoy a tax refund, except for food, books, and food that has been used overseas. The steps for tax refund are as follows: apply for a tax refund invoice after shopping at a store marked with the "TaxFree" logo; Fill in the tax refund invoice carefully based on the passport information held; When leaving customs, submit the tax refund invoice and passport, and present the purchased items. The customs personnel will stamp the tax refund invoice (which can be stamped within 3 months from the date of purchase); Request a refund of the tax from the tax refund company (major airports in Germany have tax refund service counters, which usually refund the tax in cash or directly transfer the tax to the taxpayer's credit card).

Residency and Naturalization

1、 Nationality Policy

Since 2000, the new German Nationality Law has been revised several times, making major amendments and supplements to the original nationality law, changing the past practice of determining nationality solely based on the principle of descent, introducing the principle of place of birth, limiting the recognition of dual nationality, abolishing the practice that children of foreign parents must choose nationality, and further simplifying the naturalization procedures for foreigners. Specifically, as follows:

（1） Facilitating the naturalization of minors

If one of the parents has German citizenship, then they have German citizenship; If only the father holds German citizenship at the time of the child's birth, German citizenship can only be obtained after confirming their father son or father daughter blood relationship, and such confirmation must be made before the child is under the age of 23; Both parents are foreign nationals. If one of them has resided continuously in Germany for more than eight years and holds a settlement permit, the child can automatically obtain German citizenship.

（2） Simplify adult citizenship procedures

Applying for citizenship is an important way to obtain German citizenship. If the applicant meets the following conditions, they can apply for citizenship: they have resided legally in Germany continuously for at least eight years; Holding a settlement permit in Germany; Abandoning or losing one's original nationality; Guaranteed source of livelihood (excluding social or unemployment benefits); The applicant agrees with the principles of freedom and democracy, the Basic Law, and has no criminal record of imprisonment; Having sufficient knowledge of German language requires passing a German language test and attending a comprehensive naturalization training course on the German Constitution and political system.

2、 Immigration Policy

Germany has always implemented strict immigration policies. Starting from January 1, 2005, the new German Immigration Law came into effect, gradually relaxing immigration policies

（1） Simplify the form of residence. The types of residency have been simplified from the previous five categories (residency rights, indefinite residency permits, limited residency permits, student residency, and tolerance residency) to two categories (settlement permits and residency permits).

（2） Encourage foreign senior professionals and foreign investors to work and invest in Germany. Granting long-term residence permits to the high-precision and cutting-edge professionals needed in Germany, and granting their families the right to work in Germany; Independent foreign investors can obtain a residence permit by investing 250000 euros in Germany and creating at least 5 job opportunities.

（3） Provide opportunities for foreign students who graduate in Germany to continue their studies and work in Germany. Foreign students who graduate in Germany are allowed to reside in Germany for 18 months. As long as they find a suitable job during this period, they can obtain work residency in Germany.

（4） Take measures to promote the integration of foreigners into German economic, cultural and social life. Offering integration courses that require foreign immigrants who have settled in Germany for a long time to learn German language knowledge, German law and culture, understand and integrate into German society.

（5） Revise the asylum provisions, strictly restrict illegal immigration, and add provisions for expelling terrorists, "snakeheads," and other dangerous individuals who pose a threat to German society.

3、 Alien residence policy and related procedures

According to the German Residence Law, if foreigners stay in Germany for more than three months, they must obtain a residence permit from the German government; Foreigners who want to invest and stay in Germany or want to study and work in Germany should apply for a long-term residence permit. The application for a residence permit must be submitted before the visa expires.

Types and conditions of residence permits:

In principle, there are five types of residence permits in Germany, namely: residence permit, EU blue card, household registration permit, EU continuous residence permit, and visa.

The residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) is a limited term residence permit, which covers a wide range of areas and allows foreigners to work, live, study, buy property, etc. for a short time. For example, foreigners who set up companies, branches or representative offices in Germany can obtain such residence permits. This type of residence permit is generally valid for one to three years, and can be extended upon expiration. After five years, the holder can apply for an indefinite residence permit, also known as a household registration permit.

The EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte EU) is a limited period residence permit issued by Germany since 2012 to highly qualified foreign university graduates. Applicants holding the Blue Card can obtain long-term residency after working in Germany for up to 3 years and continuing to receive a work contract. The purpose of this policy is to simplify the procedures for Germany to introduce foreign high-level professionals.

The Niederlassungserlaubnis is an indefinite residence permit, equivalent to "permanent residency" in Germany, allowing the holder to engage in most activities such as working or working in Germany. The application requirements for this type of residence permit are relatively high, usually requiring the applicant to have obtained the residence permit for more than 5 years, pay taxes in accordance with the law, have the ability to work in Germany, and have a certain degree of integration into German society.

The EU Continuous Residence Permit (Erlaubnis zum Daueraufenthalt EU) is an indefinite residence permit issued by Germany to non EU citizens in accordance with relevant EU regulations. Its role and application conditions in Germany are similar to those of a residence permit, but it also gives the holder some advantages such as freedom of movement within the EU.

Visa (Vsium): Omitted.

For official information on residence applications, please visit the website of the relevant German local alien bureaus.

4、 Common contact information

（1） Foreign Affairs Bureau of Berlin: Address: Friedrich-Krause-Ufer 24，13353 Berlin， URL https://www.berlin.de/einwanderung/ .

（2） Hamburg Foreigners Administration: Hammer Stra ß e 30-3422041 Hamburg, Tel: 0049-40-115, see the website for the contact information (email address) of the Foreigners Administration in each district https://www.hamburg.de/harburg/kundenzentrum-auslaenderangelegenheiten/ All relevant matters need to be contacted in advance by phone or email. Telephone inquiries can only be made, while email inquiries can be made and appointment times can be made.

（3） Munich Foreign Affairs Bureau: Address: Ruppertstr. 11 und 1980337 M ü nchen, Tel:+49 89 23396010, Email: kreisverwaltungsreferat@muenchen.de , URL: https://www.muenchen.de/rathaus/Stadtverwaltung/Kreisverwaltungsreferat.html .

（4） Frankfurt Foreign Affairs Bureau: Address: Rebst ö cker Stra ß e 460326 Frankfurt am Main, Tel:+49 69 212 42485, E-mail: auslaenderbehoerde@stadt-frankfurt.de , URL: https://frankfurt.de/auslaenderangelegenheiten .

（5） Dusseldorf Foreigners Bureau: Address: Erkrather Str.37740231 D ü sseldorf, office hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30-13:00, phone: 02118921020, website: https://www.duesseldorf.de/auslaenderamt.html

5、 Special Reminder

（1） According to relevant German laws and regulations, students registered in formal universities can work without a temporary work permit, provided that it does not affect their normal studies. But the premise is that the cumulative working time throughout the year (including winter and summer vacations) shall not exceed 120 days. If this limit is exceeded, there is a possibility of revocation of student status and deportation.

（2） According to the German Law on Foreigners, foreigners who graduate from German universities can obtain a "residence permit" valid for 18 months after graduation, which is specially used to find jobs. If you find an employer within 18 months, you can obtain a valid work and residence permit for three years. The residence and work period can be extended upon expiration. But if you cannot find a job within 18 months, you must leave the country on time, otherwise it will be considered illegal residence.

(Updated on January 1, 2023)

The risk level in Germany is blue (low risk)

public security

1、 Security situation assessment

The political situation in Germany is stable and the overall security situation is good, but in recent years, theft, robbery, and telecommunications fraud cases have occurred frequently in some areas, and the detection rate is relatively low. Common cases include:

（1） Theft cases account for nearly half of the total number of various types of cases and are on the rise. Pickpocketing and bag carrying cases pose significant security risks to Chinese citizens traveling to Germany in the short term, typically occurring in bustling commercial areas, airports, train stations, and hotel lobbies. Thieves have a high turnover rate and are mostly committed by gangs. The detection rate of such cases is low, and stolen items are generally difficult to retrieve.

（2） In Germany, the incidence of robbery cases targeting pedestrians or tourists is lower than in other European countries, but in recent years, such cases have also frequently occurred. Although the number of violent injury cases in public places is not high, attention should be paid to the tendency of German teenagers to commit violent crimes. Recently, xenophobic and xenophobic forces have repeatedly attacked foreigners (including Chinese citizens) in eastern Germany.

（3） Germany has a large number of legal and illegal immigrants, and the problem of foreigners' crime is more prominent. Foreign suspects account for more than half of the total number of suspect in gambling, theft, illegal immigration, illegal drug smuggling and organized fraud cases.

（4） In recent years, various telecommunications fraud cases have occurred frequently in Germany, with criminals impersonating the Chinese Embassy in Germany to commit telecommunications fraud. Fraudsters use information technology to call the person in question by impersonating the office phone number of the Chinese Embassy in Germany, falsely claiming to be a staff member of the Chinese Embassy, and fraudulently obtaining the person's personal information for various reasons. There are also cases where victims are induced to invest under the guise of making friends online. These types of cases are mostly transnational crimes, with great difficulty in solving them, extremely low detection rates, and extremely difficult economic losses to recover.

2、 Preventive measures

German emergency hotline: 110.

（1） Strengthen prevention measures. When traveling abroad, it is important to keep your personal documents and other valuable items safe, especially in areas with complex personnel and high theft rates, and pay attention to theft prevention. Special attention should be paid when picking up and dining at hotels and restaurants, getting on and off trains or resting on trains, purchasing tickets or handling procedures at train stations or airport counters. Before going abroad, it is advisable to make copies of one's passport and visa and keep them separately. If the passport is lost, one should promptly report it to the police and contact the nearest embassy or consulate to apply for a return travel permit.

（2） Do not bring cash. Advocate carrying checks or credit cards. If there is cash, it should be deposited into a bank or hotel safe as much as possible to prevent theft and robbery.

（3） Pay attention to safety. When traveling, avoid going to remote places such as narrow alleys or dark streets. It is best not to go out alone at night, and be careful to avoid unfriendly individuals and drunk drinkers to prevent personal injury incidents.

（4） Enhance legal awareness. Chinese citizens residing and studying in Germany must abide by local laws and order, actively understand and learn relevant laws and regulations related to their own interests, and learn to use the law to protect their legitimate rights and interests. When legitimate rights and interests are infringed, professional lawyers should be consulted to seek legal means to protect personal rights and interests.

（5） Be vigilant. If you encounter fraudulent phone calls or netizens advising you to invest, do not believe them, and do not disclose personal information. If unfortunately deceived, one should promptly report to the local police and also report to the domestic public security organs in China. If it is not possible to report the case directly to the domestic public security organs, you can report it promptly through your close relatives in China and seek help from the anti telecom network fraud center in the reporting location (call the Chinese emergency hotline 110).

natural disaster

1、 Major natural disasters

Germany is located in a warm and humid westerly belt, belonging to a transitional climate between Western European oceanic and Eastern European continental climates. Stable and mild is the overall characteristic of Germany's climate, with no major natural disasters.

The common natural disasters in Germany are floods, especially in the northern Elbe River and the central western Rhine River basins; In recent years, with global climate change, natural disasters such as blizzards and hurricanes have also occurred from time to time.

2、 Preventive measures

In Germany, natural disasters are classified as disasters along with industrial accidents and infectious disease outbreaks. The Resident Protection and Disaster Relief Agency under the Federal Ministry of the Interior is specifically responsible for coordinating and managing major disasters, with the aim of combining citizen protection and disaster prevention, and elevating citizen protection to one of the pillars of the national security system from an organizational perspective. Therefore, in the event of a natural disaster, one should remain calm and not panic; At the same time, pay attention to timely listening to official information and follow the arrangements of government departments.

FDA

1、 Food hygiene situation

As one of the world's four major food exporting countries, Germany has consistently ranked first in terms of food exports in Europe.

The food hygiene legal system in Germany covers almost the entire food industry chain, with clear legal provisions regulating the cultivation methods of animals and plants before food production, the operational processes during food production, and even the post sales supervision of food. The Food, Tobacco Products, Cosmetics, and Other Daily Necessities Management Act is one of the core laws for food safety in Germany, providing principles and frameworks for other regulations on food hygiene.

2、 Special Reminder

Although the overall food hygiene situation in Germany is satisfactory, it does not mean that there are no problems. Chinese citizens studying, working, and living in Germany should pay attention to news media and government public information, and avoid purchasing and consuming "unsafe" food.

Urgent Help

Bandit police: 110.

Fire alarm: 112.

Medical emergency: 112 (applicable to life-threatening emergencies)

116117 (applicable to emergency but not life-threatening situations)

air traffic

1、 Main modes of transportation to and from the airport

Major cities in Germany are connected to airports by subways, light rails, or buses, making transportation very convenient.

（1） Frankfurt Airport: There is a long-distance train station (Fernbahnhof) and a short distance train station (Regionalbahnhof) near Terminal 1 of the airport. Passengers can take the S8 and S9 trams from the short distance train station to travel between the airport and Frankfurt city. Taxi stops are available 24 hours a day near the Yuantu Railway Station and Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. For specific transportation information, please refer to the official website of Frankfurt Airport: https://www.frankfurt-airport.com/zh/travel/transport.html

（2） Munich Airport: The airport has two terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Passengers can take public transportation such as S1 and S8 light rails, airport buses, etc. to travel between the airport and the city. Taxi stops are available 24 hours a day at each terminal. For specific transportation information, please refer to the official website of Munich Airport: https://www.munich-airport.com/transport-directions-260334 .

（3） Berlin Brandenburg Airport (airport code BER): officially opened on October 31, 2020, has three terminals, namely T1, T2, and T5. The T1 and T2 terminal buildings are connected and can be walked back and forth from each other. T5 and T1/T2 are located on the north and south sides of the runway respectively, far apart from each other. They can be traveled back and forth by light rail, bus, taxi, or self driving car, with a travel time of 8 to 10 minutes. The public transportation between the airport and the city includes: 1. Taxi. There are taxis in front of each terminal. 2. Light rail. S9 or S45, each departing every 20 minutes. Both routes have stations at T1/T2 and T5 terminals, with the T1/T2 terminal station named "Flughafen BER Terminal 1-2" and the T5 terminal station named "Bahnhof Terminal 5". Both lines pass through Berlin Central Station. 3. Airport express train FEX and interval train RE7 RB14 travels between T1/T2 terminals and Berlin Central Station, with a one-way 30 minute journey and four trains per hour. The train has no stops at Terminal 5. 4. The airport bus routes X7, X71, BER1, and BER2 have stops at both T1 and T2 terminals, with BER2 stopping at T5 terminal. There are also multiple bus routes running from Terminal 5 to the city center.

（4） Hamburg Airport: Passengers can take the S-Bahn S1 light rail train downstairs from Terminal 1 to Hamburg city center. There are bus routes 606 (night bus), 392, 292, and 28 operating at the entrance of the terminal building. There are taxis in front of each terminal, and the booking phone number is 0049-40-211211 (Hansa Taxi Company) or 0049-40-666666 (Hamburg Taxi Company).

（5） Dusseldorf International Airport: There are three terminals A, B, and C, as well as two dedicated train stations. You can take the train (there is a direct train every 20 minutes to the central train station in the city), S11 light rail, or taxi (reservation phone 0049-211-33333) to reach D ü sseldorf Flughafen, and then take the Skytrain suspended rail train to each terminal.

2、 Frequently used websites

（1） Frankfurt Airport: https://www.frankfurt-airport.com/de.html

（2） Munich Airport: https://www.munich-airport.com

（3） Berlin Airport: https://www.ber.berlin-airport.de .

（4） Dusseldorf International Airport: https://www.dus.com/de-de

（5） Hamburg Airport: https://www.hamburg-airport.de/de/index.php

land transport

1、 Highway and railway conditions

Germany has developed road and railway transportation. The total length of the cross regional transportation network in Germany is over 230100 kilometers, including 12900 kilometers of expressways. The total length of the railway network is 38000 miles, with a density of 106 kilometers per thousand square kilometers, ranking among the top in Europe; There are more than 8000 stations, usually located in the city center, which are the hub of local urban public transportation.

2、 Public transportation such as cars and trains

（1） Automobiles: All major cities in Germany have complex public transportation networks. The public transportation system in the city is very convenient and arrives on time according to the bus schedule. Generally, tickets are purchased at the driver's office or at the automatic ticket machine at the bus station.

（2） Trains: The main types of trains in Germany are express trains, including intercity high-speed trains (ICE), intercity trains (IC), or European intercity trains (EC); Local trains, including intra district express trains (RE), intra district trains (RB), and inter district trains (IR); Night trains, including intercity night trains (CNL) and European night trains (EN).

（3） Subway and light rail.

3、 Car rental and self driving situation

Renting a car is a very common phenomenon in Germany, with rental agencies available at airports, train stations, city centers, and other locations. There are mainly companies such as Europcar, Sixt, Herz, etc. The materials required for renting a car include a Chinese driver's license, domestic notarized documents, credit cards, and other related documents.

4、 Common contact information

（1） German Railway website: www.bahn.de ， Consultation hotline: 0180 6996 633.

（2） Car rental agency: Europcar、Sixt、Herz。

（3） German ADAC Car Club fault repair hotline: 0180 2222 222.

5、 Special Reminder

（1） Buying train tickets in Germany is different from buying tickets domestically, as tickets and seat tickets are separate. There are four ways to purchase tickets: online ticket purchase, train station ticket purchase (automatic ticket machines or manual ticket sales), telephone ticket purchase (phone: 01806-101111), or direct ticket purchase (regular ticket price+10%, additional about 10 euros). But if you take the local train, you must purchase a ticket before boarding, otherwise it will be considered as fare evasion.

（2） German train stations are all open, and there is no need to purchase platform tickets or present tickets. After driving, the train attendant checks tickets in the carriage.

（3） Renting a car for self driving or purchasing train tickets in Germany, if booked 3 to 4 days in advance, usually results in discounted prices.

water communication

Germany is one of the most developed countries in the world for inland waterway transportation, with a total length of over 7300 kilometers. The main rivers include natural rivers such as the Rhine, Elbe, Main, Danube, and Oder, as well as artificial canals such as the Kiel Canal and the Central Canal. The annual freight volume of inland rivers is over 200 million tons, accounting for about 25% of the total freight volume in the country.

Urban transportation

1、 Urban traffic situation

Major cities in Germany have well-developed urban transportation. Berlin has 11 subway lines, 15 light rail lines, 22 tram lines, and hundreds of bus routes. Hamburg has 3 ring subways, 6 urban rapid light rails, 3 suburban rapid light rails, 9 regional trains, and hundreds of bus routes. Munich has 10 urban rail lines, 6 subway lines, 10 tram lines, and 65 bus lines. Frankfurt has 9 subway lines, 11 tram lines, and 63 bus routes.

2、 Special Reminder

(1) In some major cities in Germany, except for weekly and monthly tickets, generally all types of tickets require information such as travel time and location to be printed on the check-in machine at the entrance of the station platform before boarding. Otherwise, it will be considered as fare evasion and a fine will be imposed.

(2) In Germany, calling a taxi is different from the domestic way. There are many taxi stops in German cities, and most taxis stop there waiting, rarely running empty. If you want to take a taxi, you can book it at a fixed stop or by phone.

major city

1、 Berlin: The capital and largest city of Germany, with a population of approximately 3.87 million (as of June 30, 2023) and an area of approximately 892 square kilometers. It was once the official residence of successive electors and the capital of the German Empire after the unification of Prussia and Bismarck in 1871. After the defeat of the Nazis in 1945, Berlin and Germany were divided into two parts according to the Potsdam Agreement. After the reunification of Germany on October 3, 1990, East and West Berlin officially merged into one city. Berlin is an important economic and cultural center in Germany, with three opera houses, over 150 theaters, more than 170 museums, hundreds of art galleries, and 91 cinemas within the city. Berlin and Beijing became sister cities in 1994.

2、 Hamburg: Located in northern Germany, downstream of the Elbe River, about 100 kilometers from the North Sea, it is the second largest city in Germany and a state-level city. The area is 755 square kilometers and the population is approximately 1.89 million (as of the end of 2022). Hamburg is an important economic center and the largest foreign trade port in Germany. It is also an important media center in Germany. Five of the six major publishing groups in Germany are located in Hamburg, with nearly ten thousand advertisers, more than 1500 publishing houses, over 650 printing companies, and more than 3000 audiovisual and broadcasting companies. At present, there are 97 foreign consular offices, of which 69 are honorary consuls and consulates, making it the city with the most consular offices after New York and Hong Kong. It is also the location of the International Court for the Law of the Sea.

3、 Munich: the third largest city in Germany, the capital of Bavaria, with a population of 1.54 million. There are numerous Baroque buildings and museums in the city, including the German Museum, which is renowned for its comprehensive display of industrial technology. Famous attractions include the City Hall, Old King's Palace, King's Square, Olympic Park, and Palace Beer Hall, as well as the world's largest folk festival, the Beer Festival, held annually. The industrial and financial insurance industries are well-developed, and it is the headquarters of multinational companies such as Siemens, BMW, Allianz, and Munich Reinsurance.

4、 Frankfurt: Located on both sides of the Main River, it is the fifth largest city in Germany, with an area of 249 square kilometers and a population of 767000 (as of 2022). It is the financial center, exhibition city, and air gateway and transportation hub to the world in Germany. More than 200 credit and financial institutions are located in Frankfurt, including German banks such as Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Bank, and the headquarters of the German Central Cooperative Bank, as well as foreign financial institutions such as Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Bank of Communications, Credit Suisse, UBS Group, Citibank, Morgan Stanley, and the world's fifth largest German stock exchange; There are nearly 60 museums of varying sizes. Approximately 46 large-scale international expos are held annually. Chemistry (dyes, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, synthetic fibers, synthetic rubber) is the most important industry, followed by machinery, electrical appliances, electronics, etc. The famous German poet Goethe was also born in this city.

5、 Dusseldorf: located on the banks of the Rhine River in northwest Germany, it is the capital of North Rhine Westphalia, the most densely populated and economically developed region in Germany and even Europe. It is the seventh largest city in Germany and the central city of the industrial artery Ruhr area, with an area of 217 square kilometers and a population of 629000. The German steel, chemical, advertising, clothing, exhibition, communication, and biotechnology center is a logistics hub in Europe, bringing together many companies such as ThyssenKrupp, Henkel, Johnson&Johnson, 3M, Huawei, ZTE, and more. There are historical sites from the 13th to 18th centuries, art institutes, and famous pottery museums in the city. Dusseldorf was also the birthplace of the famous German poet Heinrich Heine in the 19th century.

Other major cities in Germany include Potsdam, Dresden, Leipzig, Bremen, Hanover, Kiel, L ü beck, Nuremberg, Cologne, Stuttgart, Dortmund, Heidelberg, Bonn, Aachen, etc.

Commodity prices

1、 Price situation

Germany is famous for its industrial products, and "Made in Germany" has become the pride of Germans. German products are durable, especially with high-quality tools and machinery such as cameras, optical instruments, clocks, pens, cutting tools, etc.

Compared with the per capita income level in Germany (the average monthly gross income of full-time employees in 2022 will be about 4105 euros), the price situation in Germany ranks middle in the developed countries in Europe, higher than that in China. But the prices of high-end consumer goods are generally on par with or slightly lower than those in China.

2、 Currency and exchange rate

Germany has implemented the Euro single currency since January 2002. There are seven types of euro banknotes, including 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, and 5 yuan; There are nine types of coins, including 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, 1 euro, 2 euros, and 5 euros. 1 Euro is equivalent to 7.78 RMB (as of November 1, 2023).

3、 Tax rate

The tax rate in Germany is divided into two levels: the regular tax rate is 16%, and the lower tax rate is 5%, such as basic food and books.

4、 Payment method

Shopping in Germany can be done using cash, debit cards (EC cards), and credit cards (Master or Visa cards). Some stores frequented by Chinese tourists have opened Alipay or WeChat payment functions.

5、 Banking and Financial Services

Germany is a country with an extremely sound and developed banking system. Banks are usually open from 8:30-16:00 Monday to Friday and provide 24-hour self-service. The main banks include Deutsche Bank, Commercial Bank, Deutsche Post Bank, etc. Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank, and Bank of Communications have branches in Germany.

6、 Special Reminder

（1） Some small supermarkets and restaurants in Germany may refuse credit card payments and may also refuse large denomination Euro cash (200 euros, 500 euros).

（2） Euro cash can be exchanged at major banks, hotels above four stars, airports, train stations, and currency exchange shops both inside and outside the city in Germany.

Insurance Medical

1、 Medical conditions

Germany is one of the countries with the best medical conditions in the world, with nearly 2000 hospitals, approximately 500000 beds, and over 1000 prevention and rehabilitation institutions throughout the country. The healthcare sector has over 5 million job opportunities and is the largest employment sector in Germany.

2、 Medical insurance

Germany is the earliest country in the world to establish a social security system and has always insisted on implementing a mandatory social insurance system, which is also reflected in medical insurance. Germany implements a mandatory medical insurance system with social health insurance as the main component and commercial insurance as a supplement. This mandatory social health insurance system covers 91% of the population in Germany, and with the role of commercial insurance, the entire health insurance system in Germany provides medical security for 99.8% of its population.

3、 Common diseases and treatments

The hygiene situation in Germany is good, and there are no widespread infectious diseases. Influenza is a common disease, which usually occurs in autumn and winter. If infected with influenza, seek medical attention promptly. For the elderly and children, flu vaccines can be administered before the peak flu season arrives.

4、 Main medical institutions

German hospitals are divided into two types: public and private. Public hospitals are large in scale, well-equipped, and have strong technical capabilities; Private hospitals have strong specialization, less time consumption, and higher service quality. Minor illnesses such as colds can be treated by seeking medical attention from a family doctor nearby.

German pharmacies are spread throughout the country, with over 20000. Every pharmacy has the same logo: a bright red letter A and a snake wrapped medicine cup pattern symbolizing the medical god Aeschylus. The prices of drugs are uniformly adjusted by the state, and pharmacies cannot raise or lower drug prices without authorization.

5、 Special Reminder

According to German law, foreigners in Germany, including international students, must participate in German medical insurance. However, a very small number of Chinese international students have suspended payments to medical insurance, which is a very dangerous practice. Firstly, medical expenses in Germany are expensive, with even regular headaches and fever often costing hundreds of euros. Secondly, Germany requires registered students to have medical insurance, which may result in the cancellation of student enrollment and the invalidation of student residency for uninsured students. Once an accident occurs, such as a traffic accident, it will inevitably carry a heavy debt burden.

Customs taboos

1、 Holidays and introductions

The statutory holidays of Quanvirtue include New Year's Day (January 1), Good Friday (Friday, exact date not fixed), Easter (Monday, the first Sunday after the full moon of the Spring Equinox, exact date not fixed), Labor Day (May 1), Ascension Day (40 days after Easter, exact date not fixed), Pentecost (Monday, 10 days after Ascension, exact date not fixed), German Unity Day (October 3), and Christmas Day (December 25, 26). Regional statutory holidays include Three Kings' Day (January 6th), Corpus Christi Day (the second Thursday after Pentecost), Assumption of the Virgin Mary Day (August 15th), Reformation Day (October 31st), Halloween (November 1st), and Confession and Prayer Day (the second to last Wednesday of the church year).

Easter is a Christian holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus. Legend has it that Jesus was crucified and rose to heaven on the third day after his death. Later, the church designated the first Sunday after the full moon of the Spring Equinox (between March 21st and April 25th) as a commemoration day. The German government has mandated a two-day Easter break. The Munich Oktoberfest, also known as the "Oktoberfest", is the largest folk festival in the world, celebrated from late September to early October each year. Over 6 million tourists from all over the world come to Munich to participate in the festival and drink more than 5 million liters of beer. Carnival is an ancient traditional festival in Germany, which begins at 11:00 am on November 11th and lasts for two to three months until 40 days before Easter the following year. However, the climax occurs on the last week of Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Christmas is the day of the birth of Jesus Christ, and on December 25th every year, it is the largest and busiest holiday in Germany.

2、 Common Etiquette

（1） Adhere to the agreement and be punctual. The Germans are very punctual. The agreed time is not easy to change without special circumstances.

（2） Comply with laws and regulations. German people attach great importance to rules and discipline, and Germany consciously abides by all explicit provisions.

（3） Pay attention to cleanliness. Germans pay attention to cleanliness and tidiness. Throwing paper scraps or spitting everywhere is considered uncivilized behavior.

（4） Emphasize order. Most Germans like a quiet life. They don't like loud noise except for special occasions.

（5） Pay attention to social etiquette. When shaking hands, both parties should look at each other in a friendly manner to show respect and not look around. When interacting with strangers, elders, and people with average relationships, one usually uses the honorific "you"; For those who have deep personal relationships and close relationships, such as close friends or colleagues who have had good relationships with each other for many years, they often refer to themselves as' you '.

3、 Main customs and habits such as clothing, food, and funerals

（1） Clothing

The overall style of German dressing is solemn, simple and neat. Most men prefer to wear suits and jackets, while women prefer to wear long collared shirts and dresses with elegant colors and patterns. To attend formal events such as dinners, dances, concerts, etc., men usually wear suits and women wear skirt style suits.

（2） Diet

German taboos during meals: knives and forks used to eat fish should not be used to eat meat or cheese; If drinking beer and wine at the same time, it is advisable to drink beer first and then wine, otherwise it is considered harmful to health; It is not advisable to stack too much food on the plate; Do not use napkins to fan; Avoid making noise when drinking soup or eating; Avoid talking to others while chewing food.

（3） Funeral

In Germany, the most important thing to pay attention to when attending a funeral is to wear black clothes as much as possible. Men should wear a black tie without floral patterns. If there are no black clothes, wear dark and deep colored clothes, and avoid bright clothing. At the funeral, it is important to maintain solemnity and quietness, and not to talk or laugh loudly, otherwise it will be seen as disrespectful to the funeral home.

4、 Main taboos

（1） In Germany, it is not advisable to casually give roses or roses as gifts. The former represents love, while the latter is specifically used for mourning.

（2） Germans regard the numbers "13" and "Friday" as unlucky.

（3） Germans are also disgusted with the cross handshakes of four people or the cross talk in communication occasions. Because both of these practices are considered impolite by them.

（4） When talking with Germans, it is not appropriate to involve Nazi, religious and party disputes. German law prohibits the use and dissemination of various Nazi symbols, actions, and signs.

（5） Avoid making loud noises in public places.

5、 Special Reminder

（1） A basic principle of German etiquette is to respect women, which is reflected in a series of etiquette habits of "women first", such as men are obliged to help women put on and take off their coats; Open and hold the door for the lady, please proceed first; When getting off the car, the man should also take the initiative to open the car door for the accompanying woman and help her get off the car, etc.

（2） Attention should be paid when giving gifts to German friends: if it is something bought from a store, be sure to tear off the price tag on the gift; Whatever you give, it should be carefully packaged; If there is a special day (birthday, engagement, wedding anniversary, etc.), it is best to attach a letter or business card to express congratulations; When sending flowers, it is important to choose different flowers and quantities for different occasions. When purchasing flowers, it is best to inform the flower shop of the purpose of the gift to avoid making mistakes; If you receive a gift from a German friend, you should open it and express your gratitude.

（3） In Germany, tipping service industry workers has become a habit, and tipping has become an important source of income for servers. Tipping is not only a reward for one's service, but also a sign of respect for others' labor. If dining in a restaurant (excluding buffet), customers usually need to add an additional 5% -10% tip; Joining a tour group usually requires paying tips to the driver and tour guide.

Communications Power

1、 Communication power supply

（1） Power interface type: Germany uses European standard power interfaces, characterized by two round heads.

（2） Standard voltage: The German standard voltage is 220V, 50hz.

（3） Telephone and international/domestic dialing methods, charges

To call from China to Germany: 0049 (German area code)+region code (the first 0 does not need to be dialed)+phone number. For example, calling Berlin, Germany from China: dial 0049+30+phone number.

To make cross regional long-distance calls within Germany: 0+regional number+phone number. If calling to Berlin, dial the 0+30+phone number; If making a phone call in the same area, a direct dial number is sufficient.

To call back to mainland China from Germany: 0086+regional code+phone number.

Call back to Hong Kong from Germany: 00852+phone number.

2、 Fee Standards

Due to different communication suppliers, there is a significant price difference in German phone bills. You can search for a list of phone bills in different countries through websites such as www.teltarif.de/tarife/call-by-call/outschland/, and select the most favorable communication supplier from them.

There are four mobile network operators in Germany, T‐Mobile(D1)，Vodfaone(D2)，O2，E-Plus(E+)。 In addition to network operators, there are also many service providers (such as Blau, Simply, etc.) and agents (such as Debitel, Phonehouse, Mobilcom, Talkline, etc.) that offer services such as recharge cards or agency contracts.

3、 Internet

There are four main ways to access the internet in Germany: regular telephone line internet, ISDN internet, broadband internet, and wireless internet. Generally, hotels have their own wireless networks, and major cities also have internet cafes of varying sizes.

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