When it fits
Business trips of up to 90 days such as meetings, business talks, contracts, supplier/client visits and attending a fair.
GERMANY · BUSINESS AND FAIR VISA
Germany business visa: define your business trip correctly.
If you travel to Germany for a meeting, a business talk, a supplier visit or a trade fair, you apply for a short-stay Schengen visa (type C) for a business purpose. This guide explains the invitation letter, the company documents and the special conditions for fair participants, based on official sources.
Prepared for people applying from Türkiye for business. Assumptions and conditions can vary with your citizenship, residence and company status.
GERMANY / DEUTSCHLAND
The invitation and company documents are the core.
Short answer
A Germany business visa is a short-stay Schengen visa for business trips (up to 90 days in 180). In addition to the core documents, you need the original invitation letter from the inviting company in Germany and your own company's commercial documents. Trade-fair exhibitors (with a valid exhibitor pass) may apply without an appointment and are exempt from the visa fee for the fair period. Elite Leader is not an official authority; this page is informational.
- Visa type
- Schengen C · business purpose
- Maximum stay
- 90 days in 180
- Invitation
- Original invitation letter from the German company
- Fair exhibitor
- Walk-in application + fee exemption
- Processing time
- Usually 15 days, up to 45 in exceptional cases
- Where to apply
- iDATA (by appointment; except fair exhibitors)
Which trips is this page for?
A business purpose is confirmed by the invitation and company documents. The conditions differ for a fair visitor, a fair exhibitor and stand construction.
When another page applies
Work or assignment beyond 90 days falls under the national (D) visa and a work permit. For a holiday trip use the tourist visa, and for visiting relatives the family/visit page.
A fair means three distinct roles
A fair visitor, a fair exhibitor (stand holder) and a stand-construction company apply with different documents. Clarify your role at the outset.
Settle these before applying
The inviting company must be clear
The name, address and purpose of the inviting company in Germany are documented. The invitation letter must be an original and must state the purpose, duration and destination of the trip.
Cost responsibility must be clear
State from the outset whether your employer in Türkiye or the German company bears the costs. The employer letter may include a guarantee that the company covers the costs.
Fair exhibitors follow a separate route
Fair exhibitors with a valid exhibitor pass (Ausstellerausweis) may apply without an appointment across Türkiye; fair visitors must always book an appointment.
Application steps
Determine the role and purpose
A business talk, a fair visit or fair participation? The document set changes with your role.
Complete the form and register
Fill in the short-stay application form via VIDEX. Register on iDATA's 'Business' waiting list. If you are a fair exhibitor, check the walk-in conditions.
Gather the invitation and company documents
Prepare the original invitation letter from the German company, the current trade-register extract of the receiving company (not older than 6 months) and the employer/company documents on your side.
Complete the core documents
Add the common documents: passport, biometric photo, insurance, financial documents and the civil-registry extract.
Apply and give biometrics
Apply in person at the appointment (or as a fair exhibitor without one); fingerprints are taken for applicants over 12.
Documents specific to the business purpose
The following are in addition to the core documents. For the common list, see the required documents page.
invitationandcompanygermany
- Invitation letter (original)Name and full address of the inviting company; the planned stay period; purpose, destination and duration (naming the company); and, where applicable, a declaration of cost coverage.
- Trade-register extract of the receiving companyCurrent Handelsregister extract of the German company (not older than 6 months).
trkiyesideemployee
- Employer letter (original)Purpose and duration of the trip; a guarantee that the company covers the costs; plus SGK employment entry and service record (with barcode/QR).
trkiyesidecompanyowner
- Commercial recordsChamber of Commerce/Industry registry extract (not older than 6 months), a copy of the Trade Registry Gazette (Ticaret Sicil Gazetesi) and the tax certificate (Vergi Levhası).
fairexhibitor
- Exhibitor documentsExhibitor pass (Ausstellerausweis), the invoice for paid stand fees and a participant list or a letter from the exhibiting company plus the organiser.
fairvisitor
- Fair ticketFair ticket or online registration document.
If the trip involves assembly, maintenance or repair in Germany of previously delivered Turkish machines/software systems, notice to the Bundesagentur für Arbeit is required. Document lists can be updated by official sources.
Additional documents by profile
By your role on a business trip:
| Profile | Additional documents |
|---|---|
| Salaried employee | Employer letter (with a cost guarantee) + SGK employment entry and service record. |
| Company owner / self-employed | Chamber registry extract + Trade Registry Gazette + tax certificate. |
| Fair exhibitor | Ausstellerausweis + stand-fee invoice + participation/organiser letter. |
| Stand-construction company | Contract between the exhibitor and the construction company + exhibitor documents. |
Fees and charges
The business application fee is the same as the tourist one; there is a special exemption for fair exhibitors.
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Visa fee (adult) | 90 EUR | Paid in cash in EUR. |
| Fair exhibitor | Fee-exempt | If exhibitor status is documented, only for the fair period; long-stay visas are charged. |
| iDATA service fee | 39.92 EUR | Paid in TRY at application. |
For the full fee breakdown, see the visa fees page. Pay nothing beyond the official items.
Points to watch on a business trip
- The right categoryPaid work or an assignment beyond 90 days cannot be done on a short-stay visa; that requires a national visa and a work permit.
- Invitation consistencyThe purpose, duration and company details in the invitation letter must be consistent with the rest of your application.
- No guaranteeComplete documents do not mean approval; the mission decides.
Business visa questions
Is an invitation letter required for a business visa?
To document the business purpose, an original invitation letter from the inviting company in Germany is expected. It must state the company's name and address, the stay period, the purpose-destination-duration and, where applicable, cost coverage.
I am going to a fair — do I need an appointment?
Fair visitors must always book an appointment. Fair exhibitors with a valid exhibitor pass may apply without an appointment across Türkiye and are exempt from the visa fee for the fair period.
How long does a business visa take?
Processing usually takes 15 days, up to 45 in exceptional cases. The pre-appointment waiting period should be considered separately.
What documents do I need as a company owner?
In addition to the core documents, prepare the Chamber registry extract (not older than 6 months), a copy of the Trade Registry Gazette and the tax certificate.
Sources and verification
The official pages below were checked on 2 November 2026.
- Visa for business travel — German missions in Türkiye Fair visa (visit / exhibition / stand construction) Current information and application VIDEX — online application form
Elite Leader Consultancy · last official check: November 2, 2026
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