|
|
|
|
GERMANY
- RED TAPE AND VISAS |
|
|
|
Citizens of most EU countries (and
of Norway and Iceland) need only a
valid national identity card to
enter Germany. Since Britain has
no identity card system, however,
British citizens do have to take a
passport.
US, Canadian, Australian and
New Zealand passport holders can
also enter the country for ninety
days (in any one year) for a
tourist visit without a visa.
However, you're strongly advised,
if you know your stay will be
longer than this, to apply for an
extension visa from the local
German embassy before you go. In
order to extend a stay once in the
country, all visitors should
contact the Ausländeramt
(Alien Authorities) in the nearest
large town: addresses are in the
phone books.
EU nationals are also entitled
to work in Germany , but
anyone else has to have secured a
job before arrival in order
to get a work permit, for which
they should apply to their local
German consulate or embassy. For
casual labour jobs during harvests
or in the hotel and catering
trades, nobody is going to ask too
many questions, but wages are
accordingly low and the work
tough.
Customs
EU nationals can take
goods for personal consumption
across EU borders without
incurring duty, as long as
they've paid the local tax at
the place of purchase. Duty-free
shopping no longer exists.
However, there are still
personal allowance limits on
what were once duty-free goods -
alcohol, tobacco and perfume -
bought in EU countries. Each
person is allowed up to 800
cigarettes, 400 cigarillos, 200
cigars, 1kg of smoking tobacco,
90 litres of wine (no more than
60 litres of which can be
sparkling wine), 10 litres of
spirits, 20 litres of fortified
wine and 110 litres of beer.
Residents of the US and
Canada can take up to 200
cigarettes and one litre of
spirits home, as can Australian
citizens, while New
Zealanders must confine
themselves to 200 cigarettes,
4.5 litres of beer or wine and
just over one litre of spirits.
German embassies abroad
Australia 119 Empire
Circuit, Yarralumla, Canberra,
ACT 2600 (tel 02/6270 1911, consugerma.sydney@bigpond.com
).
Britain 23 Belgrave
Square, London SW1X 8PZ (tel
020/7824 1300, www.german-embassy.org.uk
).
Canada 1 Waverly St,
Ottawa, Ont. K2P 0T8 (tel
613/232-1101, www.germanembassyottawa.org
).
Ireland 31 Trimelston
Ave, Booterstown, Blackrock, Co.
Dublin (tel 01/269 3011).
New Zealand 90-2
Hobson St, Thorndon, Wellington
(tel 04/473 6063).
US 4645 Reservoir Rd
NW, Washington 20007 (tel
202/298 8140, www.germany-info.org
).
|
