EU nationals do not require a visa to enter Germany.
Non-EU nationals, generally speaking, require a visa for stays in Germany. A visa is not required for visits of up to 90 days in an 180‑day period for nationals of those countries for which the European Community has abolished the visa requirement - see the country list. Please check the Visa regulations and the table for the detailed list of countries.
Visa fees are typically 60 Euro, take about 2-10 working days to process, and in general are issued not just for Germany, but for all Schengen countries. For details on where and how to apply, please check the Visa regulations page.
When applying for a visa, make sure you meet the following requirements:
- The purpose of the trip to Germany must be plausible and comprehensible.
- The applicant must be in a position to finance his/her living and travel costs from his/her own funds or income.
- The visa holder must be prepared to leave the Schengen area before the visa expires.
- Documentary evidence must be provided of travel health insurance with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euro valid for the entire Schengen area.
The conference organizers may help with item (1), but not with the others, most notably not with (4)!