On the planned date of departure from Germany, your passport has to be valid at least ... It should also contain at least two empty pages where the visa can be inserted.

For travelling into Germany you need a valid passport or other document that confirms your identity. You will also need the passport later when you go to register at an authority. Residents of ...

Malte Poppensieker, a German national ... he found the visa process frustrating — plagued with paperwork, long waits at application centers, and additional trips to collect passports.