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.
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