Holders of a Canadian Refugee Travel Document (RTD) issued under the 1951 Refugee Convention do not require a visa for transit or short-term stays in Germany of up to 90 days within any 180-day period, including tourism and business purposes, provided that the travel document meets Germany’s applicable validity requirements.

Germany is a member of both the European Union and the Schengen Area. However, Germany’s visa exemption for Canadian RTD holders applies specifically to Germany and should not be interpreted as a visa exemption for other Schengen countries.

The German authorities advise that travellers relying on this exemption should enter Germany directly from Canada without transiting through another Schengen country. If a traveller must transit through another Schengen country, they must obtain the applicable visa from the consulate of that country before travelling.

Travellers holding a Canadian Refugee Travel Document who are relying on Germany’s visa exemption should travel directly from Canada to Germany.

Travellers should avoid transiting through another Schengen country unless they have confirmed that country’s requirements and obtained a visa if required.

If an itinerary includes another EU or Schengen country, the traveller should contact the relevant embassy or consulate before booking travel. Germany’s RTD visa exemption does not automatically apply to other countries.

Travellers should also ensure that their Canadian RTD meets all applicable German validity and entry requirements.

Federal Foreign Office of Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) — Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Canada