Canada passport: Germany bilateral stay rules
The Commission's 2019 notice lists a three-month German visa-waiver stay for Canadian passport holders. Article 20 provides a national extension mechanism; it does not make the stay automatic. Confirm the current process with German authorities before relying on it.
What the official source says
The Commission's 2019 notice lists a three-month German visa-waiver stay for Canadian passport holders. Article 20 provides a national extension mechanism; it does not make the stay automatic. Confirm the current process with German authorities before relying on it.
The Commission notice identifies the passport category and authorized period reported for this state. For three-month notices, three calendar months are not necessarily exactly 90 days.
Territory and departure conditions
A stay authorized under Article 20(2) is limited to the territory of the authorizing state, and the traveller must exit at that state's external border.
A bilateral waiver does not establish a right to work. Check national rules for the activity you plan to undertake.
Request and EES record
EES records short-stay entries and exits. If Germany authorizes an Article 20 extension, the competent authority must record it in the relevant EES record. The regulation does not prescribe a general rule to avoid automated gates.
- The Commission notice lists all Canadian passports for this entry.
- If the request is made after the 90-day period, Article 20 requires credible evidence that the preceding stay was only in the authorizing state.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Commission list allow in Germany?
The 2019 notice lists three months for Canadian passport holders. Three calendar months are not always exactly 90 days, and the current German procedure must be confirmed with the competent authority.
Can I travel to other Schengen countries during an authorized extension?
No. Article 20(2c) limits an authorized extension to the territory of the state granting it and requires exit at that state's external border.
Must I avoid automated border gates?
The cited EES rules require an authorized extension to be entered in the EES record; they do not impose a universal requirement to avoid automated gates.
Official sources
Updated 2026-10-27. Information is general; the relevant authority decides each case.