Germany expands visa‑free travel to 62 countries, keeps Turkey on list

Germany announced that, from 2026, citizens of 62 non‑EU and non‑Schengen states will be allowed to enter the country without a visa for short stays of up to 90 days within any 180‑day period. The list covers major economies such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan and South Korea, as well as a range of nations in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific, including Colombia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Kiribati and Tuvalu. The visa‑free privilege does not grant the right to work or reside long‑term, though some travelers may later apply for residence permits under German immigration rules. Turkey, despite its sizable trade relationship with Germany, was not included in the updated list, meaning Turkish passport holders will continue to require a Schengen visa for short trips. In parallel, the EU’s European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) has been postponed; a voluntary phase is slated for late 2026, with mandatory implementation pushed to April 2027 because of technical delays in the European Entry/Exit System.