Visa information for IACAPAP 2026 participants

The 27th World Congress of IACAPAP will take place 1–4 July 2026 at the Congress Center Hamburg (CCH), Germany. Most international participants will require a visa to enter Germany. Please review the following guidelines to ensure a smooth travel experience.

Do you need a visa?

EU/EEA and Swiss citizens: No visa required.
Visa-exempt countries: Citizens of 62 countries (e.g., USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, Brazil) can enter Germany for up to 90 days within 180 days without a visa.
Visa-required countries: Citizens of over 100 countries (including India, China, South Africa, Nigeria) must apply for a Schengen short-stay visa (Type C) before traveling

Entry regulations for Germany

List of diplomatic missions of Germany

Visa Navigator

The Visa Navigator helps you to quickly and easily find the visa you need to enter and stay in Germany. Answer a few questions about the purpose of your entry and get sound information on how and where to apply for the relevant visa.

Visa Navigator

Visa types relevant for congress participants

Schengen Short-Stay Visa (Type C): For conferences, tourism, or business trips up to 90 days.
Conference/Trade Fair Visa: Specifically for attending professional events.

Countries Requiring a Visa

Citizens of the following countries must obtain a Schengen visa before traveling to Germany:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Overview of visa requirements

Schengen Visa Application Website

Invitation Letter

In most cases, an official invitation letter is not required for trade fair/conference visas. If requested by your local embassy, please contact the Congress Office at iacapap2026@cpo-hanser.de.

Applying for visas easily and securely online

Applying online for services provided by the German missions abroad – the Federal Foreign Office has created a central point of contact for this with the Consular Services Portal.