German Embassy in Cairo: address, hours and booking a visa appointment

Last checked against the official source: 29 August 2026

The German Embassy in Cairo does not book visa appointments itself — booking runs through TLScontact, and going to the embassy building to file a visa application means a wasted day. And there is something many people do not know: this embassy’s jurisdiction is not limited to residents of Egypt.

Jurisdiction: who applies in Cairo

This is the most overlooked point, and it decides whether this is your embassy at all. The Cairo embassy considers a visa application if your habitual residence is in Egypt — which is normally established when the stay exceeds six months.

But the jurisdiction currently reaches further: the embassy states that it is also competent for applicants whose habitual residence is in Syria, Libya, Yemen and Sudan.

And here is the decisive exception: that extension does not apply to family reunification applications, nor to travel to persons enjoying temporary protection. Being Syrian or Yemeni does not automatically mean your family reunification file is filed in Cairo.

Consular services — certificates, legalisations and civil status matters — cover people whose habitual residence is in Egypt and Sudan. The reason Sudan is included is stated officially: the closure of the German Embassy in Khartoum, which means residents of Sudan currently apply through Cairo.

How to book a visa appointment, step by step

1. Establish the visa type firstA Schengen visa if your stay in Germany is up to ninety consecutive days, or a national visa if it is ninety days or more. Choosing the wrong type means a formal refusal and a wasted fee.
2. Register on TLScontact and book the appointmentBooking happens at tlscontact.com, not at the embassy. The embassy itself refers you to that site and accepts no booking by telephone or in person.
3. Prepare the application electronicallyThe German Federal Foreign Office has launched the Consular Services Portal for online applications, and you may also be asked to complete the VIDEX form. Prepare it before your appointment, not on the day.
4. File your documents at the TLScontact officeAnd if you are later asked to complete missing documents, submit those at TLScontact too — the embassy’s external counter does not accept supplementary documents, and that is a wasted journey many people make.
5. Wait the stated period and do not chase the applicationThe embassy states that examining a Schengen application usually takes two to four weeks from submission to the passport being returned to the TLS office. Enquiries about applications under examination or refused are not answered.
6. Attend passport handover in the dedicated slotsIf your visa is ready and you are asked to bring your passport to the embassy, the slots for that differ from the embassy’s general hours — see the table below.

Passports, legalisations and civil status

These are the services of a different section from the visa section, with its own contact route. Enquiries about passports, civil matters and nationality are sent to the email address passstelle@kair.auswaertiges-amt.de

The section’s remit covers legalisation of Egyptian, German and Sudanese documents, marriage and divorce matters, the birth of a German child in Egypt and establishment of paternity, as well as the lists of translators whose signatures are accredited with the embassy.

The remonstration procedure has been abolished — this changes what you do after a refusal

The German Federal Foreign Office abolished the remonstration procedure against visa refusals worldwide with effect from 1 July 2025. If your application is refused after that date, do not send a remonstration to the mission — it will not be processed. The remaining legal route is an action before the Administrative Court in Berlin, which must be in German and involves court costs. And one door stays open always: submitting a fresh application. Which is why filing a complete file the first time now matters more than it ever did.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the German Embassy in Cairo?

On Sharia Berlin, off Hassan Sabri Street in Zamalek, Cairo. If someone directs you to another address such as Sheikh Zayed or New Cairo, it is most likely the TLScontact application centre rather than the embassy building — check the address on the TLScontact site itself.

How do I book a visa appointment at the German Embassy in Cairo?

Not at the embassy and not by telephone, but by registering on the TLScontact site. The embassy itself refers you there, and no visa information is given on the embassy’s general telephone line.

Is the Cairo embassy competent for applicants outside Egypt?

Yes. The embassy states it is currently also competent for people whose habitual residence is in Syria, Libya, Yemen and Sudan. That extension does not apply to family reunification applications or to travel to persons with temporary protection.

What are the opening hours of the German Embassy in Cairo?

For general enquiries: Sunday to Wednesday from eight in the morning until four in the afternoon, and Thursday from half past eight until half past one. Passport handover once the visa is ready has different slots: Sunday to Wednesday from one until three, and Thursday from eleven until one.

How long does a Schengen visa from Cairo take?

The embassy states that examining a Schengen application usually takes two to four weeks, from submission until the passport is returned to the TLS office. Enquiries about applications under examination or refused are not answered.

Can I take my mobile phone into the embassy?

No. For security reasons bags, mobile phones, laptops, cameras and knives may not be brought into the building, and the rule applies to visitors of the passport section and the visa section alike.

Where do I submit missing documents after filing?

At the TLScontact office itself. The embassy’s external counter does not accept documents that need to be completed — a wasted journey many people make.