French Embassy in Berlin

Embassy of France in Berlin, Germany

The Embassy of France in Berlin represents the centerpiece of Franco-German relations, Europe's most important bilateral partnership anchored by the **Élysée Treaty of January 22, 1963** which the German Foreign Office describes as having 'placed the German-French partnership on a contractual basis.' The embassy, located at Pariser Platz 5 in Berlin's historic Mitte district adjacent to the Brandenburg Gate, coordinates extensive bilateral cooperation through what German authorities characterize as 'a network between the societies of both countries that is today unique.' Diplomatic relations between France and the Federal Republic of Germany were established on July 11, 1951, with the relationship formalized through the 1963 Élysée Treaty establishing regular consultations between heads of state and government, strengthened by the **Aachen Treaty of 2019** (Treaty on Franco-German Cooperation and Integration) deepening cooperation across foreign policy, defense, economy, culture, education, research, and cross-border regions. France maintains extensive diplomatic infrastructure in Germany with embassy in Berlin and consulates general in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Saarbrücken, and Stuttgart, plus numerous honorary consulates, reflecting the depth of bilateral engagement. The Franco-German partnership operates through dedicated institutions including the **Franco-German Youth Office (Office franco-allemand pour la jeunesse - OFAJ)** fostering youth exchange, the **Franco-German University (Université franco-allemande)** promoting academic cooperation, and the **Franco-German Committee for Cross-Border Cooperation** addressing regional integration. France and Germany collaborate through the **Weimar Triangle** with Poland on European security and foreign policy, as demonstrated by recent joint ministerial statements reaffirming unity on European peace and security.

Visa Services

German citizens as EU nationals enjoy freedom of movement to mainland France without visa requirements, using valid passport or national ID card for entry. However, French overseas territories maintain distinct entry requirements. For **Mayotte**, the German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) confirms that German citizens must carry either valid passport, national ID card, or valid children's travel passport for entry to Mayotte and other French overseas departments (Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Réunion). **Critical distinction**: The German Foreign Office warns that flights with stopovers at non-French territories (such as Mauritius en route to Réunion or Tobago to Martinique) require **passports with at least six months validity** for transit controls, making ID cards insufficient. The French government confirms that **Schengen agreements do NOT apply to Mayotte** - this French overseas department operates separate immigration rules from mainland France and the Schengen Area. German travelers to Mayotte or other French overseas territories (Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthélemy, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon) should verify specific entry requirements with French consular services. Visa applications for France and French territories are processed through consulates general based on residence location in Germany, not through the embassy in Berlin. Contact appropriate consulate: Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Saarbrücken, or Stuttgart for visa processing and entry requirement guidance.

Consular Services

The Embassy coordinates France's consular network in Germany, with services provided through consulates general in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Saarbrücken, and Stuttgart based on residence location. The Consular Hotline (+49 30 91588060, Monday-Friday) provides guidance on which consulate serves your area. French nationals in Germany access comprehensive consular services including passport applications and renewals, national identity cards (Carte Nationale d'Identité), emergency travel documents, civil status registration (births, marriages, deaths), French nationality matters, consular registration, electoral registration for French elections, document legalization and authentication, notarial services, and emergency assistance. All services require appointments scheduled through appropriate consulate. French nationals should register with consular services for emergency notifications. For emergencies affecting French citizens in Germany, contact the consular hotline or embassy emergency number.

Trade & Export Support

France and Germany constitute Europe's core economic partnership with deep commercial integration. Franco-German economic cooperation spans automotive industry (cross-border value chains), aerospace and defense (joint programs including Airbus, FCAS future combat air system), energy transition and renewable energy (cooperation on decarbonization and green hydrogen), pharmaceuticals and healthcare, digital technology and artificial intelligence, infrastructure and construction, chemicals and advanced materials, food and agriculture, luxury goods and consumer products, and financial services. Major French companies operate extensively in Germany across sectors, while German companies maintain significant presence in France, creating intertwined economic ecosystems. The Franco-German Economic Council coordinates bilateral business relations.

Cultural & Educational Programs

Franco-German cultural and educational cooperation operates through unparalleled institutional infrastructure. The **Franco-German Youth Office (Office franco-allemand pour la jeunesse - OFAJ)**, established following the 1963 Élysée Treaty, has facilitated millions of youth exchanges fostering mutual understanding between French and German young people through school exchanges, university programs, professional training, civic engagement, and cultural initiatives. The **Franco-German University (Université franco-allemande - UFA)**, founded in 1997, coordinates integrated study programs across over 180 Franco-German double degree programs enrolling thousands of students in binational higher education combining French and German academic excellence. Cultural cooperation includes Institut français centers throughout Germany promoting French language and culture, German-French cultural institutes in France (Goethe-Institut network), extensive town twinning programs connecting hundreds of French and German municipalities (jumelages/Städtepartnerschaften), film cooperation, translation programs, artistic exchanges, and joint cultural projects. Language education flourishes with German widely studied in France and French taught throughout Germany, supported by pedagogical cooperation and teacher exchanges. Scientific cooperation operates through joint research programs, collaborative laboratories, researcher mobility, and institutional partnerships spanning all fields from fundamental research to applied technology, coordinated through research organizations including CNRS-partner institutes.

Service Area

The Embassy in Berlin coordinates French diplomatic activities throughout Germany with consular services delivered through the consular network. For consular services, German residents should contact the appropriate consulate based on location: Consulate General Düsseldorf (North Rhine-Westphalia northern areas), Consulate General Frankfurt (Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland), Consulate General Hamburg (northern Germany), Consulate General Munich (Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg southern areas), Consulate General Saarbrücken (Saarland and border regions), Consulate General Stuttgart (Baden-Württemberg). Contact consular hotline for jurisdiction clarification.

Appointment Information

Consular services require appointments through appropriate consulate based on residence. Consular Hotline: +49 30 91588060 (Monday-Friday). Embassy general phone: +49 30 590039000. Embassy does not handle visa applications - contact consulates general for visa processing. For emergencies affecting French nationals, use emergency contact numbers provided by consulates.

Special Notes

The Embassy occupies a prestigious location at Pariser Platz 5 in Berlin's Mitte district, directly adjacent to the Brandenburg Gate in the heart of reunified Berlin. Accessible by Berlin U-Bahn and S-Bahn (Brandenburger Tor station), buses, and taxis. France celebrates its National Day (July 14, Bastille Day) with events attended by German officials, French community, and international guests, symbolizing Franco-German friendship. The Franco-German partnership celebrates the Élysée Treaty anniversary (January 22) annually, with youth exchange programs, cultural events, and political commemorations. German travelers to French overseas territories including Mayotte should verify passport validity requirements (six months validity may be required for transit through non-French territories) and confirm that Schengen rules do not automatically apply. The Franco-German relationship serves as the 'motor' of European integration, with close coordination on EU policy, eurozone governance, security cooperation, and responses to European challenges. Recent Franco-German cooperation includes joint positions on Ukraine crisis, European defense autonomy, climate policy, and digital regulation.