Germany Student Visa – Checklist, Requirements, Application, Fees & Processing Time

If you want to join 458,210 international students currently studying in Germany, chances are you need a visa or residence permit.

But how to know if you need a visa, residence permit, a combination of both, or neither to study in Germany? What type of visa should you apply for? What documents do you need?

We’ll answer all these questions and provide a step-by-step of the application process below.

Do I Need a Visa to Study in Germany?

There are two situations in which you may need a visa for Germany:

1. If your study program lasts less or up to 90 days. For short programs such as language courses, you only need a Schengen visa. Citizens of countries that have a Schengen agreement with Germany don’t need a visa. You can check if your country is among them in this list.
2. If your study program lasts longer than 90 days. If your studies in Germany exceed this period, for example, if you’re doing a master’s degree, you need a national visa (D visa). You also have to apply for a residence permit when you’re in Germany before this visa expires.

If you’re from these countries, this may not apply to you:

• Citizens of EU countries (+ Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland) don’t need a visa or residence permit to study in Germany. If you’re from one of these countries, you only need to register your address in Germany at the Residents‘ Registration Office (Einwohnermeldeamt), referred to as Bürgerbüro (Citizens’ Office) in some places.
• Citizens of Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco, and San Marino don’t need a visa to study in Germany IF they don’t plan to work while studying here. In this scenario, they only need to register their address and apply for a residence permit once in the country. Otherwise, they need a student visa if they want to work alongside their studies.
• Citizens of Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and the United States don’t need a visa to study in Germany. They only need to register their address and apply for a residence permit upon arriving in the country.

Types of Germany Study Visas

As an international student, the type of visa you need for Germany depends on your study program:

• The Schengen visa (C visa) for short courses that last up to three months, and
• The national visa (D visa) for courses that last more than three months.

You can get a national visa (D visa) for different study programs in Germany, including undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate, or exchange studies, participating in pre-academic measures (such as Studienkollegs), and non-academic German language courses.

Depending on your situation, you can apply for one of the three types of German national visa (D visa) for students:

• German Student Visa. If you were accepted to a German higher education institution to start studying in a higher education program (e.g. bachelor’s degree, master’s degree).
• German Student Applicant Visa. If you applied to a state-approved higher education institution or preparatory course and have a good chance of getting accepted, but have not received a letter of admission or confirmation of application yet.
• German Language Course Visa. If you want to attend intensive German language courses in Germany, without plans to continue studying elsewhere.

What Are German Student Visa Requirements?

When you apply for the German student visa, you have to fulfill the following requirements/application documents:

1. Visa application documents. You need a completed visa application form, a valid passport, and recent passport-style photos.
2. Proof of financial resources. Proof that you have enough money to support yourself in Germany (minimum requirement is €11,904 per year).
3. Proof of purpose of stay. Letter that confirms your acceptance to a study program in Germany.
4. Previous academic qualifications. School-leaving certificate or, if applicable, university degree.
5. Health insurance. Required for the visa and to enroll at the university.
6. Proof of language proficiency. German or English at minimum B2 level.
7. Visa processing fee. €75 for adults, reduced fee for minors.

Let’s go over each requirement in more detail:

1. Visa Application Documents

Here are the standard documents you need to apply for a German student visa:

• Properly filled out and signed national visa application form.
• Valid passport.
• Two copies of your passport.
• Birth certificate.
• Marriage certificate (if applicable).
• Your child’s birth certificate (if applicable).
• Recent passport-style photographs (up to 3). You can get biometric photos conveniently from MyBiometricPhotos.com.
• Photocopies of previous German residence titles (if applicable).

2. Proof of Financial Resources (Finanzierungsnachweis)

Next, you have to show you have enough money to support yourself while studying in Germany. The established requirement (as of September 2024) is €11,904 per year or €992 per month for the first year. Some of the ways to fulfill this requirement include:

• A deposit confirmation showing that you have €11,904 in a German blocked bank account (Sperrkonto).
• Valid proof of your parent’s income records and financial assets (e.g. bank statement, job contract, etc.).
• Scholarship awarding certificate that specifies the expenses covered or monetary award.
• Letter of commitment by a German resident (Verpflichtungserklärung) stating that they can cover your expenses while you’re a student.
• Bank guarantee issued to you by a recognized bank.

3. Proof of Purpose of Stay

You can send one of these documents as proof of coming to Germany for study purposes:

• Confirmation of admission (Zulassungsbescheid). A confirmation from a recognized education institution in Germany that states when the program will start and what language it’s held in.
• Confirmation of admission in a university preparatory course (Studienkolleg). A letter from uni-assist, a confirmation of admission as an applicant, or another form of communication with the Studienkolleg stating that you’re accepted or enrolled in the course.
• Proof of conditional admission (Bedingter Zulassungsbescheid) to a university & enrollment in a long-term intensive language course (Intensiv-Sprachkurs). This can be a letter from uni-assist, a confirmation of admission as an applicant to the course, communication with the university on the terms of final admission, or payment for the first three months of the course.

4. Evidence of Previous Qualifications

Next, you should provide official or notarized copies of your earlier education certificates. This includes your school leaving certificate (e.g. high school diploma) and, if applicable to you, a certificate of your bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or Ph.D.

5. Health Insurance

Once you’re in Germany you need to have valid health insurance. Students from countries within the EU/EEA or other countries with a social security agreement with Germany may be able to use their health insurance from back home.

Otherwise, you need to get student health insurance from a German provider once you make it to Germany.

However, you may be asked to present proof of health insurance during your visa appointment. In most cases travel health insurance is sufficient as proof for your visa until you get student insurance in Germany.

This online tool by TK and DR-Walter will tell you the type of insurance you need and how much it will cost (after you start the application process). You will pay after you enter Germany.

6. Proof of German or English Proficiency

Another document you may need is proof of German or English proficiency (or of both languages), depending on the language of instruction of the study program.

For visa purposes, you usually need to prove you possess minimum B2 level (CEFR) knowledge in German and/or English. You can show this through recognized language exams such as TestDaF or TOEFL.

7. Visa Processing Fee (€75)

Lastly, you need to pay a nonrefundable visa processing fee when you’re ready to submit the visa application. The standard fee is €75 for adults and €37.50 for minors (under 18 years old).

You should bring this amount in cash, in the local currency—for example, you need ₹7000 if you’re applying in India.

If you won a scholarship, please check with your local embassy or consulate, as in most cases you’re exempt from paying the visa processing fee.

How to Apply For A German Student Visa

Once you’ve checked all requirements and prepared the necessary documents, you are ready to apply for a German student visa. These are the general steps you need to follow:

• Locate the closest German embassy or consulate. Use this list of German embassies worldwide or search on Google to find the one nearest to you. Most embassies have an official website (ending in diplo.de) where you can find the latest information and their physical address.
• Review the requirements and procedures. Check the embassy’s website for the requirements and appointment steps that apply to your country. Review all the information carefully before moving on to setting an appointment.
• Set up a visa appointment. Next, schedule the appointment as instructed by the embassy or consulate. Most have an online appointment booking portal, but some may also accept appointments by email or phone call. We recommend scheduling your appointment as early as possible since some countries receive a high volume of applicants.
• Prepare and double-check documents. Double-check all visa documents to make sure they’re in order. If you follow instructions clearly, you won’t need to pay any consultants or agencies to help.
• Prepare for your visa interview. The interview is the last step of the visa process. You can prepare by reviewing these common student visa questions. You should also have €75 with you (€35.50 for minors) to pay the processing fee (keep the receipt after paying). Now, all you have to do is wait for the official decision on your visa status.

When To Apply For a German Student Visa

The best time to apply for a student visa is right after you receive the acceptance letter and made sure you’ve got the funds to study in Germany.

Most people who have applied for a German student visa suggest that the best time to apply is around three months before starting your studies.

Germany Student Visa Processing Time

Visa processing time depends a lot on the country and the German embassy or consulate where you apply. Approximately, it takes up to 25 days to get a decision on the application.

However, if they’re handling a lot of applications, it can sometimes take up to three months. This is why it’s best to apply as early as possible so you’re on the safe side.

How To Get a Student Residence Permit in Germany

Most international students who want to stay in Germany longer than 90 days need to apply for a student residence permit. This permit lets you live, study, and work part-time in Germany.

A German residence permit is not to be confused with a visa— you need the visa to enter the country, whereas the permit is obtained after you arrive here.

Here are all the steps to obtaining a student residence permit in Germany:

Find Your Permanent Accommodation

Since it is a requirement for the permit, you need to establish long-term accommodation within two weeks of arriving in Germany if you haven’t already done so.

Register at the Local Resident’s Office

Once you’re settled in your new residence and have signed a rental agreement (or other relevant contract), you need to register your address at the Resident’s Registration Office (Einwohnermeldeamt).

The registration process is called ‘Anmeldung’ and the address registration certificate you receive after is called Meldebescheinigung or Anmeldebestätigung.

You need to have these documents with you:

• Valid passport or national ID (with a valid visa if applicable).
• Rental contract.
• A confirmation letter from your landlord specifying your address.

Enroll in Your Chosen Academic Program

The next step is enrolling at the university or school where you’ll be studying. You need to submit these documents to your school’s online portal or student affairs office (Studentensekretariat):

• Application for enrollment (online or printed)
• National passport/national ID card with a valid visa (if applicable)
• Letter of acceptance from the university
• Proof of statutory health insurance in Germany
• German University Entrance Qualification or equivalent recognized qualification

When you’re done, you will receive a certificate of enrollment (Immatrikulationsbescheinigung). You’ll need this for the permit as well.

Apply for a Residence Permit for Studies

Now for the residence permit application process, if you have a visa, you need to apply for the residence permit in due time before the visa expires.

To get your permit, you need to make an appointment at the local Foreigner’s Office (Ausländerbehörde) and start preparing the application documents. Appointments are usually set online through the Foreginer’s Office website.

What Are the Requirements for a Student Residence Permit in Germany?

Here is a checklist of documents you need for a student residence permit in Germany:

• Completed application form. The residence permit application form is called Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels in German. As an example, here is the application form for Munich.
• Passport/national ID card. Showing a valid entry visa (if you need a visa to enter Germany).
• Documents showing your permanent address in Germany. 
• Confirmation of city registration. The registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) from the Resident’s Registration Office.
• Proof of residence certificate. In German, this is the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung or Wohnungsgeberbescheinigung. Your landlord should fill it out and sign it.
• Recent passport-type photographs.
• Proof of enrollment in studies. This can be a certificate of enrollment, confirmation of admission, or evidence of conditional admission to studies.
• Proof of financial subsistence. Send the same documents you provided when you applied for the visa. For details on how to show finances if you don’t need a visa, please take a look at this guide.
• Application fee. The application fee for a German residence permit depends on the city/town and whether you’re applying for the first time or extending it. The first issuance fee is around €100 for adults and €50 for minors. To extend your permit, it costs about €93-€97 for adults and half that for minors.

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