If you want to apply for a student visa for Germany, you are not alone. Every year, hundreds of thousands of international students enroll at German universities., with the number reaching around 380,000 in the winter semester of 2022/23. They are also joined by all those wishing to take part in an internship or a language course in Germany. Many of them need a student visa. However, Germany determines the exact type of entry permit based on various factors. You can find out about these permits, if you need a visa and, if so, which one, here. We also provide you with practical checklists with important information regarding the requirements, documents needed and the application process.
An overview of the student visa for Germany
The following factors determine whether you need a student visa for Germany:
- Country of origin of the applicant
- Duration of stay in Germany
If you require an entry permit, the type of stay determines the exact category of the student visa:
- Visa for a language course: Entry permit for participation in German courses with a duration of at least three months and up to one year
- Visa for student application: If you want to look for the right degree program locally or do not yet have a certificate of admission from the university, you will need this visa.
- Visa for study purposes: If you have already been admitted to study at a German university, you should apply for this student visa.
Tip: If you are not sure which visa you need to apply for, use the Visa Navigator from the German Federal Foreign Office. Binding information on visa requirements can also be obtained from the German embassies and consulates in your home country.
Documents and organizational conditions for the student visa:
- Documents for the application
- Proof of financing
- Health insurance abroad
- Processing times for the student visa from the date of application:
1. Long-term study stays: 6–12 weeks
2. Short-term study stays: 15–30 days
Who needs a student visa for Germany?
Whether or not you need a student visa for Germany depends on your country of origin:
- No visa requirement for international students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland: If you are from one of these countries, you do not need a student visa to enter and study in Germany.
- International students from third countries without a visa requirement: There are a number of countries whose citizens can enter Germany without a student visa. The current list can be found on the website of the German Federal Foreign Office.
- Countries with a visa requirement for studying in Germany: If you come from another country, you will need a student visa to enter Germany.
- REST policy for students with a visa from other EU countries: If you are from a country outside the EEA and already have a student visa for another EU country, the REST policy may apply and you may not need an additional entry permit for Germany.
Note: Regardless of the student visa, if you stay in Germany for more than three months, you are required to officially register at your place of residence and, if necessary, apply for a residence permit.
Tip: Check with the German embassy or consulate in your home country about which exact conditions apply to your case. If you need a “Schengen visa” for entry from a third country, the duration of your stay will be taken into consideration. Special regulations may also apply if, for example, you want to look for work in Germany directly after completing your studies. The website of the German Federal Foreign Office contains links to the websites of the missions abroad.
What are the requirements and what documents do I need?
If you need a student visa for Germany, these are the requirements:
1. Application and personal documents:
- Application form: completed and signed
- Passport with sufficient validity and two photocopies
- Birth certificate and, if applicable, marriage certificate and birth certificate
- Passport photos: current, identical, usually two
2. Previous residence permits: photocopies of past residence permits in Germany or Schengen visas
- Proof of financing via one of the following options:
- Confirmation of deposit of €11,208 to a blocked account
- Declaration of commitment to financial support from your parents with proof of income
- Declaration of commitment by a German citizen
- Scholarship certificate including the amount
3. One of the following confirmations of admission:
- Letter of admission from a recognized German higher education provider including details of the start date and language of instruction
- Conditional letter of admission and confirmation of payment for an intensive language course of at least 18 hours/week for at least 6 months
- Confirmation of admission to a preparatory college or language school
4. University entrance qualification and training certificates: school-leaving certificate and any certificates from previous degree programs
5. Student health insurance
6. Certificate of language proficiency for the respective degree program (German or English)
Tip: If you have provided your proof of funds by transfer to a blocked account, you can of course also open a normal bank account in Germany under regular conditions. If you want to make transfers to your home country more often, Western Union offers a cheap and transparent option. This means you can easily keep your finances under control during your studies and avoid paying unnecessary fees for transactions.
Costs
The cost of applying for a student visa for Germany is 75 euro. Regardless of whether the visa is issued or not, this amount is non-refundable. Payment must be made by bank transfer. The German missions abroad do not accept checks or credit cards.
The following criteria apply to the payment instruction for the bank transfer:
- Recipient: embassy or consulate in the home country
- Date of payment: no older than two months
Please note that additional costs may be incurred for certified translations of your documents. The exact amount you have to pay for your student visa application depends on the number of pages to be translated and the translation agency’s rates. German providers charge between 30 and 60 euro per page, depending on the type of document and the source language in which it is written.
How does the application process proceed?
From choosing the right student visa for Germany to the requirements and costs – the exact application process essentially involves the following steps:
- Choose a suitable visa: If you are not sure whether you need a visa for study purposes, applying to university or a language course, use the Visa Navigator of the German Federal Foreign Office or contact a German mission in your home country.
- Check requirements: The website of the German embassy in your home country contains information about the specific requirements for a student visa for Germany for your home country. Check exactly which requirements you need to fulfill and which documents you need to submit.
- Make an appointment for the application: As soon as you know what you need for your visa and have all the documents together or can compile them, make an appointment to submit your application. Pay attention to the timing as the exact processing time depends on the individual case, but is usually at least four weeks.
- Pay the application fee: Do not forget to pay the application fee on time.
- Compile documents for the appointment: Put together all the documents required for the application and check them again carefully for completeness before the appointment.
- Prepare for an interview and make an appointment: The more clearly you explain why you want to study in Germany or learn the language, the better.
Tip: You also have the option of hiring an external agency for the visa application. While this will save you time and nerves, you will have to pay more for your student visa. If you decide to go down this route, check the provider in question carefully beforehand. Scams targeting students can certainly occur in this area.
Checklist
This checklist will help you to keep track of all the necessary steps and documents when applying for a student visa in Germany:
Necessary documents for all types of visas:
- Completed and signed application form
- A valid passport and two copies of the passport
- Two current biometric and identical passport photos
- Birth certificate with copy
- Proof of financing
- Proof of health insurance for students in Germany
- Letter of motivation
- Resume
Checklist for student visa for study purposes:
- Letter of admission from the university or college
- Certificate of proficiency in the language of study or confirmation of the language course for the Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (German language examination for university admission; DSH)
- Certificates from school and, if applicable, bachelor’s degree, including grades, in their original form and as a copy
Checklist for student visa for study purposes:
- Conditional letter of admission from the university or admission to the entrance examination
- Certificates from school and, if applicable, bachelor’s degree, including grades, in their original form and as a copy
- Confirmation letter from the university
Checklist for a visa for German courses:
- Confirmation of enrollment for the language course
- Proof of payment for the language course
Can I work with a student visa in Germany?
If you want to work during your time in Germany, this has been possible to a certain extent with a student visa since 2005. You do not need an additional work permit and the following conditions apply:
- Permitted scope of work: up to 120 full or 240 half working days per year
- Not self-employed: International students from non-EU countries are not allowed to work on a self-employed basis (including freelance work).
- Work as a student assistant: Unlimited, as long as the work does not interfere with your studies.
- Internships and work integrated into studies: Possible without an additional work permit and independent of the 120 regular working days
- Voluntary internships and other work: All activities that last more than 120 days and are not part of the studies are subject to approval.
Please note that the conditions in place can change at any time. You can find further and up-to-date information on the website of the German Federal Employment Agency, for example.
How can I extend a student visa?
Your student visa serves primarily as an official entry permit. Once you are in Germany, it will be valid for three months. However, you do not need to extend your student visa. You must apply for a residence permit for the remaining duration of your studies within the first three months. This is usually issued for a maximum duration of two years. Depending on the duration of your studies, you can also extend your residence permit.
At the end of your studies, you can also apply for a residence permit to look for work. You can then look for a job that corresponds to your qualification for up to 18 months. You can also become self-employed or take on any other job while you look for offers for a qualified job.
FAQs
- Who needs a student visa for Germany?
In general, international students from third countries outside the EU and the European Economic Area need a student visa for Germany. However, there are around fifteen countries, such as Canada, Brazil and Japan, for which this visa requirement does not apply. - Can you work with a student visa?
Yes, with a student visa, you can work up to 120 full days and up to 240 half days per year without additional approval. - Do I need IELTS for a student visa in Germany?
Proof of proficiency in the language of study, i.e. either German or English, is required for the visa application. IELTS Academic is one of the recognized certificates for English-language degree courses. - Can I convert my student visa into a work visa?
If you fulfill the conditions for the EU Blue Card, you can convert your student visa into a work visa if necessary. - What are your prospects after graduation?
If you successfully complete your studies, you can apply for a residence permit for up to 18 months to look for a job. If this is successful, you will usually also receive a work visa. - What is the success rate?
There are no official statistics on the success rate of applications for a student visa for Germany. If your visa application is ever rejected, you can increase your success rate by:- submitting meticulously completed documents
- submitting a certificate of admission instead of a provisional certificate of admission to a university
- submitting solid proof of financing
