How to Get Student Visa for Germany (Requirements)

With approximately 400 institutions for higher learning and over 19,000 degree programs, Germany is a haven for students who wish to explore education in another country. Germany’s location and historical significance, coupled with its universities which maintain excellent academic standards, make it every international student’s dream study abroad destination. If you are someone who is on the lookout for world-class education in Germany, start your adventure today by learning how to acquire the necessary visa to enter and study in the country.

Applying for a student visa in Germany is different from most application processes followed in other countries in Europe and around the world. Unlike other nations, Germany allows you to apply for a student visa even without a letter of acceptance from your host university. In this case, you can enter Germany with only a student applicant visa, and stay in the country for 3 months to process your university applications. If by the end of 3 months you are still searching for a university, you can apply for the extension of the visa to another 3 months, which will be decided by the German authorities. Once you get a slot in your selected university, you can then apply for the national visa to allow you to stay in the country for the duration of your study program. See our guide below for comprehensive information about getting a student visa in Germany.

Who needs a visa to study in Germany?

As with other countries in Europe, Germany follows certain restrictions and exemptions for applicants who wish to enter the country. The general rule of application depends on how long you intend to stay in Germany. For short-term stay, i.e. maximum of 3 months, you need a Schengen visa. For long-term stay, i.e. more than 3 months, you need a German national visa and a residence permit (for particular nationalities). Find out if you need a visa to commence your university studies in Germany:

International Students from the EU/EEA
International students who come from any country within the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), including those from Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, do not need to apply for a student visa to enter Germany. A valid passport or a national identity card should suffice when they ask for entry to the country. They only need to register with a German local office (“Einwohnermeldeamt” or “Bürgeramt”) within a week after their arrival on the German soil. Moreover, they are exempted from obtaining a residence permit before they can study in a university in Germany. All the same, there are certain requirements they should submit. These requirements include a registration document from a German university, proof of financial capability (amounting to €8,700 or $9,921 per academic year), language proficiency in whatever language the chosen program will use, and a medical insurance. Some of the EU/EEA countries have forged a bilateral agreement with Germany, which allows their citizens to use their national health insurance while studying in Germany.

International Students from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Japan, and South Korea
International students from selected countries (the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Japan, and South Korea) do not need to apply for a visa to enter and study in Germany. All they need to do is register with a local Residents’ Registration Office, and apply for a residence permit (“Aufenthaltserlaubnis”) at the Aliens’ Registration Office (“Ausländeramt”) within 2 weeks after their arrival on the German soil.

International Students from Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco, San Marino, and Taiwan
International students from Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco, San Marino, and Taiwan do not need a visa to enter Germany. However, they need to obtain a residence permit in a local registration office within 2 weeks of arrival on the German soil. For international students who are planning to work in Germany either before or after their study program, they need to apply for a visa in their home country just before traveling to Germany.

International Students from Other Countries
International students who come from countries not mentioned in the previous classifications are the ones who need to apply for a visa to enter and study in Germany. The application should be submitted and processed by a German Consulate in the applicants’ home country. They need to have an approved visa before the can be allowed entry to the German soil. Furthermore, they have to obtain a residence permit upon arrival in the country.

Types of Student Visas in Germany

Once you have determined if your passport is powerful enough to allow you entry to Germany, you have to assess the type of German visa you need to continue your studies. Below is a list of student visas you can apply for depending on your study objectives. Remember that for short-term stays (i.e. maximum of 3 months) in Germany, a Schengen visa will suffice. So if you are attending a short language course or fulfilling a brief academic research in Germany, you have to apply for the Schengen visa. Otherwise, you need to obtain one of the following student visas:

1. Language Course Visa
The Language Course Visa, or Visa for Language Learning, is for international students who seek to study a language course (German, of course) in Germany for 3 months up to a year. The visa shall cover the length of time equal to the duration of the program. Applicants for this visa should be able to show proof of registration in a language course, proof of financial capability, and a medical insurance. You can apply for the Language Course Visa in the German Embassy in your home country.

2. Student Applicant Visa
The Student Applicant Visa, or “Visum Zur Studienbewerbung”, is for international students who seek to study at a German university but still undergoing the admission process. Within 3 months, this visa can allow students to enter Germany in order to apply for universities in person. When they have successfully enrolled with an institution, the Student Applicant Visa can be converted to a National Visa or Student Visa. This visa may also be extended to up to 6 months whenever the holder has not yet found a slot in a German university after the initial 3 months.

3. Student Visa
The Student Visa, “Visum Zur Studienzwecken” or national visa, is for international students who already have a secured slot in a university in Germany. This is a type of visa all students who wish to pursue undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate courses in the country. International applicants can apply for the Student Visa in the German Consulate located in their home countries. There are several requirements which ought to be submitted together with the application. These requirements may be seen in the following list.

What are the requirements for Student Visa application?

Valid passport
Duly accomplished application form
Recent passport-style photographs (2 copies)
Letter of acceptance from a university
Proof of funds (at least €720 or $820 per month)
Proof of language proficiency (either in English or German, depending on the applicant’s study program)
Certificate/s of previous educational qualifications
Academic transcripts
Medical insurance
Declaration of authenticity for all documents
Application fee (€60 or $68)

When you are already a German Student Visa holder, you have other errands to attend to upon arrival in Germany. The first thing you should settle is acquiring a residence permit, which you can expect to ask the following set of requirements:

Valid passport
Current German visa
Proof of university admission
Proof of financial capability
Proof of accommodation arrangements
Medical insurance
Application Fee (€100 or $113)

You should have a residence permit within 2 weeks after arrival in Germany. It will be best to process your requirements for both the student visa and the residence permit at least 3 months before your expected flight to Germany.

Steps in Applying for the Student Visa

Apply for admission to your selected university in Germany.
Once accepted for a degree program, check if you need to apply for a visa for your studies in Germany.
Locate the German Consulate nearest you. Set an appointment for your visa application.
Review all the necessary documents.
Secure your financial plan for the length of your study program in Germany.
Explore accommodation options in Germany.
Acquire a public health insurance.
Look for available scholarship opportunities for international students in Germany.
Prepare your application form and the requirements. Prepare for an interview.
Appear in the Consulate at the scheduled time.
Wait for the results of your application.
When successful, arrange for your travel to Germany.
Upon arrival, locate the nearest Alien Registration Office. Apply for the residence permit.
Register as a resident in a local Resident Registration Office. You can do this by showing a student I.D., rental contract, and a letter of confirmation from your landlord that you are residing in his place.
When you have both the visa and residence permit, breathe in everything about your new home.

Other Facts You Need to Know

Visa processing may take from 25 days up to several months.
In case your application is rejected, no reimbursements will be issued.
Some consulates ask for a certificate of no criminal record, so it is best to secure one before you proceed with your application.
For language proficiency tests in German, the most commonly accepted exams are the TestDaf (Test of German as a Foreign Language for Foreign Students) or DSH (German Language Test for Admission of Foreign Student Applicants). For English, the most commonly accepted tests are the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing System), and Cambridge Advanced.
You can deposit a security payment in a German blocked account, which you can only withdraw in Germany. This is a way to prove that you have sufficient funds for your studies.
The residence permit is valid for 2 years only. Should your study program lasts for more than 2 years, you can easily renew your permit, at a certain cost (€96 or $109 for every extension application).
Visa applications from international students who have a sponsorship or scholarship from a legitimate German organization are likely to be processed earlier.
International students in Germany are allowed to look for part-time employment while studying at a university.
EU/EEA students enjoy no restrictions when it comes to working in Germany. However, non-EU/EEA students can only be allowed to work for a maximum of 120 full days or 240 half days (or at most 20 hours per week) in a year.
Non-EU/EEA students can apply for a work permit at the Federal Employment Agency to be able to work longer hours.
If you seek full-time employment in Germany after you have completed your study program, there is an option to extend your stay for a maximum of 18 months after graduation.
If you want to be a resident in Germany, you can apply for permanent residency after 2 years of working in the country.

Applying for a student visa is always the most crucial step in an international student’s study abroad journey. Before getting a taste of what it is like to live and study in a particular country, certain documents need to be submitted. There are particular steps to be taken. In Germany, you have to follow the same vital steps. Once you have completed the most exciting step of choosing a German city, where you will spend your student abroad adventure, it is time to go into the more serious steps: applying for university admission and a student visa. In Germany, you can always apply for a Student Applicant Visa first, fly to Germany, submit your university applications in person, secure a slot, and apply for the conversion of your current visa to a Student Visa. Nonetheless, the procedures are listed above to help you out. Viel Glück!