Those who wish to study in Germany require one of two national visas depending on their visa purpose: The visa for studies is aimed at persons who have already received admission to a German university. It also applies to study preparatory measures such as language courses, attendance at a preparatory college, or mandatory internships. The visa for seeking a university place, on the other hand, is intended for applicants who do not yet have a study place and wish to apply directly on-site.

Duration of stay

Visa for studies

The visa is generally issued for two years upon initial issuance. If the studies are not completed within this time, the residence permit can be extended for an additional two years. For shorter study programs, such as one-year master's programs, the validity period is adjusted accordingly.

Student applicant visa

This visa allows a stay of up to nine months. During this time, one can search for a study place or study preparatory measures. An extension for the same purpose is not possible. To be able to study or search for a study place in Germany, a residence title must be applied for at the competent immigration office after entry.

Employment

With the visa for studies, it is permitted to work up to 140 days or up to 20 hours per week. Student side jobs can be performed without limits.
With the visa for seeking a university place, employment of up to 20 hours per week as well as trial employment of up to two weeks is also permitted.

Requirements for issuance

The diplomatic mission examines whether the following conditions are met:

• Fulfillment of the language requirements of the intended studies.
• Sufficient financial means for the entire duration of stay.

Additional requirements for the respective purposes are:

Visa for studies

• Admission letter from a state-recognized university in Germany or confirmation of acceptance for a preparatory college or comparable educational institution.

Visa for seeking a university place

• School diploma that directly qualifies for studies in Germany or attendance at a preparatory college.

Application submission

The application is submitted in person at the German embassy or consulate in the home country. Scheduling an appointment is generally required. Further information on scheduling and attending the on-site appointment at a German embassy is available here.

Application form

The visa application form can be filled out online and then brought as a printout to the on-site appointment. The application form D is available for download here.

A detailed guide for correct completion of the form can be found here.

Required documents

The following documents must be submitted for the application. To avoid additional requests and delays, all required documents should be checked for completeness:

• Completed and signed application form D
• Valid passport (valid at least until the end of the planned stay)
  
• Biometric, recent *passport photo
• Proof of language proficiency
• Proof of financial means
• Health insurance
• Curriculum vitae
• Letter of motivation

Also relevant for the application depending on the purpose:

Visa for studies

• Admission letter from the German university or confirmation of acceptance for preparatory college.

Visa for seeking a university place

• Secondary school diploma that qualifies for university admission.

Detailed information on proof of financial means and choosing the right health insurance as well as support in preparing a curriculum vitae and motivation letter for the application can be found in the respective articles.

Plausibility, practical tips, and time frame for application

When submitting the application, it is important to present a comprehensible plan that clearly outlines the visa purpose. For the visa for studies, this means: a concrete study plan should be presented that shows which studies are intended and what the course of study should look like. The same applies to preparatory measures for studies such as language courses or attendance at a preparatory college. For the student applicant visa, it is advisable to document applications already made or planned at universities and make clear which degree programs are under consideration. Also crucial is proof that financing is secured for the entire duration of stay. If side employment is planned, this can also be mentioned in the application.
Important: The presented plan should be realistic and implementable within the validity period of the visa – i.e., maximum twelve months for the visa for studies or nine months for the student applicant visa.

The application should be submitted several months before the planned start of studies, as processing times can vary. Early appointment scheduling is particularly important during peak application periods.

Processing time and fees

Processing of a national visa typically takes between six and eight weeks. In individual cases, processing may take longer. The fee for a national visa is currently 75 euros. It is non-refundable regardless of the outcome of the procedure. More information on processing times of the visa application can be found here.