Germany Student Visa: Fees, Visa Application Process, Checklist, Form and Requirements

A Germany student visa is required for international students willing to live and study in Germany for a definite period of time. The quality of higher education, research infrastructure, teaching methodology, low-cost studies, and career prospects offered in Germany are incomparable to other countries. This attracts international students from all over the world to pursue their higher education in Germany. 

A Germany study visa is an authorizing official document required to permit non-German nationals to enter and stay in the territory of Germany for the purpose of studying, in a specific intended period. The student visa for Germany from India should be applied at the Embassy or Consulate of Germany. Students required to stay in Germany for more than 90 days (3 months) will be called to also get a Residence Permit early enough after their arrival in Germany. The Germany visa process should be started typically 3 months before the start of planned studies

Students are required to use a blocked account as proof of financial support to increase their chances of getting a Germany student visa. A blocked account is a special type of bank account in Germany for international students to prove enough funds for one year of study. International students should have a minimum of €10,332 in the bank account before applying for a Germany student visa.

Why is a Germany Student Visa Needed?

Germany offers tuition-free education for international students at public universities and also has an affordable cost of living compared to other top countries. Around 37% of the international students in Germany pursue engineering courses with other popular courses being the law, economics, and social sciences. A Schengen visa is needed for a short stay in Germany for a course of duration less than 3 months. For a course that lasts more than 3 months, international students should apply for a German National Visa. International students should plan on getting a blocked account and travel insurance before applying for a Germany study visa. Details about the Germany student visa are given below: 

• A Germany student visa is needed for all international students willing to study in Germany excepts students from European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), and Swiss nationals
• International students with a German National Visa are required to apply for a Residence Permit to extend their stay in Germany. This should be done while the entry visa is still valid
• A Residence Permit in Germany is valid for 2 years and can be extended depending on the duration of the course

Types of Germany Study Visa

A Germany study visa is issued for a range of study levels and degrees. Students enrolling in a pre-academic measure or a non-academic German language course also require a valid study visa to be able to live and study in Germany. The three types of Germany student visas are listed below:

• German Student Visa (Visum Zur Studienzwecken)
• German Student Applicant Visa (Visum Zur Studienbewerbung)
• German Language Course Visa

German Student Visa (Visum Zur Studienzwecken)

This is the most common type of student visa opted by international students who are already admitted to one of the German universities and are ready to pursue their education at a full-time university program. Students must note that after the first three months, it is mandatory for them to apply for a residence permit in order to continue their studies in Germany.

German Student Applicant Visa (Visum Zur Studienbewerbung)

International applicants require this visa if he/ she needs to be in Germany to apply for university admission in person. The student applicant visa for Germany does not facilitate students to pursue studies in Germany and can only be used for the university application process.

You can use this visa to explore German university campuses, study options, or ways to spend your time while in the country. Student applicant visas are usually granted within several months and are allowed to stay for three months with the option of an additional six months.

German Language Course Visa

This type of visa is required for international students willing to study German language courses in Germany. The duration of these courses is generally three months to one year. The German language course visa remains valid for up to one year.

When and Where to Apply for a Germany Student Visa?

You should contact the German Embassy or Consulate in your country to obtain a visa. Visit the German embassy's website for available dates for the interview and schedule an appointment. The application for a student visa should be made at least three months prior to your arrival in Germany.

It may take up to 25 days for your application to be processed. Following the submission of the required documents, they are sent to the immigration office of your university, where they are approved and then returned to your country's embassy.

How to Apply for a Germany Student Visa?

International students who have received a letter of acceptance from the German university can proceed to apply for a Germany student visa. All necessary supporting documents should be ready for a smooth Germany visa process. The step by step Germany visa process is explained below:

• Students should first locate the nearest German Embassy or Consulate in their home country to get more information about the requirements and to set up a visa appointment
• He/ she should then go to the student visa sections to review all the specific requirements for their respective country and the procedures to set up a visa appointment
• The applicant should then schedule a visa appointment by following the steps described on the official website of the German embassy. This should be done well in advance as a particular embassy could have many visa applications and it could take a longer time to process the Germany visa application form
• Once the visa appointment date is confirmed, the student should check if he/ she has all the documents ready and make sure to have everything together
• Finally, the applicant should get ready for the visa interview and pay the visa application fee of €60.00- €75.00. The payment confirmation should be shown at the time of the visa interview.

Eligibility Criteria and Documents Required for Germany Student Visa

International students applying for a Germany study visa are required to submit certain documents supporting the information they provide. It is mandatory to attach all the documents along with the visa application. Listed below are a few Germany student visa requirements:

• Valid Passport and copy of the passport’s information page
• Germany visa application form
• Letter of admission from a university/ institution in Germany
• Official academic transcripts- Degree certificates and mark sheets
• Proof of German language proficiency
• Proof of finances
• 3 passport-size photographs
• Birth certificate
• Health Insurance
• Proof of payment to the German university/ college
• Demand Draft for the Germany student visa fee
• Applicants should also submit a declaration stating that the information provided is true and complete
• A cover letter should also be attached explaining the reason for the Germany visa application. The student may also be required to attach a German translation of this document

Language Requirements

 When applying for a long-term visa, you will need to demonstrate at least basic German skills. Therefore, you will be required to submit any one of the following test results (the results must not be older than 4 years):

• A1 certificate issued by the Goethe Institute
• KCSE certificate from KNEC
• TestDAF

You must meet this requirement even if you are taking an English-taught course. There will also be a discussion in German in the visa interview at the German embassy, so you will have to demonstrate that you can converse in basic German.

Germany Visa Fees

The Germany visa fees for international students is €75. The fees have to be paid via bank transfer. Cheques and credit card payments are not accepted. International students should send the money order in the name of the Embassy/ Consulate in their home country and it should not be older than two months. In the case of the visa application being rejected, the Germany visa fees are not reimbursed. 

Candidates applying for a Residence Permit on arrival to Germany would have to pay up to €110 and wait for anywhere between 8-12 weeks for it to be processed. International students are therefore advised to apply for a Germany study visa as early as possible.

Germany Visa Processing Time

The processing time for a Germany student visa may take approximately 6-12 weeks from the day of application. The Short-stay Germany visa process takes about 15-30 days.

How To Get Your Student Residence Permit in Germany?

The following steps will help you understand the process of obtaining your student residence permit in Germany:

1. Look for a permanent house: After arriving in Germany with a study visa, you need to find permanent housing within a week of your arrival.
2. Register at the Resident’s Office: Your next step is to register this living address with the local resident's office. As soon as you register, you will receive the confirmation of your registration, also called "Meldebescheinigung".

In order to be registered in Germany as an international student, the following documents must be presented:

• You must have a valid national passport or national ID card. The document must demonstrate that you have a valid visa if you are a visa-regime citizen
• Rental contract
• A letter that confirms your living address, issued by your landlord

3. Enroll in studies: In order to participate in courses and get access to university resources, you need to formally enrol at the university. Within the enrollment period, which is indicated in the letter of admission, you must enroll at the university.

Known as matriculation, this process requires the submission of a list of documents to the student affairs office (Studentensekretariat) of the university you will be attending. You will also be charged a semester fee before receiving your ID, password, and ID card.

International students who wish to enroll at a university in Germany must provide the following documents

• National Passport/national ID Card
• Confirmation of admission to the university
• German University Entrance Qualification, or any equivalent qualification that allows you to start studies at a German university
• Recent passport-sized photographs
• Student Health Insurance

4. Obtain a residence permit to study: Once you’ve been enrolled in the university, you need to get your visa extension by applying for a residence permit through the local Foreigner’s Authority (Einwohnermeldeamt”).

To apply for a residence permit in Germany for studies, you need the following documents:

• Application for a residence permit, duly completed
• Your national passport/national ID card. Your valid visa must be shown on the document if you have entered with a visa.
• You must provide proof of your permanent address in Germany
• Confirmation of registration
• Rental contract
• Your landlord's letter of confirmation of your permanent address
• Recent passport photos
• Evidence of financial sufficiency (Provide the same evidence you submitted when you applied for the visa)
• Proof of admission to studies. (certificate of enrollment/ confirmation of admission)
• Proof of payment of the application fee. Application fees range from 56-100 euros for first-time applicants to 49-96 euros for extension applications. There is a 28.8 euro fee for Turkish students.