How to get a Student Visa in Germany in 2023
There has been an increase in the number of foreign nationals migrating to Germany for various reasons, most of which go through the student visa route. If you’re like most people and are considering Germany as your preferred study destination, this blog post is for you. We’ll take you through the different kinds of German study visas, the requirements, the costs and the entire process from start to finish.
Types of German Student Visas
Germany offers various types of study visas for international students, so there is a variety for you to choose from, depending on your situation. The most common types include:
The Standard German Student Visa (Visum zu Studienzwecken)
This is the standard visa for international students planning to study in Germany. It is issued for the duration of the intended course of study.
Standard German Student Visa Checklist
The requirements for a Standard German Study visa include:
- A valid international passport and two copies of the data page.
- Two biometric-enabled passport photos.
- Two fully completed national visa application forms.
- Current notification of admission/reserved study place from the German university or preparatory college.
- Previous degrees translated to German (if applicable).
- Proof of funds of at least €934.00 per month in the form of the following documents:
- A blocked account (Sperrkonto).
- A letter of commitment “Verpflichtungserklärung”, by your sponsor who is a German resident.
- A letter of declaration from parents – declaring their will to financially support their child and that financing is secured beyond the first year of study Information sheet on the declaration of commitment.
- Scholarship Award certificate.
- Proof of Language proficiency (either German or English depending on the language of instruction).
Student Applicant Visa (Visum zur Studienbewerbung)
The student applicant visa is for foreign nationals who have applied for university studies and have been confirmed as applicants but have not yet been officially admitted into the school because they have not yet written the examination, attended an interview, or fulfilled any other admission requirement that requires them to be present in Germany. Once you receive your admission, you can then switch to a regular student visa. There are certain study types for which a student applicant visa can be issued. These include:
- Full-time university studies.
- Preparatory German language courses for studies.
- Other Preparatory courses.
- State preparatory college (Studienkolleg).
- Mandatory preliminary internships.
Requirements for a German Student Applicant Visa
- 2 completed national visa application forms
- 2 recently taken biometric portrait photographs
- A valid international passport (with at least three additional months from the return date and not older than ten years, with at least two empty visa pages)
- The acceptance letter from the university accompanied with:
- an official letter of reservation
- a confirmation of application
- a certificate from the university or the preparatory courses provider – stating that the personal presence of the applicant is necessary for the decision on their admission in studies, stating also the noble chances they have to be admitted in studies
- A registration certificate from a study college, commonly known as "Studienkolleg" or an admission certificate for a Propaedeutic Course. Alternatively, you can provide a confirmation letter of registration for a German language course, ensuring it involves a minimum of 18 hours of lessons each week.
- An Abitur (a recognized school leaving certificate) or an equivalent certificate.
- Proof of German or English language proficiency (depending on which language the lessons are taught)
- Proof of funds “Finanzierungsnachweis” – €11,208 per year (in the form of any of these documents):
- Personal financial statements for the last three months,
- Scholarship award certificate
- A German blocked account -Sperrkonto
- A letter of commitment “Verpflichtungserklärung”, by your sponsor who is a German resident
- A letter of declaration from parents – declaring their will to financially support their child for the period of their stay in Germany, as well as bank account transactions over the last six months.
- An official letter of leave – issued by the employer (for employed applicants)
- A curriculum vitae
- Degree certificates from former education
- Proof of covered health insurance for your entire stay in Germany
- Proof of paid visa fee – 60 euro
- Proof of accommodation for the entire period of stay
Language Course Visa (Visum zu Sprachkursen)
A language course visa is a type of educational visa for foreign nationals who intend to take an intensive language course of 3 to 12 months. The courses must include at least 18 hours of lessons per week.
Requirements for a Language Course Visa:
- Two completed visa application forms.
- A valid international passport (valid for at least 3 months after the planned return date and not older than 10 years, containing at least two blank visa pages).
- Confirmed registration for the language course or certificate of enrollment.
- Proof of funds – 11,208 euros per year (in the form of one of the following documents):
-Personal qualifications from the last three months,
-Scholarship certificate
-Blocked account
-A letter of commitment from someone who will take you in
-A letter of explanation from the parents stating their willingness to support their child financially for the duration of their stay in Germany, as well as their payslips or bank account statements from the last 6 months.
- Health insurance – for your entire stay in Germany.
- Two recently taken headshots.
- Three photocopies of your passport ID pages.
- Copies of previous Schengen visas (if applicable).
- A letter of motivation for attending the language course.
- Proof of accommodation.
- A stamped official holiday letter from your employer (for employees).
- Proof of paid visa fee – 60 euros.
How To Apply for A German Study Visa
- To apply for a German study visa, you need to visit the website of the German Embassy or Consulate near you and go to the "National Visa"/"Long Term Visa" section.
- Click on the "student visa" category and familiarize yourself with all of the requirements for German student visas.
- Schedule an appointment at that German Embassy or Consulate in your country for a visa interview.
- Put together all the necessary documents and submit them on your scheduled appointment day.
- Pay the visa fee of 75 euros and present your proof of payment.
- Attend your interview and confidently and honestly respond to the interview questions that the consular officer asks.
- Wait for a response. The German student visa processing time is about 4-12 weeks, depending on your nationality.
Where Translayte Comes in
Foreign documents needed for your visa application that are not in German will need to be translated before they can be accepted. You will need a certified translation of these documents to support any immigration, civil, legal or academic applications in Germany.
With Translayte, you will have access to certified translators that are qualified and sworn in by regional or federal courts in Germany. We offer fast turnaround, attractive prices and excellent customer service.
Certified translations provided by us are accepted by the Standesamt (Civil Registry Office), Jugendamt (Youth Office), Ausländerbehörde (Foreign Registration Office) and other German institutions, such as universities, banks, local authorities and courts.
The steps are simple. Click on the link, request a free quote and have your documents translated before you can say Kraftfahrzeug-Haftpflichtversicherung!
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