Germany
Student visa for Germany: documents, fees and steps
Study · 204 nationalities · any residence · ordinary passport
Verified on 13 October 2026
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Documents requested
Application form for a national long-stay visa, completed online on the consular services portal, or form obtained free of charge from the German representationConditions and details
The Federal Foreign Office states that the national visa application form can be completed online and then brought printed to the appointment. It can also be obtained free of charge from the representation, in the local language; the version used by the representation where the application is submitted must be used. It can also be downloaded from the website of the competent representation.Valid passport, recognized by GermanyConditions and details
The visa manual of the Federal Foreign Office recalls that entry and residence in Germany require a recognized and valid travel document (passport obligation under the Residence Act). No minimum validity period is specified at that point: the competent representation states its requirements.Biometric identity photograph to bring to the appointment; fingerprints are taken on siteConditions and details
The consular services portal asks you to bring a biometric photograph to the appointment at the representation; the requirements are set out in the ministry's biometric photograph guide. Biometric data (fingerprints and photograph) are provided at that in-person appointment.Proof of means of subsistence for the duration of the stay: at least 992 euros per month for studies, at least 1 091 euros per month for seeking a place at universityConditions and details
The portal requires proof that one can support oneself for the entire stay: at least 992 euros per month to begin studies and at least 1 091 euros per month to seek a place at university. The proof can be provided, for example, by a blocked account (Sperrkonto), a declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) or a scholarship. The accepted methods of proof are detailed in the recommendations below.Certificate of sufficient health insurance covering the period of validity of the visaConditions and details
According to the visa manual of the Federal Foreign Office, proof of means of subsistence includes sufficient health insurance cover. It must in principle cover the entire period of validity of the visa, without its start being subject to a condition. German statutory insurance applies only from enrolment: the period between entry into Germany and that date is covered by sufficient private insurance; incoming or travel insurance is generally sufficient for this bridging period, provided that it does not exclude benefits in the event of settling in Germany.Other documents requested by the competent representation, listed in the "Your documents" section of the portalConditions and details
On the consular services portal, the "Your documents" section states exactly the supporting documents to be uploaded for the chosen visa. The representation may request other documents even after the appointment, until the decision. Files are uploaded in PDF, JPG or PNG format, of 10 MB and 50 pages at most each.
Depending on your situation
To begin studies: letter of admission to a course of study at a public or state-recognized university, or confirmation of admission to a Studienkolleg or a comparable preparatory institutionConditions and details
To begin studies, the portal requires the letter of admission to a course of study at a public or state-recognized university, or the confirmation of admission to a Studienkolleg (preparatory college) or a comparable preparatory institution and, if necessary, the confirmation of admission to preparatory training, for example a language course required before the course of study. This supporting document does not concern the mere search for a place without admission: in that case the portal requires the secondary school leaving certificate giving access to higher education in Germany.Secondary school leaving certificate giving access to higher education in Germany (for seeking a place at university)Conditions and details
To seek a place at university, without a letter of admission, the portal requires a secondary school leaving certificate that opens access to higher education in Germany. With this visa, one can travel to Germany for up to nine months and apply there for a course of study.Proof of a level of language sufficient for the course of study, unless a preparatory language course precedes the course of studyConditions and details
The portal requires language skills sufficient for the intended course of study, unless a preparatory language course precedes the course of study. The level must in principle make it possible to follow the course of study in its language of instruction; it varies depending on the course of study. For a Studienkolleg or a comparable institution, proof of sufficient knowledge of German is also required. It can be confirmed by the university, the Studienkolleg or the comparable institution, or by a recognized language certificate.Proof of financing of tuition fees, of the preparatory institution or of the preparatory language course, where applicableConditions and details
If tuition fees are due in addition to the semester fee, it must also be proven, by appropriate supporting documents, that one has sufficient resources to pay them. This also applies to the costs of a Studienkolleg or a preparatory language course.
Official fees
- National long-stay visa (type D), adult — processing fee 75 €
Steps
- Obtain a place of study: apply to a German higher education institution and receive the letter of admission; to seek a place, assemble the higher education entrance qualification.
- Assemble the proof of means of subsistence, health insurance and the required proof of language level.
- Complete the online application on the consular services portal and upload the required documents, or request the form from the competent German representation.
- Wait for the preliminary check: the representation verifies that the file is complete and indicates missing items via the portal.
- Make an appointment at the representation or at the external service provider, using the link received once the file is complete.
- Appear at the appointment: identity, fingerprints and photograph, originals of the required documents; pay the visa fee on site.
- Wait for the representation's decision: the processing of a long-stay visa may take several months depending on the purpose of the stay.
- After entry into Germany, apply for the residence permit at the foreigners authority (Ausländerbehörde) of the place of residence before the visa expires.
Where to apply
- Consular services portal of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs: online application, then in-person appointment at the German representation
- German representation (embassy or consulate general) competent for the applicant's usual residence zone or domicile
- Visa application centre of an external service provider working with certain German representations; service fees may be added there
Good to know
Validity period of the visa and visa for seeking a placeConditions and details
The portal states that study visas are generally issued for one year at most. With a visa for seeking a place at university, one can travel to Germany for up to nine months and apply there for a course of study. The study visa also applies to preparatory training: language course required for admission, Studienkolleg or comparable institution, compulsory internship.Visa for seeking a place: conditions and conversionConditions and details
Applicants who meet the school and language conditions without a letter of admission may apply for a visa for seeking a place (Article 17, paragraph 2 of the Residence Act). It allows them to seek a place on site and to take admission examinations, for example that of the Studienkolleg, for up to nine months if means of subsistence are assured. In the event of admission, the foreigners authority may convert it into a stay for studies without a new exit from the country or a new visa application. Since 1 March 2024, this permit allows working up to 20 hours per week and doing up to two weeks of trial work in total.Nationals exempt from the visa before entryConditions and details
Nationals of the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland are exempt from the visa obligation for a stay of more than three months. Those of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States of America may apply for the necessary residence permit after their entry into Germany. This visa procedure is therefore not intended for them.Students from certain states: entry without a visa, residence permit within three monthsConditions and details
According to the ministry, students from certain states may enter Germany without a visa, but they must apply for a residence permit at the competent foreigners authority within three months. Otherwise they must leave the country and follow the visa procedure. This concerns nationals of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco and San Marino.Blocked account (Sperrkonto): how it worksConditions and details
The blocked account can be opened with a bank or provider of one's choice, generally online; its fees are added to the blocked amount. The amount to be deposited depends on the purpose of the stay (it follows the maximum BAföG rates); it is stated on the website of the competent representation or in the portal, and the account is in principle set up for one year. Only a limited monthly amount may be withdrawn from it. The beneficiary of the block is the representation before the visa is issued, then the foreigners authority after entry; it does not have access to the funds. The ministry does not recommend any provider.Other methods of proving means of subsistenceConditions and details
The visa manual cites among the possible proofs: a scholarship from German public funds or from a recognized aid organization, or from public funds of the country of origin when the connection with the German institution is through the ministry, the DAAD or another German organization; a blocked account; the income and assets of the parents, if the representation considers the supporting documents reliable; a declaration of commitment bearing the words "Bonität nachgewiesen" (the words "Bonität glaubhaft gemacht" are as a general rule not sufficient); support by a third party known to the representation. Financing of the first year of studies must be proven, except for studies of less than one year. Tuition fees do not count among the means of subsistence, but may be included in the assessment of financing.Expected content of the letter of admissionConditions and details
The ministry asks institutions to include in the letter of admission the student's identity (surname, first name, nationality, date of birth), the course of study, the degree sought and the language of instruction, the admission conditions already verified (access to higher education, knowledge of the language of instruction) and whether the place is guaranteed or subject to a condition, such as a Studienkolleg or a language course. The letter is sent to the student and not to the representation; an electronic version is in principle sufficient, but the representation may ask questions in countries where forgeries are frequent.Application timetableConditions and details
Admissions at German universities and higher education institutions take place only in the winter semester or the summer semester. At public institutions, applications generally close on 15 January for the summer semester and 15 July for the winter semester. Admissions follow in at least two phases, including a supplementary phase until the start of the semester: the period between admission and the start of term may be very short.Work during studiesConditions and details
With a residence permit for studies, one may work in Germany up to 140 working days per year. The manual specifies that, during the lecture period, working up to 20 hours per calendar week can be counted on a flat-rate basis as 2.5 working days. Typical student side activities carried out at a university or another scientific institution, in particular tutoring and advising student communities, are not counted against this quota. This exception therefore does not concern all part-time jobs held by a student. The portal states that self-employed activities are not permitted.- After studies: 18 months to seek employmentAfter successfully obtaining a degree, one may stay in Germany for up to 18 months to seek employment corresponding to one's qualification.
Doctoral candidatesConditions and details
Since November 2023, doctoral candidates choose between the study regime (Article 16b of the Residence Act) and the research regime (Article 18d), provided they meet the conditions of each. If it is not yet known, before entry, whether one will be admitted to doctoral studies or whether one will undertake a research stay, a visa for seeking a place may be issued to a person who intends to enrol at a German university.Residence zone and online applicationConditions and details
The application is submitted to the representation competent for the residence zone. The ministry requests that the application not be submitted online to another representation when the one for the residence zone does not yet offer this service: the application is then submitted on paper, by appointment at the representation or at the external service provider.Submission by an authorised representativeConditions and details
Another person may submit the online application on behalf of the applicant if they present proof of authority of representation. The applicant must however appear in person at the representation for the biometric data.Exemption from fees for scholarship holders funded by public fundsConditions and details
The national visa fee is waived for foreigners who receive a scholarship funded by public funds during their stay in Germany, as well as for their spouse or partner and their minor children to the extent that they are covered by the scholarship. Visa facilitation agreements do not concern national visas.Refusal and new applicationConditions and details
In the event of refusal, the reasons are communicated to the applicant and the judicial remedy is open to them. The remonstrance procedure has been abolished worldwide since 1 July 2025. A new visa application remains possible at any time.
Nationalities covered
This procedure applies to 204 nationalities.
- Afghanistan
- Åland Islands
- Albania
- Algeria
- American Samoa
- Angola
- Anguilla
- Antarctica
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Aruba
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belize
- Benin
- Bermuda
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Bouvet Island
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- British Virgin Islands
- Brunei
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Caribbean Netherlands
- Cayman Islands
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- China
- Christmas Island
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Congo
- Cook Islands
- Costa Rica
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Cuba
- Curaçao
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- Fiji
- French Guiana
- French Polynesia
- French Southern Territories
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Ghana
- Gibraltar
- Greenland
- Grenada
- Guadeloupe
- Guam
- Guatemala
- Guernsey
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Heard Island and McDonald Islands
- Hong Kong
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Isle of Man
- Jamaica
- Jersey
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Macao
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mali
- Marshall Islands
- Martinique
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mayotte
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Montserrat
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- New Caledonia
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Niue
- Norfolk Island
- North Korea
- North Macedonia
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Palestine
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Pitcairn Islands
- Puerto Rico
- Qatar
- Réunion
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Saint Barthélemy
- Saint Helena
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Martin
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Sint Maarten
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Svalbard and Jan Mayen
- Syria
- Taiwan
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tokelau
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Türkiye
- Turkmenistan
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Tuvalu
- U.S. Outlying Islands
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Wallis and Futuna
- Western Sahara
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Official links
- Visas for Germany - Federal Foreign Office (new tab) www.auswaertiges-amt.de
- Visumhandbuch (new tab) www.auswaertiges-amt.de
- Auslandsportal (new tab) digital.diplo.de
- Auslandsportal (new tab) digital.diplo.de
- Handreichung Visumverfahren für ausländische Studierende und Promovierende (new tab) www.auswaertiges-amt.de
- Längerfristige Aufenthalte über 90 Tage (nationale Visa) - Auswärtiges Amt (new tab) www.auswaertiges-amt.de
- Eröffnung eines Sperrkontos in Deutschland für Studierende vor der Einreise - Auswärtiges Amt (new tab) www.auswaertiges-amt.de
- Längerfristige Aufenthalte: Studium, Schulbesuch, Sprachkurs und Ausbildung - Auswärtiges Amt (new tab) www.auswaertiges-amt.de
- Auslandsportal (new tab) digital.diplo.de
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