Germany Student Visa

The top universities in Germany and their rich repository of STEM courses attract some of the most gifted and trained minds from across the world. Further, in comparison to other popular destinations to pursue overseas education, the cost of studying in Germany is extremely favourable. This can be attributed to the fact that the European country houses scores of public universities that offer free education in Germany. However, having a Germany student visa is a major requirement to start your higher education in the “land of ideas”. Let’s explore the types of visas and the application that you should know about. 

Latest Update

Germany has opened slots for student visa appointment from 1st November. Read more.

Types of German Student Visas

Depending on the duration of your stay and time of application, there are some categories of Germany student visa that you can choose from:

Schengen Visa

A Schengen Visa is the most popular form of international visa granted for individuals from other countries and is valid for a stay of 90 days in a six month period. Typically, many students going for short-term programs such as language courses, training and foundation courses can submit an application for a Schengen Visa. You can travel through all the member EU countries and it is non-extendable as well. This form of Germany visa is also valid for business and travel purposes.

National Visa

Bachelor’s, master’s and PhD courses are classified under long-term study programs as they have a duration of more than 3 months and thus, a national visa is required for such studies. The validity is 3 months to one year but can be extended in cases of exceptional circumstances. 

Student Visa

The Germany Student Visa is a subcategory of the above national Visa category. It further has the following types:

• General Student Visa: Those students who fulfil one of the following are treated as admitted students if they already possess an unconditional offer of admission from a German university for the pursuit of master’s, doctoral or postdoctoral level degree programs or if they have already been offered a full scholarship for higher studies in a recognised German institution.

• Prospective Student Visa: If you are awaiting your admission decision from a recognised university in Germany or due to appear for an entrance examination, you are permitted to apply for a Prospective Student Visa. This is valid for a period of 3 months and can be extended for six months if you get an offer of admission from a higher education institution or enrol in a foundation course/ preparatory German language course during this period. 

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Germany Student Visa: Document Checklist

Here is a list of required documents that you must have while applying for a German student visa.

• Valid Passport [must have been issued in the last 10 years and valid for at least 12 months after scheduled return].
• 1 A4 size Copy of Passport’s Data page.
• 3 Passport Pictures as per biometric specifications.
• Cover Letter aptly describing the purpose and duration of stay.
• Admission letter [electronic version] from a German University
• Evidence of Payment of Study Fees, only if applicable
• English Proficiency Test scores (like IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge English, TOEIC, etc.) and/or German language proficiency like Test DAF, DSH, etc. [German language proficiency is required only in case wherein the German is the medium of instruction during the course].
• Evidence of Other Academic Qualifications, only if applicable Evidence of Other Academic Qualifications, only if applicable
• Proof of Financial Means in order to cover the full duration of your study costs in the form of either Confirmation of Scholarship/Stipend or Formal Obligation Letter from Sponsor Living in Germany.
• Travel Health Insurance which covers the period maximum of 30 months from the date of your departure to the date of enrollment.

Note 1:  To provide proof of financial means in your Germany student visa application, you can set up a blocked bank account with any banking or finance company. While there is no restriction of any specific company, in general, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Cox and Kings Financial Services Limited offer services of blocked accounts in India which meet the requirements and regulations of the visa procedure.

Note 2: There is a withdrawal limit of 853 Euros per month/10,236 Euros per year from your blocked account Sept 1, 2019, onwards. However, during the first few months of your arrival in Germany, your monthly spend may exceed this limit owing to expenses of a rent deposit, utility deposit, furniture, stationery, books, etc. Thus, it is strongly advised that students must have access to other financial resources in order to sustain such extra expenses. 

Know About : Student Visa of UK

Germany Student Visa: Application Process and Fee

There is a simplified application process that you need to follow to procure a Germany Student Visa. This includes filling out the application form and scheduling an appointment at the German Embassy in New Delhi or the German Consulate General in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata or Bengaluru. Further, before appearing for a visa interview, you must submit your application form along with the visa fees required. The visa fee for applying for a Germany student visa is around 75-80 EUR (roughly INR 6,200-INR 6,620 ) and is commonly required to be paid through bank transfer but the specified payment methods might vary as per one embassy to another.

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How Much Time Does it Take to Process a Student Visa for Germany?

A long-stay student visa for Germany may require processing for 6–12 weeks after the application deadline. While Germany’s diplomatic posts abroad often make decisions about short-term study visas within 15 to 30 days.

Important Information for Applicants and/or Holders of German Visas

• The visa officer may request additional documentation during the visa interview.
• Attend the visa interview in person.
• Ensure that your passport is valid for the duration of your trip, including the anticipated extended period.
• Keep in mind that a visa application that isn’t comprehensive risked being rejected.
• Never attach your photos to the visa application.
• During a visa interview, don’t bring anyone with you to the Embassy or Consulate.
• Each applicant has the right to file a lawsuit in response to the embassy’s or consulate’s decision about their visa application.
• It’s crucial to obtain a visa for study purposes rather than a tourist visa because it will allow you to apply for a residence permit once you are in Germany. REMEMBER that, in case you need to remain longer, a tourist visa cannot be extended further while you are in Germany!
• The visa application will be turned down if the applicant is deemed to pose a threat to the safety and public order of the Schengen Area.
• The applicant is advised of the primary reason for a rejection in the event of a visa denial.
• Plan your vacation to Germany far enough in advance to give yourself enough time to decide whether or not to enrol in university.
• There is no assurance that you will be granted a study visa for Germany, thus you must wait up to 4 MONTHS for a response from the embassy or consulate.
• On the website of the Embassy or Consulate in your country, the application form may be downloaded without charge.

Getting Student Resident Permit in Germany

After getting your student visa, you will have to obtain student resident permit once you arrive in the country. International students must register their residential address in Germany at their nearest local residents’ office and then schedule an appointment with the nearest immigration office to apply for the student resident permit. Having a student residence permit along with Germany student visa, you can avail the following perks:

• You can pursue full-time work opportunities for 120 days or part-time work prospects for 24 days a year throughout the duration of your study programme. But you must keep in mind that you can’t sign long-term contracts with a student residence permit.
• In case that your chosen course extends for longer, you must visit the nearest immigration office and apply for an extension on your student residence permit along with submitting the required fee amount which might differ as per the duration of the extension.
• If you plan to stay for a few months to pursue work opportunities on the completion of your course, then you can get an extension for up to 18 months and if you get a full-time job during this period, then you can further apply for a German Employment Residence Permit.

Read Also: Study in Germany

Additional Information

Given below is some additional information regarding the dependent visa of Germany and scholarships to study in Germany.

Dependent German Student Visa

While you study in Germany, your spouse and kids may live with you, but only under certain conditions. These prerequisites include having adequate financial resources and living space. Cases are handled individually at the German consulate, so if you can properly communicate your circumstances to the Consulate, you can receive special consideration.

Scholarships for German Universities

Germany is one of the top choices for international students due to its top-notch education system and affordable costs. Additionally, many scholarships are available from different organisations, which might assist you in paying for your study. The best scholarships for pursuing higher education in Germany are listed here.

• Scholarships from Heinrich Boll for Graduate, Undergraduate, and PhD Students
• The Inlakhs and BL Mandhana Scholarships (University Courses)
• National Overseas Scholarship Program for SC and other Candidates in the Central Sector
• Scholarship from the Lady Meherbai D. Tata Education Trust

FAQs

Needless to say, if you are looking to apply for a Germany Student Visa, you need to add every point of information carefully while also keeping yourself updated with the deadlines. Take the assistance of the experts at Leverage Edu who can guide you in completing your visa application while also taking care of the hassles of writing impressive an SOP and LORs thus staying by your side at every step of your study abroad application and making sure that you get successfully shortlisted into your dream university.