How to Apply For A German Student Visa
Once you make sure you fulfill all requirements, you can begin the German Student Visa application process. The steps you need to go through vary depending on your country, but here’s a general overview of what you’ll need to do:
- Locate the closest German embassy or consulate. You can use this list or Google to search for an embassy or consulate in your country or a nearby country to gather more details about visa requirements and scheduling a visa appointment. All official German missions in different countries have an official website with their physical address and contact information available online.
- Review the requirements and procedures. Visit the German embassy website and navigate to the student visa section to examine your country’s specific requirements and appointment procedures. Make sure you carefully review all the information provided (especially the documents you need to have) before you set up a visa appointment.
- Set up a visa appointment. Once prepared, schedule a visa appointment through your country’s German embassy website. Some embassies may have a high volume of applications, so applying a few weeks in advance is advisable.
- Prepare and double-check documents. Once your visa appointment date is confirmed, you should double-check all of your documents to ensure everything is in order. If you follow all instructions, you can do this yourself without needing to pay any outside consultants or agencies to apply for you.
- Prepare for your visa interview. Before your visa interview, pay the non-refundable visa processing fee (€75, €35.50 for minors) and keep the payment confirmation. Prepare for the interview in advance by reviewing common student visa questions. After the interview, you’ll need to wait for the official decision on your visa status.
Requirements to Apply for a Student Residence Permit in Germany
To apply for a residence permit, you will need to provide the documents above:
- Duly completed application form for a residence permit. In German, this is the Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels. Here is an example.
- Your national passport/national ID card. It has to show you have a valid entry visa if you’ve entered with a visa.
- Documents showing your permanent address in Germany.
- Confirmation of registration to the city. The Meldebescheinigung confirms that you have registered at the local Resident’s Office.
- Proof of residence certificate. In German, this is the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung or Wohnungsgeberbescheinigung. It must be signed and filled by your landlord.
- Recent passport-type photographs.
- Proof of being admitted to studies. (e.g. certificate of enrollment, confirmation of admission, or evidence of conditional admission in studies.)
- Proof of financial subsistence. (Send the same evidence you provided when/if you applied for the visa).
- Money to pay the application fee. You’ll need to cover the application fee for a German residence permit, with costs varying by location and circumstances. For adults, the first issuance fee is around 100 euros, while it’s 50 euros for minors. Extending your residence permit usually costs 93-97 euros for adults and half that for minors.
