Germany Student Visa Guide 2023: Requirements, Fees and How to Apply

To stay in Germany for more than 90 days as a student, you are required to get a residence permit. You will need to prove to the visa officer that you have finances for one year. The amount would be €861 per month or €10,332 per annum (approx) kept in a Blocked Account. A residence permit issued to students is valid for a maximum of two years. It needs to be renewed if the duration of the course is longer than the stated two years.

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Cost of Germany Student Visa

Germany Student Visa would cost you around €75. The processing time could take up to 25 days if all your documents are in order. A lot of times applicants are required to provide more/additional documents. For such cases, the processing time for the Germany Student Visa could go up to 12 weeks. Candidates looking to apply for a Residence Permit on arrival to Germany would have to pay up to €110. It can take a long time to be issued, which is anywhere between 8 to 12 weeks. Since this roughly translates to 3 months, international students are advised to apply as early as possible.

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Documents required to Apply for Germany Student (Study) Visa

You will have to apply for your visa in person. Visa fees amount to €75 (to be paid in INR). In addition, you should provide two sets of application documents containing the following documents:

• Valid passport
• Copy of your passport’s information page (A4 size copy)
• Application form 
• A declaration stating the information provided is true and complete information
• Cover Letter explaining the reason for your visa application. You may be required to submit a German translation of this document.
• Letter of Admission from a German University
• University Certificates and transcripts - Degree certificates and mark sheets
• Proof of Language Proficiency (German language test scores). Applicants for PhD studies and Erasmus Mundus Scholarship holders are exempt from this rule.
• Proof of funds
• 3 passport pictures according to biometric specifications, not older than 6 months
• Demand Draft for the Student Visa Fee

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How to apply for a German Student Visa

Candidates are required to adhere to the following German Visa application steps while applying for their German Study Visa. 

• As soon as you have received the admission letter from your German university, please prepare the necessary documentation for your visa application mentioned above.
• Procure photos that meet biometric photos requirements as specified on the official website.
• Fill out the Application form for National Visa. Print it out, sign it, and submit it along with the other documents.
• Please print out the Declaration on true and complete information also found on the official website, and sign it.
• Schedule an appointment for your visa interview at the German Mission.
• Shortly before your appointment, verify the current exchange rate for your visa fee on the official German Mission website and obtain the Demand Draft.

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German Student Visa for Dependents

Spouses and children may be permitted to reside in Germany while you study, but this is conditional. These conditions include having enough and appropriate financing and living space. Cases are decided on an individual basis at the German embassy, and special consideration may be given to your case if you are able to explain your situation to the Consulate effectively.

Additional Information

According to German visa rules, a student can work 180 days halftime or 90 days full time in an academic year. Presently, Germany is the only country where a student can do a part-time technical job in a related industry. Some universities also offer part-time jobs on campus called Hiwi. Students will have to contact the institute's student placement cell to get into this job. Candidates wanting more information can get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors on our website. 

Where to apply

Scholarships for studying in Germany

World-class education teamed up with economic expenditure makes Germany one of the most preferred destinations for international students. Also, there are a lot of scholarships offered by various institutions that can help you in funding your education. We have listed below top scholarships for pursuing higher education in Germany.

• Heinrich Boll Scholarships for Undergraduates, Graduates, and PhD Students
• The BL Mandhana Scholarships
• Inlaks Scholarships (University Courses)
• Central Sector Scheme of National Overseas Scholarship for SC etc. candidates
• Lady Meherbai D.Tata Education Trust Scholarship

Also, read about student visas for study abroad and student visas for prominent international study destinations: