Germany Visa

Yes, a blocked account (Sperrkonto) is generally required for international students applying for a German student visa. It serves as proof of sufficient financial resources to cover living expenses during your studies.  

International students going to pursue higher education in Germany are required to apply for a German study visa. The cost of  study visa for Germany is EUR 75 per applicant. Below we have provided a check list for German student visa:

• Valid passport
• Application form
• Declaration for additional contact and legal representation information
• Copy of passport
• Proof of admittance to the study course
• Curriculum Vitae
• Proof of Financial Means

The VFS Service Provider Confirmation is a receipt obtained from VFS Global after paying their service fee (approximately 898 rupees in India). To obtain it, you need to:

1. Go to the VFS Global website.

2. Create a new application and pay the service fee.

3. Download the receipt.

4. Upload this receipt to the digital-di.de portal in the "Document Upload" section.

The new Germany Student Visa process consists of three main steps:

• Online Application: Creating an account on digital.diplo.de and completing the application form.
• Document Upload: Uploading all required documents directly to the portal.
• Verification and Appointment: After document verification by authorities, booking an appointment at a VFS Center for in-person document verification and biometric data collection.

Proof of language proficiency is required, and certificates approved by the German government such as IELTS, TOEFL, Goethe Institut, or ÖSD are accepted. A minimum B2 level in either German or English is typically required. However, PhD applicants and Erasmus Mundus Scholarship holders may be exempt.

The German study visa processing time usually takes 2-3 months in India. If the waiting time is shorter, the process might be completed before also. 

To apply for a German student visa, one usually need the following documents:

• A valid passport

• Completed national visa application form

• Two recent biometric photographs

• Proof of admission from a German educational institution

• Proof of financial resources (e.g., blocked account or sponsorship)

• Health insurance coverage (minimum coverage of €30,000)

• Academic records and qualifications

• Curriculum vitae (CV)

• Motivational letter explaining your study plans

No, backlogs do not affect German visa directly. You are eligible to apply for a German student visa once you have received your admission offer from a university in Germany. Hence, if the university has accepted your backlogs, you will have no problem acquiring a German visa.

Canada student visa fee (including extensions) is CAD 150 per person. This translated to INR 9,142. Germany student visa fee is around €75. This translates to INR 6,613. Canada student visa processing time is 9 weeks if you are applying from outside Canada and 4 weeks if you are applying from inside Canada. On the other hand, Germany student visa processing time is around 25 days if all your documents are correct and in order. Students must note that in the case of Germany, the residence permit is valid for two years; and once it expires, students need to get it renewed.

A blocked account in Germany is a bank account in which international students looking to study in Germany are required to transfer at least EUR 11,904 (INR 10.5 L) to prove the German authorities that they have enough money to live and study in Germany. Note that this account is required to get a German students visa will be blocked in the bank until the student's arrival in Germany. Students would be allowed to withdraw EUR 992 (INR 87.8 K) on a monthly basis to cover living expenses in the Germany.

Conversion Rate: 1 EUR = INR 88.57