If you have gained admission to an accredited German university, you will likely be wondering what to do next. Often your next move will be to see whether you need any official documents in order to study in the country, such as a student visa.
It’s important to find out whether you need a German student visa as far in advance of the start of your course as possible, as the process may take a few months. Many students may find that they do not need a student visa to study in Germany, but just need a residence permit instead.
Do you need a German student visa?
-Applicants within the EU (including Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein):
If you are applying to study in Germany from within the EU (including Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) you do not need to obtain a German student visa before entering the country.
-Applicants from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Japan, South Korea or Switzerland:
If you are from any of these countries you still do not need a visa to study in Germany. However, you will need to register at the local Residents’ Registration Office and the Aliens’ Registration Office (Ausländeramt) to obtain a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) within two weeks of arrival in the country.
-Applicants from Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco, San Marino or Taiwan:
If you are from any of these countries, you will only need a German student visa if you plan to work before or after your degree. In this case you should apply for the visa in your home country via your local German embassy or consulate. Both visa holders and non-visa holders will also need to apply for a residence permit within two weeks of entry.
-Applicants from the rest of the world:
If you are from any other country not listed above, you will require a student visa for Germany. You should apply for this at least three months before the start of term via the local German embassy or consulate in your home country.
How to apply for a student visa for Germany
If you now know that you need a student visa for Germany, you should apply as soon as possible, at least three months before your move to the country. To do this you’ll need to contact the local German embassy or consulate in your home country.
You will be asked to provide proof of acceptance, a valid passport, a recent health check and sufficient funds to cover your first year in the country (around €659 – US$870 – per month). Dependent on the embassy, you may also need to show proof that you don’t have a criminal record.
If you are planning to study in Germany for more that 90 days you should apply for a National Visa for the purpose of study rather than a Schengen Visa, which will only allow you to stay in Germany for three months.
As well as your student visa, you will also need to apply for a residence permit on arrival.
How to apply for a residence permit
Once in the country, you will have to register with the local registration authority (Bürgeramt orEinwohnermeldeamt) within two weeks of arrival. Here you must apply for a residence permit for study purposes and will be asked to provide a valid passport (with student visa if you need one), proof of enrolment, proof of residence in the country, health insurance (your university may help with this) and sufficient funds for the first year of your stay (approximately €659 a month – US$870).
Although you will already have been asked for proof of language proficiency as part of your university application, you may need to provide this information again in order to gain your residence permit. For courses taught in German, international students need to provide a TestDaf or DSH score, or, for English-taught courses (most of which are offered at graduate level), you’ll need to provide a TOEFL or IELTS score.
This residence permit is valid for two years, and, if needed, should be renewed before it expires.
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