Germany Student Visa Guide

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 €659 per month or €7,908 per annum. A residence permit issued to students is valid for maximum two years. It needs to be renewed if the duration of the course is longer than the stated two years.

Cost of Visa

A Residence Permit costs €60. It can take a long time to be issued, which is anywhere between eight to 12 weeks. Since this means two to three months, international students are advised to apply as soon as possible.

Documents

You will have to apply for your visa in person. Visa fees amount to €60 (to be paid in INR). In addition, you should provide two sets of application documents photocopies containing the following documents:

Valid passport
Copy of your passport’s data page (A4 size copy)
Application form
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 Ph.D. 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

How to apply

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 which meet biometric photos requirements as specified here.
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, 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.

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 a living space. Cases are decided on an individual basis at the Germany 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 the related industry. Some universities also offer part-time jobs on campus called as Hi/wi. Students will have to contact institute's student placement cell to get into this job.

Where to apply