Planning to study in Germany? This guide explains who needs a German student visa, which route to choose, and the application steps, documents and costs. Many Master’s programmes in Germany are taught in English, but visa and language requirements depend on your nationality and chosen course.
Many public universities charge no tuition for most Master’s programmes, but exceptions and semester contributions apply. Check the DAAD’s study cost guidance.
If you decided to study abroad in Germany and are a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, good news! You won’t need a German student visa.
If you're from a non-EU/EEA country and you want to study a long-term degree and need a visa, you should read further to get a list of main steps you need to take in order to get your German student visa.
Some non-EU/EEA nationals can enter without a visa and apply for residence permission in Germany; check the official visa exemptions.
1. Apply to a German university or check the applicant visa route
If you’re still not sure where you want to study in Germany, you will have to decide before you can start your standard student visa application process. After being accepted at a German university, you’ll get an acceptance letter required for the visa application. If you have not yet been admitted, check the student applicant visa route below.
Here are a few universities we recommend in Germany:
- RWTH Aachen University
- IU International University of Applied Sciences
- University of Bonn
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
- University of Cologne
2. Choose the right German student visa
There are three main study-related visa routes for Germany:
Student Applicant Visa
A document you may need in order to enter Germany if you haven't been admitted to a university yet. If you are interested in checking out study possibilities, this route may be suitable, provided you meet its academic, language and financial requirements.
A student applicant visa grants you a stay of up to nine months. A residence permit for seeking a university place cannot be renewed for the same purpose. Make it in Germany explains the requirements.
Student Visa
If you have been accepted to a German degree programme or a foundation course, you can enter Germany through the visa for study purposes, which may be valid for up to one year. Before your visa expires, you need to apply for a residence permit if you want to continue your studies beyond its validity. The Consular Services Portal explains visa validity and online applications.
Language Course Visa
If you want to come to Germany for intensive German language courses, this route may be suitable. This type of visa is valid for a maximum of 1 year.
Eligible courses generally involve daily lessons and at least 18 lessons per week; university-preparatory courses may require a different route. See the official language-course guidance.
3. When and where to apply for your German student visa
Apply for a visa through the German embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence. Check the available dates on the website of the German embassy or consulate and schedule an appointment if required. You can generally start the application online through the Consular Services Portal.
You are advised to apply for a student visa at least three months before your arrival in Germany. The processing of your application may take several weeks and, in some cases, months; appointment waiting time is additional. Check the Federal Foreign Office’s guidance and your mission’s current waiting times.
After you submit the required documents, the German embassy or consulate may consult the foreigners’ authority in your university’s town before deciding on your application.
Tips for your German student visa application
- If you complete your study in Germany, you have the opportunity to apply for a residence permit for a maximum period of 18 months, while you seek skilled employment.
- In addition to the student visa, you will also have to get health insurance and prove the language skills required by your programme. You may find it useful to start learning German before arriving in the country.
4. German or English language requirements for your student visa
For a long-term study visa, follow the language requirements of your programme and the German mission’s checklist. Accepted tests and certificate-age rules vary. The DAAD’s language guidance explains the distinction between German- and English-taught degrees.
- A1 certificate from the Goethe Institute: proof of basic German, usually insufficient on its own for admission to a German-taught degree.
- TestDaF, if accepted by your university.
This requirement does not automatically apply if you enrol for an English-taught degree. The visa interview at the German embassy, if required, will follow the mission’s instructions on format and language.
5. Documents required for a German student visa
If you need a visa in order to become an international student at a German university, you will need to obtain the appropriate visa for your course. For your application, you must submit the documents required by your German mission, usually including:
- A certificate that states your health insurance coverage, which is also necessary when you enrol at the university. Recognition of foreign cover depends on your policy and circumstances; check the DAAD’s insurance guidance and ask a German statutory insurer. Learn more about international student insurance for students studying in Germany.
- Proof of financial resources to support your studies (€11,904 for 12 months, or €992 per month, for admitted students in 2026)
- Transcript of certificates that state your past academic background, achievements and qualifications
- In case you enrol in a programme taught in German: certificate of German language proficiency
- Filled-in application form
- A valid passport
- Application fee (€75 for a standard adult national visa; reductions or exemptions may apply)
- Biometric photographs in the number and format required by your German mission
- Letter of admission from the university, where applicable to your route
- Declaration of authenticity for all documents, if required by your German mission
This list is by no means exhaustive. Others documents might be required depending on your nationality and the type of visa for which you apply.
For university-place applicants, the 2026 funding benchmark is €1,091 per month. Recognised scholarships or formal declarations of commitment may also provide accepted financial evidence, as the Consular Services Portal explains.
6. Working on a German student visa
EU and EEA students can work in Germany without an immigration-related student work-day limit. Non-EU/EEA students with the standard study residence permit are allowed to work 140 full days or 280 half days during one year. A 20-hour weekly counting option applies during the lecture period; see the official work guidance.
However, if they want to exceed this time limit, they should contact the foreigners’ authority before starting work. It will explain whether approval from the "Agentur für Arbeit" (Federal Employment Agency) is required.
7. How to apply for a German residence permit
The residence permit is required after you arrive in Germany if you need permission beyond your entry visa’s validity. EU/EEA citizens, including citizens of Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, don't need a student residence permit. If you come from a different country and plan to study in Germany for more than 90 days, you normally have to apply for a residence permit unless your current visa or another residence right already covers your stay.
Swiss citizens staying longer than three months must notify the foreigners’ authority within three months for the separate Swiss residence procedure, following the official Swiss residence guidance.
These are some of the documents required for a German residence permit:
- Confirmation of registration from the Residents’ Registration Office
- Confirmation of health insurance coverage
- Certificate of enrolment or admission from the German university
Apply before your current permission expires and check your local foreigners’ authority’s checklist; Berlin’s study permit guidance provides an official example.
Find more information about the German student visa on the independent German visa website. Use the Federal Foreign Office and Consular Services Portal for official, current requirements.
