Visa

Short & Sweet

Whether you need a visa for Germany depends on where you come from and how long you plan to stay here.

For more and binding information about visa requirements, contact the German embassy or German consulate in your home country.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR A VISA APPLICATION

VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR COUNTRY

You will generally need a visa, which you must apply for before coming to Germany. You can apply for the visa at the German diplomatic mission in your home country. There are exceptions for specific countries, depending on the duration and purpose of your stay.

Visa-Navigator

Use the to find out which visa you should apply for.

Two types of visas

1. Prospective student visa („Visum zur Studienbewerbung“)

If you have not yet received notification of admission to a university or foundation course, you should apply for a prospective student visa.

This visa is usually valid for three months and gives you the opportunity to meet the requirements for admission to a German higher education institution. If you need more time, it can be extended by up to six months. If you are admitted to a higher education institution or foundation course during this period, you can apply for a

Tips on applying for a visa

When applying for a visa, be sure to keep the following in mind:

Submit your application early enough! Visa processing can take several months and you won’t be able to enter the country without a valid visa.

Apply for the correct visa! Make sure it is a student visa! Tourist and language course visas may not be converted into a student visa later on. If you have the wrong visa, you will have to leave the country.

Arrange your date of arrival in Germany so that you have enough time to at your university and take care of the administrative formalities. Enrolment is a prerequisite for obtaining the “”.

Make sure your passport is valid for the length of your stay! If your passport/ID documents expire while you are in Germany, you will have to return to your home country and extend them there.

Your visa may also require you to hand in a certificate to prove the comparability of your university degree with a German degree. Find out more about the certificate assessment on our page on .

2. Student visa („Visum zu Studienzwecken“)

If you have received your notification of admission to university or a foundation course, you should apply for visa for study purposes. Student visas are usually valid for one year. You will have to apply for an at the in your town of residence once you are in Germany.

Conclusion

International students from the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland do not require a visa. The Federal Foreign Office provides information on current visa regulations.

Do you need a visa to study in Germany? Pay attention to the difference whether you need one for application and preparation or for the study itself.

2. Check the requirements

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