Germany Student Visa Rules

International students looking to study in Germany other than those from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, will require a visa. Students from these countries only require a valid ID card or comparable identification to travel to Germany and can register at the city’s registry office as soon as they have found an apartment. This is where they will receive a residence permit for study purposes.

There are also a number of countries, students belonging to which, can obtain their necessary residence permit for study purposes after their arrival. These include Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States of America. It also includes the following countries, provided that the student does not intend to work in Germany before or after completing their studies: Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco and San Marino.

Documents required for a visa application
The best course of action is to enquire about the documents needed to apply for the German Student Visa from the Embassy in their country. The following documents are typically needed:

• A valid passport
• The confirmation of application from the university (applicant visa) or the notice of admission from the university (student visa)
• Proof of adequate funds for living expenses (proof of financial resources)
• Health insurance coverage

Proof of Financial Funds
The following documents are mandatory to apply for the German student visa:

• Proof of parents’ income and assets
• The Foreigners’ Registration Offices needs to receive confirmation that someone whose place of residence is in Germany commits to assume the costs for the student
• A security sum on a blocked account
• Scholarship from a recognized scholarship foundation
• Funding in accordance with the German Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz (BAföG – Federal Education and Training Assistance Act).

Paying for the Visa
Applicants have to pay the visa fees by a bank transfer. Student visa fee as of 2008 is 60 Euro. Cheques or credit cards are not accepted. The money order must be in the name of the Consulate in the home country and not older than two months.

Residence Permit
Once in the country, the student will have to register with the local registration authority (Bürgeramt or Einwohnermeldeamt) within two weeks of arrival. Here they 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 their stay (approximately €659 a month – US$870).

Although the student would already have been asked for proof of language proficiency as part of university application, they may need to provide this information again in order to gain their 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), they will need to provide a TOEFL or IELTS score.