Prepare for your Visa

The following are the most frequently asked questions about visa and residence permits. The contents were sourced from the website of the DAAD (The German Academic Exchange Service) and the Federal Foreign Office. If you need more detailed information in this matter, we recommend that you contact these institutions.

Overview of the countries here.

Before your arrival in Germany

Inform yourself

Who Needs a Visa?
The Visa Navigator helps you to quickly and easily find the
visa you need to enter and stay in Germany.

Go to the Visa Navigator

Where do I apply for the National Visa?
Diplomatic Mission: The addresses can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.

[Translate to English:] Sprachangebot Deutsch lernen

Further information about the Student Visa Germany, step-by-step instructions and free webinars on the subject of visas on the website of MyGermanUniversity.

Contact your Embassy

When contacting your nearest Embassy, you should check the following:

Current visa processing times (usually 4-12 weeks)
Required documents (can differ by country)
How early can you book an appointment
Whether you need a blocked account, APS Certificate, etc.

Which required documents must I consider?

Application forms
Letter of Acceptance
Proof of financial resources (e.g. Blocked Account or scholarships)
Adequate Health Insurance
APS Certificate (only required for certain countries)

This is a list of the standard documents a visa application requires.
Contact your Embassy for a detailed description of the Visa requirements you need.

Upon your arrival in Germany

City Registration

I arrived in Germany, what should I do next?
First you must register at the city registration office.
Find out more...

Residence Permit for Study Purposes

How do I apply for a residence permit?

Check the duration of your current study Visa
Contact the Ausländerbehörde: Apply for a residence permit
before the expiration of your Visa

Which required documents must I consider?

Proof of admission/enrollment to the university
Proof of sufficient health insurance coverage
Proof of financial means (blocked account, scholarship, work contract*)

Contact the Ausländerbhörde for any specific questions about your residence permit and/or further
documents.

^{*Full-time students can work up to 20 hours per week during their studies.}

Still questions upon your arrival?
Contact the Welcome Center to solve any inquiries
you have during your studies in Ansbach.

Go to Welcome Center

After Graduation in Germany

Job Search

After completing your Bachelor/Master you have the status of a university graduate and you can extend
your residence permit for up to 18 months to look for a job.

Note:

During this period, you can be gainfully employed.
The job found must correspond to the qualification of the university graduate.

Found a Job?

If you secure a job that aligns with your qualifications, you can apply for a Residence Permit for the
Purpose of Taking Up Employment (Arbeitnehmeraufenthaltserlaubnis).

This permit is granted for the purpose of working in a job that is commensurate with your degree.

Frequent Q&A

I haven’t enrolled yet, what do I do?

I haven’t enrolled because I:

Want to first further inform myself about study offers
Must first visit a language course
Must first attend preparatory college (Studienkolleg)

If this case arises you have the status of a university applicant and you need a national visa for the
purpose of a university application.

What forms of certification do I need in this case?

Proof of financial resources
Certification of adequate health insurance

In individual cases:

Proof of an entry qualification for higher education
Proof of any previous academic achievements

What does adequate health insurance include?

Medical and dental treatment
Supply of medicines, bandages, therapeutic products and aids
Hospital treatment
Medical services for rehabilitation
Benefits for pregnancy and childbirth

To know more about health insurance, go to the Health Insurance page.

Do I need a blocked account? What else do I need?

You can check here whether you need a blocked account.

You need proof of financing: Usually in the form of a security deposit on a blocked account. After January
1st, 2025: 11.904 Euros per year, a monthly withdrawal with a maximum of 992 Euros is permitted
(Source: Federal Foreign Office). You can also open the blocked account here: www.expatrio.com or
www.allyways.de.

I have to do a preparatory college/Studienkolleg, what should I know?

If you must visit a Studienkolleg, you will have the status of a university applicant and you need a
national Student Applicant Visa.

Main details about the Student Applicant Visa:

Validity: 3 months
Extension possible: By the immigration authority as a residence permit for 6 additional months
Maximum length of stay: 9 months
Goal: The applicant presents admission to a course of study / admission to a university preparation German course or preparatory college

I have already been admitted to the university. Which visa do I need?

In this case you have the status of a student and need a residence permit for purposes of study, a Student Visa.

Requirements:

Approval or a preregistration for a place of study / an application confirmation from the university or preparatory college, which shows that the decision on the application for admission requires the personal presence of the foreigner at the university.
Adequate health insurance
Proof of financing
Proof of proficiency in the language of the course of study – not required if already required by the university

What are the different kinds of Residence Permits?

A residence permit can be issued for the following purposes:

Education (studies, language course, job search after studies)
Gainful employment (employment, self-employment and job search)
International law, humanitarian or political grounds
Family reasons (succession of a child or a spouse)
Special residence rights (former Germans)

What should I know about the Residence Permit for study purposes?

Key data on the residence permit for study purposes

Granted for:

University application

Study preparation measures (e. g. attendance of a preparatory college or a preparatory language course: the period of validity of the residence permit should not exceed two years

Study at a state or state-recognized higher education institution or a comparable educational institution (as with the visa, proof must be provided of admission to the higher education institution, sufficient health insurance coverage, financing of studies)

Attendance of a language course without further study plans

Period of validity: at least 1 year, should not exceed 2 years; it may be extended for at least 1 year to a
maximum of 2 years – subject to a proper academic success

The visa must be extended before expiration

At what point can I get a permanent residence permit?

A permanent residence permit is called settlement permit.

Main points for granting of the permit:

The foreigner has had a residence permit for 5 years
His/her livelihood is secured
He/she has enough living space for him/her and for his/her family
He/she has made compulsory or voluntary contributions to the statutory pension insurance for at least
60 months/5 years
He/she has sufficient knowledge of the German language
He/she has sufficient knowledge of the legal and social order and the living conditions in the Germany
He/she is allowed to work (if he/she is an employee)
The grant is not allowed to be opposed by reasons of public safety and order

I am a graduate of a German university. Can I get a settlement period earlier?

Yes, under the following circumstances:

You have had a Residence Permit for the Purpose of Taking Up Employment
You have an adequate job after graduation
You have made compulsory or voluntary contributions to the statutory pension insurance for at least 24 months
For foreign university graduates, academics and scientists, the settlement permit opens the prospect of permanent residence.