GERMANY STUDENT VISA PROCESS

Apply for Student VISA

Document
If you need a student visa for Germany, you should apply as soon as possible and at least three months before your move to the country. To do this you’ll need to contact the local German embassy or consulate in your home country.
The documents you typically need are:
Completed application form
Valid passport
Two photographs
Letter showing you’ve been accepted by a German university
Transcript of academic record
Certificate of German language proficiency or proof that you intend on attending a language course in Germany (if studying in German)
Proof that you have sufficient funds to support yourself while living in Germany (€8,700 per year, which is roughly ~US$10,250)
Certificate showing you’ve purchased health insurance
Declaration of authenticity of documents submitted
Dependent on the embassy, you may also need to show proof that you don’t have a criminal record. One of the ways in which you can prove you have sufficient funds to study in Germany is by depositing a security payment into a blocked account – this means you cannot withdraw the money until after you arrive in Germany.
If you are planning to study in Germany for more than 90 days you should apply for a National Visa for the purpose of study rather than a Schengen Visa, which will only allow you to stay in Germany for three months.
As well as your student visa, you will also need to apply for a residence permit on arrival.

Application
Once in the country, you will have to register with the local Alien Registration Office within two weeks of arrival. Here you must apply for a residence permit for study purposes. The documents you’ll need are similar to those needed for the visa:
Proof of valid private or public health insurance
Certificate of enrolment from your university
Proof of sufficient finances
Valid passport
Current visa, if you have one
Certificate of health (if applicable)
Your tenancy agreement (if applicable)
Biometric passport photos (if applicable)
Residence permit fee (check the current rate beforehand to make sure you bring enough money)
Although you will already have been asked for proof of language proficiency as part of your university application, you may need to provide this information again in order to gain your residence permit. For courses taught in German, international students need to provide a TestDaf or DSH score, or, for English-taught courses, you’ll need to provide a TOEFL or IELTS score.
This residence permit is valid for two years, and, if needed, should be renewed before it expires. Residence permits initially cost €100 (~US$120) with a fee of up to €96 (~US$115) for each extension.

EU students
Students from the EU/EEA (as well as Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein) do not need a residence permit, but must register with the local Einwohnermeldeamt or Bürgeramt (registration authority) within a week of their arrival. You’ll need your registration document from your university for this. EU students also need to prove they have enough money (€8,700 per year), statutory health insurance if under 30, and proficiency in their course’s language of instruction. Certain countries have bilateral agreements with Germany, which mean insurance policies in the student’s home country will be applicable in Germany.
If you have not yet been accepted to study at a German university, you may consider applying for a student applicant visa. This allows you to stay in Germany for three months in order to look for a university program on German soil. If you have not enrolled in this time, you may ask for your visa to be extended to six months, but whether or not this is granted is at the discretion of the visa authorities. After enrollment, your student applicant visa can be converted into a national visa. To apply for this type of visa, you’ll need to provide proof of your application to a German university.

VISA Application Fee.
If you are from any other country not listed above, you will require a student visa for Germany. You should apply for this via the local German embassy or consulate in your home country. The typical fee for a visa is €60 (~US$70).