A German Student Visa is necessary for all international students who wish to study in Germany, with the exception of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), and Swiss nationals who can do so without a visa. The visa grants you the right to remain in Germany for the duration of your course. A German Student Visa is not particularly costly, but it does require you to jump some bureaucratic hurdles before it will be granted. It could also require a visit to your German consulate.
It’s important to understand that there are three types of student visa:
The main German Student Visa (Visum Zur Studienzwecken) which is for those who have already been accepted onto a university course
Language Course Visa for those accepted onto a language preparatory course that lasts between three months and one year
Student Applicant Visa (Visum Zur Studienbewerbung), which is for those who haven’t chosen their course yet or who are still awaiting confirmation of acceptance.
Student Applicant Visa
The Student Applicant Visa is necessary for those who have still not decided on the course they want to apply for or have still not received confirmation of their place, but in either case, they are ready to move to Germany.
Sometimes referred to as the Prospective Student Visa, this visa allows students applying to German universities to enter and stay in Germany. Unlike a student visa, which may be granted for up to four years, a Student Applicant Visa is valid for three months, but it can be extended to up to nine months.
Requirements for a German Student Visa
To apply for a German Visa, you will need the following documents:
Proof of your acceptance on the course
Evidence of existing qualifications (high school diploma)
Valid passport, and photocopies of your passport
Current biometric photo
Proof of funds (via a blocked account) or proof that your costs will be covered by your parents or by a scholarship
Proof of health insurance
Make sure you have considered the living costs and that you have found a way to cover them (i.e. from parents) or are able to deposit the amount to cover you for one year in a blocked account. You may be able to get additional funds through a scholarship from your home country or possibly even a student loan.
Health Insurance for International Students
German health insurance for international students is essential for being granted a student visa. Students aged under 30 must register with the public healthcare system, but they are eligible to pay a discounted rate (of around €110) per month, which covers both basic medical and nursing care insurance. You will need to provide proof of health insurance for a German Student Visa.
Germany.Students aged over 30 are not able to access this discounted rate but are eligible to apply for private healthcare cover. Whether you opt for private or public healthcare, bringing proof of the cover to your visa interview is imperative.
Those attending a Student Visa interview without proof of public (or private) healthcare cover will be refused a visa at that point. It may take up to another four months to arrange a second interview and wait for the visa to be processed.
Application Process
You need to begin your student visa application around four months before the start date of your course. This should provide enough time to make an appointment, do the necessary paperwork, attend the interview, and wait the 6 to 12 weeks for your visa to be processed.
1. Make an appointment with the German consulate
2. Set up a Blocked Account
3. Apply for health insurance
4. Fill in the application form
5. Check you have all the documents ready
Ahead of your appointment with the consulate, ensure you now have all documents ready with a Germany Student Visa checklist. This includes your health insurance, passport, copies of passport, passport photos, high school certificate, course acceptance letter, birth certificate, proof of blocked account or funds, and the correctly filled out application form itself.
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