Teaching English as a second language in Germany is a popular way to make money, travel and work abroad. However, getting a student visa for Germany is not straightforward. In this article you will learn how to get student visa for Germany.

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Germany is one of the world’s most visited countries. In addition to being one of the largest exporters, it also has a very high standard of living and excellent higher education facilities such as The Mannheim Business School. Today, many international students are looking to study in Germany on a student visa.

How To Get Student Visa For Germany

Germany is famous all over the world for its excellent universities, charming old towns and extensive beer culture. In fact, almost 60% of international students choose to study in Germany. It is true that studying in Germany means giving up your home comforts, but you will come back home with a higher salary, better job prospects and a broadened mind.

The U.S. is currently experiencing a critical shortage of workers for specialized fields, in particular for those who have degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), according to 

Germany Student Visa – How to Get a German Student Visa?

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You may get a German student visa if you’re a foreigner and have received a letter of complete admission for studying at a German university, equally recognized institution, university of applied sciences, college of arts and music or other equally recognized higher education institution. The studies you can do with a German student visa are either full-time university studies or preparatory measures before such studies, i.e. Foundation course.

Which Are the Study Types You Can Follow With a German Student Visa?

A German student visa can be granted to you if you’re expecting to attend any of the following study types:

• Full-time academic studies.
• German language courses for studies.
• State preparatory college ‘Studienkolleg’. A course you’ll have to undertake as a foreigner whose school-leaving certificate isn’t recognized in Germany. Once completing the course, you’ll be sitting the test “Feststellungsprüfung”. If you succeed in passing the test, you will get a certificate known as a university entrance qualification. With that on your hand, you’ll be able to apply for university admission in Germany.
• Propaedeutic course
• Mandatory preliminary internship.

Requirements to Apply For a German Student Visa

Apply for a German student visa at the German embassy or consulate or other intermediating application agencies in your country. The decision about your application is based on the information and the supporting documents you provide. Therefore, these documents have to be sent as originals, accompanied by two photocopies of each.

Here is a checklist of the required documents to apply for a German student visa:

• Two duly completed national visa application forms.
• Valid national passport. (Read passport requirements)
• Two recently taken biometric portrait photographs. (Strict requirements, read our photo requirements page).
• Proof of admission at a German education institution. (Send any of the following).
  • University admission letter “Zulassungsbescheinigung”.
  • Letter of admission in a foundation course. Issued by a Studienkolleg.
  • Letter of admission in the propaedeutic course.
  • Letter of admission in a preparatory German language course.
• Proof of German language proficiency. (For German-only and mixed-language study programs).
  • German Language University Entrance Examination for International Applicants (DSH).
  • Test of German as a Foreign Language (TestDaF).
  • Goethe Institute German Language Diploma (GDS).
  • German Language Diploma of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs, Level II (DSD).
• Proof of English language proficiency. (For English and mixed-language study programs).
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Accepted results are PbT (paper-based test) 550 Points, CbT (computer-based test) 213 Points and IbT (internet-based test) 79-80 Points.
  • The International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Accepted scores by German universities are 5 – 6.5.
• Authenticated certificates of earlier education.
  • German university entrance qualification “Abitur”. If you’ve studied in a German education provider abroad. (If not, send the following documents).
  • Recognized foreign academic qualification. It must show you have a qualification equally recognized as the German Abitur.
  • Academic records or transcript.
• Curriculum vitae. It has to be accompanied with evidence of previous and current internship and work experiences if any.
• Means of subsistence “Finanzieruungsnachweis”. The evidence you provide must show you have enough money to cover living, accommodation and study costs. (Send any of the following).
  • Blocked bank account. One of the easiest and fastest ways to open a German Blocked Account is through Fintiba/Sutor Bank. The blocked account provided by Fintiba is accepted by German embassies/consulates all around the world. Learn how to open a Fintiba blocked account.
  • Letter of commitment by a resident “Verpflichtungserklärung“. A person living in Germany, showing they’ll be covering your accommodation and/or other living costs while you’ll be here.
  • Letter of a declaration by a parent. It has to show their commitment to support you financially during your stay here. It must be supplemented by their bank statements of the latest 6 months.
  • Scholarship awarding certificate. It must show you as a receiver and the amount of financial coverage granted to you by this scholarship.
• Student health insurance. It must have at least 30,000 EUR coverage, and it must be valid for at least 3 months. The tariff EDUCARE24 by DR-WALTER meets all the requirements and is accepted by all German consulates worldwide.
• Motivational letter. You’ll have to express the reason for choosing the specific university, study program. Mention also your study and plans and how these studies will be improving your career and life.
• Marriage certificate. (Send this if you’re married). Support that with a birth certificate of any child (If related).
• Proof of having paid the German student visa application fee. 

How Much Bank Balance Is Required for Germany Student Visa?

As of 2021, the amount required by the German Embassy/Consulate to be deposited into the blocked bank account when applying for a student visa to Germany is €10,332.

Is It Possible to Get a German Student Visa Without a Blocked Account?

It is possible to apply and get a German study visa without a blocked bank account by fulfilling one of the following requirements:

• Submitting your parent’s documents certifying their income and financial assets.
• A friend or a relative with a permanent residence in Germany can guarantee to cover your living expenses (Verpflichtungserklärung).
• Presenting a scholarship award notification from a recognised institution (e.g., DAAD, Max Planck).

If you cannot fulfil any of the requirements above, then the blocked account becomes a mandatory prerequisite for the visa to study in Germany.

One of the easiest and fastest ways to open a blocked account to apply for a German study visa is through Fintiba. Click here to learn more on Fintiba Official Website.

Germany Study Visa Fees

International students applying for a German student visa are charged certain fees, as shown in the table below:

Category	Visa Fee (Euro)
Applicants under 18 years old	37.50
Applicants over 18 years old	75

What You Can and Cannot Do While Having a Valid German Student Visa?

As a holder of a German student visa, you can:

• Apply for an extension of the student residence permit. This is possible if you haven’t yet completed your planned studies within the visa period, and you’ll be completing them in a reasonable time.
• Get a part-time job. You may work for up to 120 working days/year, even if you’re already working part-time in an academic institution where you are studying. However, your work must not interfere with your study progress.
• Apply for a residence permit for job-seeking after graduation. You’ll be eligible to apply for a residence permit of this type only if you’ve completed your studies in Germany. With such a residence permit, for up to 6 months after graduation, you’ll be able to search for a job or to get self-employed. You may get a temporary job while searching for a permanent job that directly matches your received academic qualification.