Germany student visa

The D-visa is normally issued valid for 90 days up to one year, just to get you into the country. Once you land, you register locally and apply to the Foreigners Authority (Auslaenderbehoerde) for a residence permit that runs for the length of your programme. Because the mission sends every file to the competent authority back in Germany, a decision usually takes about six to eight weeks after your appointment. Arrange the APS certificate and blocked account early; they are the two things students most often leave too late.

Who this visa is for

• ✓Indian nationals admitted to a degree programme at a recognised German university (Visum zu Studienzwecken).
• ✓Applicants seeking a university place or awaiting an admission decision (student applicant visa).
• ✓Students admitted to a preparatory college (Studienkolleg) before starting a degree.
• ✓Applicants enrolled in a German-language course taken in preparation for planned studies.
• ✓Applicants able to show first-year funding of EUR 11,904 via a blocked account, a sponsor's obligation letter, or a German/EU scholarship.
• ✓APS certification is mandatory for most Indian academic records; PhD/Post-Doc candidates, German/EU-funded scholarship holders and non-Indian qualifications are exempt.

Visa options for Germany

Documents typically required

• ✓Passport issued within the last 10 years, with at least 2 blank pages, plus an A4 copy of the data page.
• ✓Completed and signed national visa application form and declarations, in two identical sets.
• ✓3 recent identical biometric passport photographs.
• ✓APS certificate (mandatory for most Indian applicants; exempt for PhD/Post-Doc, German/EU-funded scholarships, non-German degree in Germany, or non-Indian qualifications).
• ✓Letter of admission from a German university, Studienkolleg admission, or language-course registration, confirming the language of instruction.
• ✓Proof of financial means: a blocked account (Sperrkonto) of EUR 11,904 for the first year with a maximum withdrawal of EUR 992 per month, OR a sponsor's formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklaerung), OR proof of a German/EU scholarship.
• ✓Proof of previous academic qualifications (e.g. 10th and 12th mark sheets and degrees for Bachelor; Bachelor's degree for Master; Master's degree for PhD).
• ✓Proof of German or English language proficiency (e.g. IELTS, TOEFL, TestDaF, Goethe, DSH), not older than one year, unless confirmed by the admission letter.
• ✓Proof of tuition-fee payment, if the university charges fees.
• ✓Curriculum vitae and a signed motivation letter / statement of purpose.
• ✓Travel health insurance covering the first 90 days from the intended date of entry.
• ✓Visa fee: EUR 75 (approx. INR 8,100) for adults; EUR 37.50 (approx. INR 4,100) for applicants under 18, payable in rupees at the appointment.

Your exact checklist depends on your profile — we confirm it during your case analysis. Every visa decision rests with the embassy or consulate.

Every study application starts on the Consular Services Portal (digital.diplo.de), and you apply at the German mission for your place of residence: New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata or Bengaluru. The APS certificate can take several weeks and the blocked-account funding must be in place before your appointment, so begin roughly 3-5 months ahead of your intake.

Frequently asked questions