Show admission to a state or state-recognised higher education institution in Germany, or the accepted preparatory-course confirmation for your actual study branch. Prove sufficient living funds. For the study branch, the official 2026 blocked-account minimum is EUR 11,904; an accepted scholarship or Declaration of Commitment is an alternative. This is funding evidence, separate from visa fees. Apply for the study visa before entry when your nationality and situation require it. Check visa exemptions, privileged entry/residence applications and the competent mission's process; this pre-entry visa step does not apply identically to every applicant. Standard national visa fee: EUR 75; check reductions/exemptions with the mission. Residence-permit fees are separate. Living-funds evidence is not a government fee. Processing and appointment waits vary by mission, case and workload; no universal duration is established by the reviewed federal guide.
Standard national visa fee: EUR 75; check reductions/exemptions with the mission. Residence-permit fees are separate. Living-funds evidence is not a government fee.≈ $81
Processing and appointment waits vary by mission, case and workload; no universal duration is established by the reviewed federal guide.
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Source-backed requirements
Eligibility
(1)Language Proficiency
DocumentConditionalProvide the language evidence required for your actual programme and preparatory branch, as accepted by the institution and competent mission. German or English requirements depend on the course; there is no single test or level for every applicant.
Verified official
Qualification
(2)University Admission
MandatoryShow admission to a state or state-recognised higher education institution in Germany, or the accepted preparatory-course confirmation for your actual study branch.
Verified officialProof of Financial Resources
MandatoryProve sufficient living funds. For the study branch, the official 2026 blocked-account minimum is EUR 11,904; an accepted scholarship or Declaration of Commitment is an alternative. This is funding evidence, separate from visa fees.
Verified official
Preparation
(3)Identity and passport
DocumentMandatoryProvide valid recognised passport/passport-substitute and identity/nationality evidence required by the competent mission.
Verified officialHealth Insurance
DocumentMandatoryShow accepted health-insurance coverage from entry and arrange appropriate cover for the study/residence stage. Confirm any bridging travel-policy requirements with the competent mission; entry cover alone does not establish adequate long-term student cover.
Verified officialAcademic Qualifications
DocumentMandatoryProvide the qualifying university-entrance certificate; for a master's or doctorate, the corresponding recognised academic degree. Follow the institution and competent authority's evidence requirements for the actual programme.
Verified official
Application
(2)Public-order requirements
MandatoryThe authority checks grounds that may preclude residence, including public safety/order. Answer truthfully and supply evidence actually requested; this does not itself require a foreign police certificate for everyone.
Verified officialVisa Application
ConditionalApply for the study visa before entry when your nationality and situation require it. Check visa exemptions, privileged entry/residence applications and the competent mission's process; this pre-entry visa step does not apply identically to every applicant.
Verified official
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Immigration Documents & Forms
Source citations
Make it in Germany — Studying visa procedure (January 2026)
Make it in Germany — Federal Government portal
January 2026 study-visa overview: admission/preparatory confirmation, entrance qualification or recognised degree, funds and conditional language evidence; health cover for visa issue and subsequent study/residence arrangements; passport/basic grounds; fees and mission-dependent processing.
Make it in Germany — Visa application, entry exceptions and insurance
Make it in Germany — Federal Government portal
Entry requirements depend on nationality/purpose; EU/EFTA and privileged nationality rules differ. General identity/passport, livelihood and no-expulsion-ground checks; EUR75 standard long-stay visa fee with exceptions; health insurance from entry and mission-approved bridging cover. Appointment/processing waits vary.
Make it in Germany — Visa for studying
Make it in Germany (Federal Government portal)
Study under Section16b: accepted higher-education/preparatory admission; sufficient funds with 2026 study blocked-account minimum EUR11,904, accepted scholarship or commitment alternatives; programme-specific language evidence. Study-applicant Section17 is a separate branch with a different monthly norm. Entry exceptions and later residence are separate.
Official links
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