In short: To study in Germany as an international student you apply for: National visa for study (Section 16b Residence Act). Apply to the German mission (embassy/consulate) before travel; many missions take student applications through the online Consular Services Portal, with an in-person appointment. National visa fee is EUR 75; missions may collect it in local currency. Several weeks, in individual cases months. Every line on this page was read on an official page, which is linked beside it; the facts were last checked on 6 October 2026.
| Visa or permit | National visa for study (Section 16b Residence Act) |
|---|---|
| Application fee | EUR 75 (auswaertiges-amt.de) |
| Money to show | Not stated on the official pages we read |
| Processing time | Several weeks, in individual cases months. (auswaertiges-amt.de) |
| Where you apply | Apply to the German mission (embassy/consulate) before travel; many missions take student applications through the online Consular Services Portal, with an in-person appointment. (auswaertiges-amt.de) |
| Last checked |
Authority: Federal Foreign Office (German missions abroad) and local Foreigners Authority (Auslaenderbehoerde). Official portal: Make it in Germany - Visa & residence.
Proof of admission to the study course or preparatory college, including the language of instruction.
Source: germany.info · checked on
Source: germany.info · checked on
National visa fee is EUR 75; missions may collect it in local currency.
Source: auswaertiges-amt.de · checked on
| Charge | Amount | What the official page says | Source, checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa fee (government) | EUR 75 | National visa fee is EUR 75; missions may collect it in local currency. | auswaertiges-amt.de, 15 September 2026 |
Apply to the German mission (embassy/consulate) before travel; many missions take student applications through the online Consular Services Portal, with an in-person appointment.
Source: auswaertiges-amt.de · checked on
Apply for the national study visa online in the Consular Services Portal by entering your details and uploading documents, then attend an in-person appointment at the mission or its external service provider.
Consular Services Portal (Auslandsportal) of the Federal Foreign Office: digital.diplo.de · form: National visa for study (online application)
Source: auswaertiges-amt.de · checked on
The visa fee is paid in person at the appointment at the German mission or the external service provider, when biometrics are taken.
Source: auswaertiges-amt.de · checked on
An in-person appointment at the mission or service provider is required to show original documents, give fingerprints and a photo and pay the fee; it is booked through the portal after the online pre-check.
Source: auswaertiges-amt.de · checked on
You follow the application status online in your Consular Services Portal user account.
Official tracking page: digital.diplo.de
Source: auswaertiges-amt.de · checked on
National (long stay) visa applications may take several months to process, depending on the purpose of stay; individual missions may publish their own estimates.
Source: auswaertiges-amt.de · checked on
When a decision is made you are notified of the next steps through your portal user account; the mission then tells you how the visa is issued and the passport returned.
Source: auswaertiges-amt.de · checked on
If documents are missing or do not meet the requirements, the mission asks you to upload the missing or corrected documents in the portal.
Source: uk.diplo.de · checked on
Steps as read on the official pages; checked on 15 September 2026.
Several weeks, in individual cases months.
Source: auswaertiges-amt.de · checked on
Applicants give fingerprints and a photo when submitting in person.
Source: auswaertiges-amt.de · checked on
Health cover needed at entry; if entering before statutory student insurance starts, private travel insurance with at least EUR 30,000 coverage.
Source: germany.info · checked on
Proof of language skills in the language of instruction; without a preparatory language course, normally at least B2.
Source: germany.info · checked on
Student jobs up to 20 hours per week are allowed; after graduation there is time to look for a job (up to 18 months).
Source: germany.info · checked on
Register on arrival; the final residence permit is issued by the Foreigners Authority in Germany.
Source: germany.info · checked on
We did not find these on the official pages we read for Germany: the amount of money to show, a police certificate, a medical examination. That means "not stated on the pages we read", not "not required": ask the authority above, or check the official portal, before you apply.
The official pages say more for applicants in: Pakistan.
ForiForeign prepares your student visa application with you and guides you through each step: the documents, the forms and the order to do them in. You file the application yourself with the authority named above, and that authority decides. ForiForeign is not a visa office or an agent of Germany, and no one can promise a visa. Rules, fees and dates change: confirm each one on the official page linked beside it before you pay or travel.
The same facts for software and AI assistants: /facts/visa/de.json.
ForiForeign.com · admin@foriforeign.com · WhatsApp +92 310 5048760 · Information drawn from official sources shown on each rule; not legal advice.
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