Student visa and residence for study

If you want to study in Germany, the main route is usually a student visa before entry, followed by a residence permit for study after arrival. EU and EEA citizens are exempt from the visa requirement, and some students with an existing study residence title in another EU state may use EU mobility rights 12.

Who needs this

• Most non-EU nationals must apply for a student visa at the competent German mission before entering Germany 1.
• Nationals of Australia, the United Kingdom, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, the United States, Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco and San Marino may obtain the required residence title for study after entry 1.
• If you are already admitted to a full-time study programme in Germany, you need proof of admission and proof that your living costs are secured 2.
• If you are only coming to Germany to apply for a study place, you can apply for a visa for up to nine months to look for a place to study, provided you meet the school and language requirements and can finance your stay 24.

Step by step

1. Get admission to a university, a preparatory college (Studienkolleg), or prepare an application for a study place if you are coming as an applicant 14.
2. Gather proof of admission, language ability, funding, health insurance, and the other required documents 134.
3. Submit the application through the overseas portal (Auslandsportal) and upload the required documents there 34.
4. After the preliminary check, book an appointment with VFS to submit the original documents and give biometrics (photo and fingerprints) 34.
5. Track the status online. The German mission may then decide on the visa application 34.
6. After arrival in Germany, register your address and contact the local foreigners authority (Auslanderbehorde) for your residence permit 4.
7. If you come for study only, you may also attend preparatory measures such as a language course, a preparatory college, or an internship 2.

Documents

• Passport with at least two blank pages 34.
• Admission letter from the university or admission to a preparatory college (Studienkolleg) 34.
• APS certificate as proof of higher education entrance qualification 34.
• Proof of language skills: for applicant visas, German at least level B1; for German-taught programmes, a certificate from an approved testing provider; English can be proven with IELTS or TOEFL 34.
• For exchange studies, the cooperation agreement between your Vietnamese university and the German university, plus proof of enrolment at your Vietnamese university 34.
• Tabular CV and a self-written motivation letter 34.
• Proof that your living costs are secured, for example a blocked account (Sperrkonto) with 992 euro per month; study applicants require 1,091 euro per month 34.
• If applicable, proof of tuition payment and proof of how tuition is financed 34.
• Health insurance proof meeting the listed requirements 34.

Cost and time

• The visa fee is 75 euro, or 37.50 euro if you are under 18; in Vietnam it is paid in VND 4.
• VFS service fees apply separately 34.
• Processing usually takes about 12 weeks, and in some cases longer 4.
• Plan for a processing time of about twelve weeks. 34

Deadlines

• The visa should be applied for before entry into Germany 1.
• If you want the visa to be valid one week before your course starts, your health insurance must cover that period 34.
• After arrival, residence registration should be done within two weeks 4.
• During the first three months of processing, the mission asks applicants not to enquire about the status 4.

City by city

• Hanoi: VFS Global handles appointment booking, document intake, biometric collection, fee collection, and transfer of applications to the German mission. The mission states that visa applications can be tracked online and that applicants can use the reference number on the VFS receipt 34.
• Ho Chi Minh City: the German mission names the General Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City as one of the competent authorities for decision-making in the VFS process 34.
• Da Nang: the German mission states that a visa intake center has been established there for Vietnam 34.