Germany Student Visa: Documents, Cost, Approval Rate, Requirements for Indian Students

Germany Student Visa

With international student enrollments of 416,437, Germany ranks in the top 5 countries for studying abroad. Much like applying for German universities, the German Student Visa is amongst the most straightforward study visa applications. If your checklist for a German student visa is complete and the application process is done, all you have to do is clear the student visa interview. As per the reports, the German student visa approval rate is 92% for Indian students (2021 year). The major reasons for German students visa rejection are financial instability & incomplete applications.

German Student Visa Highlights

Schengen Visa (C Visa) Program for up to 3 months
German National Visa (D Visa) Program for more than 3 months
Processing Time 15-30 days
Visa Fee 75 EUR (D Visa)
Waiting time for appointment 2 days to 10 weeks
Success Rate 92%
Work while study 120 days (full-time) 240 days (part-time)

Types of German Study Visas

The government of Germany issues a German study visa for all kinds of study levels, be it a bachelor's degree, master's, or doctorate degree. It is also issued for the pre-academic measures or non-academic german language courses. The three types of german study visas are

  • German Student Visa: This visa is applied by students who have got admission to any one of the official universities in Germany and start studying a full-time program.
  • German Student Applicant Visa: This visa is issued to students who have to be in Germany for university admission or enter an entrance exam. It is valid for 3 months and doesn’t allow students to take any program for studying.
  • German Language Course Visa: This type of visa is required for a German language course that is three months to one year long.

Popular courses in Germany:

German Student Visa Requirements

To have a smooth visa application process, it is necessary to have all the essential documents in hand. The documents and information you provide are the decision-making factors in the visa approval process. Two copies of these documents along with the originals are to be sent for the German Student Visa application.

Mentioned below is Germany Student Visa checklist:

  • A duly filled and signed national visa application form
  • A valid national passport
  • Birth certificate
    • Declaration form for additional contact and legal representation information
  • Three recent biometric portrait photographs
  • Health Insurance - From departure to the date of enrolment - approx. 3 months)
  • Proof of Admission - Admission letter from the university
  • Cover Letter (Including the purpose and duration of stay, the reason for choosing the particular university, study program, and how the particular program will help in career)
  • Proof of payment to the university
  • Proof of Financial Resources (Finanzierungsnachweis)
  • Original certificates of previous education
    • Original School Leaving Certificate
    • Degree Certificate ( for Masters or Ph.D.)
  • Proficiency Scores- Scores of Language Tests in Germany
  • CV
  • Travel Health Insurance
  • Demand Draft for the student visa fee

NOTE: Download a copy of the checklist from German Missions in India and submit it with the date and signature.

Proof of Financial Resources

Any visa application requires proof of financial resources that can ensure you have enough money to live, study and stay in Germany. Besides the above-mentioned documents, an applicant is required to submit any one of the following:

  1. Blocked Bank Account: The applicant is required to transfer a minimum amount of 11,208 EUR to a blocked bank account as proof of their financial resource when they move to Germany. The student can only withdraw 934 EUR per month from this account.
  2. Letter of Commitment: If you have a relative in Germany, they can write a letter saying that they will be covering your accommodation or other expenses.
  3. Letter of Declaration: This letter is written by the parents of the applicant stating that they will be providing financial support during their stay in Germany.
  4. Scholarship Awarding Certificate: A scholarship certificate must ensure you as the awardee of the scholarship and it should show what amount will be granted by the scholarship.

Scores for Language Proficiency Tests

International students must take language proficiency tests to get admission to top programs in German universities. German & English language proficiency tests are necessary for Indian students, depending on their choice of program and it’s language of instruction. The minimum IELTS score of 6.0 bands is necessary for Germany student visa.

German Language Proficiency Scores

Tests Accepted Scores
German Language University Entrance Examination for International Applicants (DSH). Level 2 - above
Test of German as a Foreign Language (TestDaF) Minimum 4 points in 4 of its sections
Goethe Institute of German Language Diploma (GDS) C2 Level-above
German Language Diploma of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs, Level II (DSD) Level 2 with C2 in each section

English Language Proficiency Scores

Tests Accepted Scores
TOEFL PBT (Paper Based Test) 550
TOEFL CBT (Computer Based Test) 213
TOEFL iBT (Internet Based Test) 79 -80
IELTS 5 - 6.5

Steps of Germany Student Visa Application

Once a student has collected all the required documents, the visa application process becomes very smooth. Here are the steps to follow for filing the application:

  1. Check all the required documents: Once you have collected all the documents, make sure to review them and visit the official website of the German embassies to check the specific documentation required for your country.
  2. Make an appointment with the German Embassy: After reviewing the documents, book an appointment with the German Embassy of your country to submit your application.
  3. Get a visa fee Demand Draft: Pay the fee via a Demand draft at the end of the visa appointment. The Demand Draft can be from any nationalized bank but should not be older than 2 months.
  4. Submit the application, enter the interview and pay the visa fee: Punctuality is very necessary on the day of application submission. Get your appointment letter verified and a token issued for your application. Prepare for the interview beforehand and after paying the fee, keep the receipt carefully in order to collect the processed application.

A low unemployment rate and a stable economy are the reasons why more and more international students are moving to Germany for higher education.

Germany Student Visa Cost for Indian Students

The visa fee for Indian applicants is 75 EUR for adults. This fee must be paid in INR through a demand draft after the visa appointment is completed. This visa fee is non-refundable even in the case of rejection. The Demand Draft has to be addressed to the embassy/consulate where you are submitting your application for the visa:

  • Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, New Delhi
  • Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Bangalore
  • Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Chennai
  • Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Kolkata
  • Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mumbai

Germany Student Visa Processing Time

After the interview, it usually takes 15-30 working days to get a final decision from the Indian Embassy/Consulate. However, this time can vary depending on the workload of the embassy and whether any additional documents are required or not. In this case, it can take between 6-12 weeks.

The student shall apply for the visa as soon as they get the acceptance letter from the university due to the waiting time for the visa appointment and opening a blocked bank account. All this can take many weeks. Hence, they should start the application process as early as possible.

Germany Student Visa Success Rate

The success rate of a German student visa is 92% which is higher than many other countries including USA and UK. Although the success rate is very high, there are various reasons why a student visa can be rejected by the government of Germany. Some of the German student visa rejection reasons are

  1. Incorrect Visa Application
  2. Poor Financial Conditions
  3. Lack of language skills(German or English)
  4. Low Academic Performance
  5. Unrelated Choice of Study
  6. Poor Interview Preparation
  7. Incomplete set of documents

Also check:

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques: Is a German student visa easy to get?

Ans: It becomes very easy to get a visa if a student has all the required documents for filing an application for a German student visa.

Ques: What are the questions asked in a German visa interview?

Ans: Here is a list of questions that might be asked during the German visa interview:

  1. Have you applied to other universities, if yes which?
  2. How did you choose this college or university?
  3. How do we know you will return home within the visa period?
  4. Why do you want to study in Germany?
  5. Why did you choose this course? Is it relevant to your previous studies?
  6. Isn’t this course offered by any university in your country?

Ques: How long can you stay in Germany after your student visa expires?

Ans: After graduation, if a student has a job offer they can apply for a Residence permit for work but if they do not have a job and are looking for it, they can apply for a residence permit as a job seeker. This allows them to stay in Germany for 6 months after graduation.

Ques: How long is a student visa in Germany?

Ans: If your German student visa is valid for 3 months, you need to apply for a residence permit for which you need the following documents:

  • The letter of acceptance to the university
  • Proof of your blocked accounts
  • The Certificate of Registration
  • Proof of Health Insurance

Ques: How many points are required for Germany PR?

Ans: To get a PR in Germany, a minimum of 100 points is required. These may be scored from the following criteria with any combination:

  1. Mandatory knowledge of the German language (A2 Level minimum): 25 - 50 points
  2. Well-integrated relatives in Baden-Wurttemberg (up to a second degree): 50 points
  3. Previous stay in Germany: 50 points
  4. Previous stay in EU: 25 points
  5. Advanced stage knowledge of French or English: 25 points

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