GermanyStudy and training
Germany student visa for university studies
National visa for university studies (§ 16b AufenthG)
In short
International students admitted to a German university or a recognised preparatory course apply for a national visa under § 16b of the Residence Act. For 2026 you must show at least EUR 992 a month (EUR 11,904 a year), usually through a blocked account, and you may work 140 full days a year.
Apply on Consular Services Portal (Auslandsportal) checked 23 October 2026
Key facts
- Validity
- The visa is usually issued for several months; the residence permit in Germany is normally granted for two years at a time, at least one year, and renewed while studies progress.
- Fee
- €75National (D) visa fee under § 46 AufenthV. In Germany the residence permit then costs EUR 100 (reduced for Turkish nationals with association rights).
- Funds required
- €992 per monthMinimum own funds for 2026 (EUR 11,904 for a year), shown by a blocked account, a scholarship or a formal obligation letter. Applicants still seeking a study place or attending a Studienkolleg outside § 16b need EUR 1,091 a month.
- Processing time
- Appointment waiting times depend on the mission; plan at least three months before the semester starts.
- Work
- Up to 140 full working days a year (half days count as half), plus unlimited student jobs at the university.
- Family
- Spouses and children can join if living space and funds are sufficient; spouses generally need basic German (A1).
- Path to permanent residence
- After graduating you can get a residence permit to look for work for up to 18 months; graduates of German universities can obtain a settlement permit after two years in skilled employment.
- Where to apply
- German mission responsible for your place of residence; online via the Consular Services Portal where your category is handled there.
Who can get a German student visa
You need admission to full-time studies at a state or state-recognised university or comparable institution. Preparatory measures also count: a language course that is a condition of admission, or a Studienkolleg place. If you have not yet been admitted, a separate visa for seeking a study place (§ 17) allows up to nine months to apply from inside Germany.
Language skills for the programme must be shown only if the university did not already check them at admission and they are not part of the preparatory course.
Documents for the application
Typical requirements are the admission letter (or conditional admission, or confirmation of a Studienkolleg place), school-leaving and university certificates, proof of language skills where required, proof of funds, and health insurance. Upload them on the Consular Services Portal when your category is handled there.
Required documents
Identity
- Passport valid for the planned stay, with copies of the data page
- National visa application form (online via the Consular Services Portal or VIDEX national form) and the Section 54 declaration
- Biometric photo, 35 × 45 mm
Money
- Blocked account confirmation for EUR 11,904, scholarship award or formal obligation letter
Study
- Admission letter from the German university, or confirmation of a Studienkolleg or required preparatory language course
- School-leaving certificate and, for master's studies, the bachelor's diploma and transcript
Insurance
- Health insurance for the period until enrolment in statutory student insurance
Supporting documents (where they apply)
Study
- Proof of German or English skills if not already checked by the university
Other
- CV and a short letter of motivation
Blocked account and other proof of funds
For 2026 the required amount is EUR 992 a month, which equals EUR 11,904 for a twelve-month blocked account (Sperrkonto) at a provider listed by the Federal Foreign Office. Alternatives are a scholarship from a recognised body covering at least that amount, or a formal obligation letter signed by someone living in Germany at the foreigners authority.
The money in a blocked account is released monthly after arrival, so it also covers your first year of living costs.
How the procedure runs
Book as the German mission responsible for your place of residence instructs; study applicants are often directed to the Consular Services Portal. The mission consults the foreigners authority of your university town; silence for three weeks counts as consent in most student cases, so decisions are often quicker than for work visas.
- Check the right category in the Federal Foreign Office Visa Navigator and follow the instructions of the German mission responsible for your place of residence (category: study): it either gives you an appointment or directs you to the Consular Services Portal.
- If redirected, create an account on the Consular Services Portal, fill in the application and upload the documents as PDFs; registering on the portal alone is not yet a valid application.
- Attend the appointment at the mission or its service provider for fingerprints and identity checks, bringing originals of all uploaded documents; pay the EUR 75 visa fee.
- The mission forwards the file to the foreigners authority in your future German town and, where required, to the Federal Employment Agency; wait for the decision.
- After entry, register your address at the local registration office (Anmeldung) within two weeks.
- Before the visa expires, apply for the residence permit at the foreigners authority (Ausländerbehörde).
Forms
- Federal Foreign Office – Visa Navigator · Find the correct national visa category.
After arrival
Register your address within two weeks, enrol at the university, take out statutory student health insurance (or a recognised exemption) and apply for the residence permit at the foreigners authority before your visa expires.
Extensions and staying after graduation
The permit is renewed as long as you can complete your studies in a reasonable time; the university may be asked about your progress. After graduation the foreigners authority can grant up to 18 months to look for a job matching your qualification, and during that time any work is allowed.
Frequently asked questions
How much must be in the blocked account in 2026?
EUR 11,904 for twelve months, i.e. EUR 992 a month, according to the Federal Government's 2026 overview.
Can I work while studying?
Yes, up to 140 full or 280 half days a year; student assistant jobs at the university do not count towards this limit.
I have not been admitted yet. Can I still go?
Yes, with a visa to seek a study place, valid for up to nine months, for which you show EUR 1,091 a month.
Can my spouse come with me?
Yes, if you can support the family and have adequate housing. Spouses generally need simple German (A1) before entry.
What happens after graduation?
You can stay up to 18 months to look for qualified work, then switch to a skilled-worker permit or Blue Card.
Official sources
- Residence Act (AufenthG) § 16b – studies
- Make it in Germany (Federal Government) – minimum amounts to secure a livelihood by purpose, as of January 2026
- German missions in Türkiye – national visas for Turkish citizens (iDATA, Consular Services Portal, fees)
- Federal Foreign Office – Consular Services Portal
- Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) § 46 – visa fees
- Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) § 45 – fees for residence permits, Blue Card and ICT Card
Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.
Other visa types for Germany
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Family and friends visit visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Medical treatment visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Culture, sports and events visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Self-employed and freelancer visa Validity: Up to three years.
Study and training
- Language course visa Validity: For the length of the course.
- Researcher visa Validity: At least one year, or the length of the research project if shorter.
- Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: Up to six months for the EU internship permit
- Au pair visa Maximum stay: Six to twelve months
Work
- Work visa Processing time: Appointment waiting times depend on the mission; after submission the Federal Employment Agency approval adds a few weeks. The accelerated skilled-worker procedure shortens this.
- Skilled worker visa Validity: Up to four years, or the length of the employment contract plus three months if shorter.
- EU Blue Card Validity: Up to four years, or the length of the contract plus three months.
- Job seeker visa Maximum stay: Up to one year; a follow-up Opportunity Card of up to two years is possible for a qualified job that does not yet meet another permit.
- Intra-company transfer visa Validity: Length of the transfer, at most three years (one year for trainees).
- Working holiday visa Maximum stay: Up to 12 months, once
Family
- Family reunification visa Validity: Visa for entry; the residence permit is then issued in line with the sponsor's permit.
- Spouse and partner visa Processing time: Same appointment system and waiting times as other family reunification visas at the mission responsible for you.
Residence
- Permanent residence Validity: Unlimited.
Faster processing
- Fast-track and priority visa services Processing time: Recognition authority: decision within two months; Federal Employment Agency: one week; mission: appointment within three weeks and decision usually within three weeks of a complete application.
Protection
- Asylum and international protection Processing time: Regular procedure: six months from the application; accelerated procedure: at most three months; border procedure: at most twelve weeks.