As an international student you may need a visa for Germany depending on where you come from and how long you plan to stay here. At first glance the German visa system seems complicated and bureaucratic – but don’t panic. We’ve put together the most important facts to make your visa process a piece of cake!
International students from the EU, Norway, Switzerland and certain other countries do not require a visa for entering Germany. Please consult the website of the Federal Foreign Office to find out whether your home country is one of those without a visa requirement for entering:
Essentially there are three main types of visa:
– Transit visa: for stopovers at German airports
– Schengen visa: for short stays of up to 90 days in a 180-day period
– National visa: for stays of 3-12 months
If you are moving to Germany to study and have not yet applied for a residence permit, you will need a national visa. If you are unsure of what you need, the German government offers a handy online tool to help:
You can apply for your student visa at any German consulate.
German consulate addresses worldwide >
During the application process, the visa officer will assess your commitment to study in Germany. This means that you must provide all the necessary documents as well as demonstrate your personal motivation.
Key documents you typically need are:
– Completed application form
– Acceptance letter of Macromedia University
– Valid passport
– German health insurance
– Proof that you have sufficient funds to support yourself while living in Germany
In order to receive a German study visa, you need to prove that you have sufficient funds to support yourself while living in Germany.
There are several ways to prove that you can finance your studies:
– Your parents submit proof of income and assets.
– Someone residing in Germany commits to the Aliens’ Registration Office to cover the costs for you.
– A security amount is paid into a blocked account.
– You provide a bank guarantee.
– You receive a scholarship from a recognised scholarship provider.
The immigration authorities accept a blocked bank account as proof of financing for foreign students. There must be enough money in the blocked account to finance the stay for one academic year (approx 11,000 Euros). Only a certain amount can be withdrawn from a blocked account each month.
Please make sure to take care of your health insurance status before you come to Germany. In order to study in Germany you will need to present proof of health insurance when you enroll at Macromedia and apply for a residence permit.
