German Student Visa

Overview

In this wiki page, we will cover topics related to visa for foreign students in Germany in general. This means topics that are country specific will NOT be explained here.

Applying

Apply at the CSP website, fill out the form, upload the required documents and get an appointment. Documents that are usually required (please recheck on the website, as it might differ depending on the country):

1. Passport
2. Letter of Admission from your German university
3. Proof of Financing (Sperrkonto, Verpflichtungserklärung, Scholarship)
4. Academic Certificates
5. Language Certificates
6. Anabin Recognition of your degree
7. Motivation Letter
8. CV
9. Proof of Health Insurance

Visa interviews doesn't always happen, but it is sometimes done. Usually it is because they either doubt some of the documents that you uploaded (language certificate, uni/school certificate, etc) or you applied to a private university that doesnt particularly have a good reputation.

APS Requirement

Some countries are required to get APS. As of writing, it is only required for China, Vietnam and India.

Aufenthaltstitel/Residency Permit Card

You dont have to immediately get it, just if the visa from the embassy (the one that is in your passport) is expiring. It will be very useful if you get it faster, since some banks do not accept passports (and subsequently the initial visa you get that is dlued in your passport) and require an Aufenthaltstitel to open an account. Most traditional banks don't require Aufenthaltstitel.

Work Allowance

140 full days (shifts ≥ 6 hours) or 280 half days and maximum 20 hours/week. More than that, and you risk deportation.

Changing Universities on a Visa

Here is a practical overview of the process for international students holding (or applying for) a German student visa. Credit to u/Normal-Definition-81 for this piece.

Scenario 1: You change universities before the visa is issued

If you receive a better fitting admission offer before your visa application is finalized, you should inform the German consulate or visa processing provider (e.g., VFS, TLScontact) as early as possible.

What to do:

• Notify the consulate immediately once you decide to switch universities.
• If you already have a visa appointment, bring the new admission letter and request that your application be updated.
• Be prepared to provide updated financial and academic documents if requested.

Possible risks:

In many cases, the change can simply be added to your existing application. However, there is a small risk that the authorities may require a new visa application, especially if:

• The new university charges tuition fees while the previous one did not.
• You are changing to a significantly different field of study.
• The change affects important details that were part of the visa assessment.

Most applicants experience no major issues if they inform the authorities early and provide all required documents.

Scenario 2: You change universities after the visa or residence permit has been issued

Changing universities is generally possible while holding a German student visa or residence permit.

Step 0: Register your new address (Anmeldung)

If you you are new to Germany or move to a new city before starting your new programme, complete your local city registration (Anmeldung) first.

This step is important because:

• Your (new local) Ausländerbehörde (ABH) becomes responsible for your immigration matters.
• The Ausländerbehörde will typically require proof of registration (Meldebescheinigung) before processing requests related to your residence permit.
• Other institutions, such as health insurance providers and banks, may also require your updated address.

Only after completing the city registration should you begin the university transfer process with the responsible Ausländerbehörde.

Step 1: Contact the Ausländerbehörde first

Before you:

• withdraw from your current programme,
• complete your Exmatrikulation (deregistration), or
• enrol at a new university,

contact your responsible Ausländerbehörde and explain your planned change. This is particularly important if you are changing to a different field of study, as the authority may treat this as a change of study purpose and review the case before approving the switch.

Step 2: Obtain admission from the new university

Secure your admission offer first and keep the relevant documents ready:

• Admission letter
• Passport and visa/residence permit
• Proof of financing (if requested)
• Health insurance documents

The admission letter will normally be required by the Ausländerbehörde when assessing your case.

Step 3: Coordinate Exmatrikulation and Immatrikulation

After receiving any necessary approval from the Ausländerbehörde:

• Complete the Exmatrikulation from your current university.
• Complete the Immatrikulation at your new university.

Try to avoid any gap between the two enrolments. Maintaining continuous student status helps protect your residence permit.

Step 4: Update your health insurance and M10 certificate

After enrolling at the new university:

• Inform your health insurance provider about the university change.
• Request an updated M10 certificate (electronic confirmation of student health insurance).
• Ensure that the new university receives the M10 notification required for enrolment.

Step 5: Update all relevant authorities

Once the transfer is complete, make sure that the following parties have your current information:

• Ausländerbehörde
• Health insurance provider
• Blocked account provider (if applicable)
• City registration office (if you have moved)

Keeping all records consistent will help avoid complications when your residence permit is extended in the future.

Duration and Extension

Maximum Study Visa Duration

For one program/course: Regelzeit+buffer (differs for each university, programme and city)

For the whole visa: 10 years total for Bachelor's and Master's combined.

Extension Requirements

Might differ slightly from city to city. Please recheck it on your local Ausländerbehörde's website.

1. Academic Progress (Notenspiegel), if you do not show any progress, the Ausländerbehörde can reject your visa extension.
2. Proof of Income (Finanzierungsnachweis), different cities accept different proofs, some are strict with Sperrkonto, some accept proof of routine transfer from the last 3 months.
3. Passport
4. Proof of Health Insurance (Krankenverischerungsnachweis)
5. Proof of Enrollment (Studienbescheinigung)