Visa

GERMAN INSTITUTE

Visa

We advise you on the visa process, preparation and required documents. As a German learner at German Institute, you benefit from our free Visa Support Package.

VISA Support

Visa

  • We will send you a Visa Letter within 24 hours after receipt of your course fees.
  • We will give you tips on how to prepare your visa application.
  • We will discuss your application with you and correct your application.

VISA Support

German course

  • You can do a language analysis free of charge to prepare yourself in the best possible way.
  • You can take online courses for free before you come to Germany and start your course.
  • You need a German course with at least 18 lessons per week. We offer 24 lessons per week.

VISA Support

Security

  • If your visa is rejected: You will get a 100% refund of your course fees. You don’t pay any processing fees. (proof required)
  • If your visa is delayed: You can postpone your German courses free of charge.

TIPS

Your German course should last a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 12 months in order to get a visa. The best chance of getting a visa is to take a German course of at least 6-8 months.

MORE

Do you need a visa?

Are you from the EU or Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland?

You do not need a visa.

Are you from Andorra, Australia, Brazil, Canada, El Salvador, Hondura, Israel, Japan, Monaco, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, San Marino, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or the USA?
Then the simplified visa procedure applies to you. You can apply for the language visa in Germany

Which visa do you need?

Schengen visa: 90 days

  • You can travel to Germany and 25 other European countries.
  • You can attend any German course: Intensive or also a German course in the evening.
  • You will get the visa much easier than another visa.

Language course visa: up to 12 months

  • You must apply for your language visa before coming to Germany.
  • Your visa is valid for the duration of your German course.

Pre-study visa: up to 2 years

  • You want to study in Germany.
  • You want to prepare for your studies in Germany.
  • You need the acceptance certificate of a German university.

VISA – DOCUMENTS

Proof of financing

You have to prove that you have at least 934 euros per month. Who finances your life in Germany?

My parents or other close people finance my life in Germany.
  • Letter of explanation from parents or other close person supporting you financially.
  • written statement of your parents that they support you financially (original, signature certified by notary or German consulate)
  • Pay slips for the last 6 months
  • Bank account statement for the last 6 months
  • Copy of the parents’ employment contract (on request)
Another person finances my life in Germany.

You need a declaration of commitment Another person finances my life in Germany. Forms and further information on the declaration of commitment can be found here.

I finance my life in Germany myself.

  • You need a blocked account.
  • Special account in Germany for foreign students
  • 1 year: approx. 11,208 euros.
  • You can withdraw only 934 euros per month.
  • You can only close the account if the diplomatic mission/foreigners’ registration office agrees.
I would like to take out a loan.

I would like to take out a loan.

– Credit as proof of financing

– you get a bank guarantee

– some credit institutions support foreign students or learners of German in Germany

I am interested in a scholarship.

DAAD

OBS

Friedrich Ebert Foundation

Friedrich Naumann Foundation

Heinrich Böll Foundation e.V.

Rosa Luxemburg Foundation

Foundation of the German Economy

Bread for the world

Germany Scholarship of the BMBF

Catholic Academic Foreign Service

Bayhost

German-American Fulbright Program

Elite Network Bavaria

BayBIDS Motivation Scholarship

Erasmus+

Funding programs for scientists

VISA – DOCUMENTS

Health insurance

Temporary students (exchange students and free movers) and full-time students from non-EU/EEA countries are required to take out statutory German health insurance.

Important criteria of health insurance
  • Cover high medical and hospital costs
  • Return transport to home country
I am from the EU or Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland.
You are insured in Germany via the health insurance in your home country.
I come from Turkey, Tunisia, Bosnia-Herzigovina, Northern Macedonia, Montenegro or Serbia.

Your country has a bilateral agreement on social security. You may be entitled to medical assistance in Germany, as well as sickness and maternity benefits. You may not need health insurance to enroll.

I am a student and younger than 30.

You can insure yourself for about 105 – 110 Euro per month with a German statutory health insurance for students.

I am a student, but older than 30 years.
  • You must insure yourself with a German private health insurance company.
  • You must pay bills yourself first. The private health insurance will then reimburse you.
I am not a student. I need insurance for the visa application.

You will need travel insurance. If you also want to open a blocked account, you can book a savings package.

Other documents for your visa

Passport

  • Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after your departure date from Germany.
  • Example: You travel to Germany on August 1, 2022. Your visa is valid for one year and so you will leave Germany on July 30, 2023. Your passport must be valid until at least October 30, 2023.
  • Your passport must not be older than 10 years
  • Your passport must have at least two blank visa pages.
  • You will need three copies of your passport.

Other documents

  • You need copies of the previous Schengen visas.

  • Proof of the fee paid for the visa

  • Proof of accommodation – for the entire stay

  • Domestic passport/ID card (two copies of each and two copies of translation)

  • Birth certificate (two copies of each and two copies of the translation)

  • Certificates, diploma, work or study certificate (two copies of each and two copies of the translation)

Passport photos

You will need two biometric passport photos:

  • Face in the photo in the middle
  • Facial features clear from chin to hairline
  • Face height 70 – 80
  • neutral expression
  • open eyes
  • no reflections or shadows
  • no red eyes
  • Background solid color and bright
  • no other persons
  • high quality paper
  • Print resolution: at least 600 dpi
  • no kinks or impurities
  • No headgear

Letter of motivation + resume

  • Information about studying/language course in Germany
  • Plans after the study/language course
  • German/English
  • Two copies each