Students within the European Union (including Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) do not require a German student visa.
Students from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Japan, and South Korea also do not need a visa to study in Germany. However, you will need to register at the local Residents’ Registration Office and the Aliens’ Registration Office (Ausländeramt) to obtain a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) within two weeks of arrival in the country.
If you are from a country not listed above, you will need a student visa for Germany. You must apply for this in the local German embassy or consulate in your home country.
Once you receive your admissions letter, you can apply for a student visa immediately. This visa is usually issued for a period of 90 days. If you have to stay more than 3 months, you MUST apply at the Alien Registration Office (Ausländerbehörde) in Berlin to get the proper residence permit: “Aufenthaltstitel/Aufenthaltsgenehmigung”.