Visa Guidance for Indian students

A residence permit is required for anyone wishing to stay in Germany for more than 90 days – including students. This is the best option for students, as a German student visa can only be used for between 3-6 months and it’s likely you’ll need to stay in the country for longer than this. Your Residence Permit will last two years and should be renewed in plenty of time when it’s almost expired.

Steps to take to apply for a German study visa from India

In order to apply for a German Study Visa, Indian students need the following documents:

• Certificate of health insurance
• Valid passport
• 3 passport photos with biometric specifications
• Proof of covered finances
• Letter of admission from a German institution
• Academic certificates
• Proof of English language skills
• Residence Permit fee
• APS Certificate (not mandatory but desirable for BSBI students, more info below)

Upon completing these documents, you can apply for a German student visa in India to the German Embassy or Consulate General. You better schedule an appointment with the authorities beforehand to avoid any delay and confusion.

You can apply for a student visa at The German Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulate General in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bengaluru. Apply to the office whose jurisdiction covers your residence area.

You must prove that you are a student by presenting your Enrolment Letter and registering your residence within 2 weeks after arrival in Germany at the Citizens’ Office (Bürgeramt). Proving that your livelihood is secure and that you have German health insurance is very important. The blocked amount of €11,208 will show that your living costs are fully covered for one year.

More specific information on how to get a student visa can be found here.

How Long Does German Student Visa Take in India?

The German Embassy in New Delhi receives the largest volume of applications, making the waiting time much longer than the consulate. Scheduling an appointment at the German Embassy in New Delhi can take up to 10 weeks, whereas that in the German Consulate General in Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai only takes two working days to a week. These waiting times for German student visa appointments are based on the official data from the German Missions in India.

After submitting the visa application to German Embassy or German Consulate General, the German mission will take approximately 15–30 days to process the student visa, which can even go up to 6–12 weeks in case of several applications. However, they may also ask for any additional documents if required. Therefore, you must start the visa process at the earliest after receiving the acceptance letter to ensure enough time for the process.

APS is Akademische Prüfstelle (Academic Evaluation Centre)

Blocked bank account

Opening a blocked bank account is a relatively simple procedure. German students usually open an account with Deutsche Bank and the process can be done online here.

This is required as part of your visa process so German authorities have proof that you have a minimum of €11,208 in your account so you can fund your stay for at least the first year of your studies.

Do remember to start this process between 4-12 weeks before your semester begins in order to ensure you have allowed yourself plenty of time to access the money once your studies begin. The required amount that you put in will only be available to you once you’ve arrived in Germany.

Working while studying

Many students enjoy the freedom of working while studying. If you are interested in this, the German government allows students from India to work, however this is limited to 120 days per year or 240 half days annually. 

Please note that this includes voluntary work, and foreign students cannot work as freelancers, nor declare themselves to be self-employed.

Useful information

More information can be found at the German embassy in India.

Address:

6/50G, Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, Delhi 110021, India