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Applying for a residence permit for students from countries outside the EU/EEA

Citizens from countries outside the EU or EEA who wish to study in Germany generally require a residence permit:

  • Applicants from certain countries can enter Germany without a visa. If you stay longer than 90 days, you will need a residence permit for students. This applies to the following countries:
    • Andorra
    • Australia
    • Brazil and
    • El Salvador
    • Honduras
    • Israel
    • Japan
    • Canada
    • Republic of Korea
    • Monaco
    • New Zealand
    • San Marino
    • USA
    • United Kingdom, Great Britain and Northern Ireland (§ 1 Para. 2 No. 6 FreizügG/EU)
  • Other foreign nationals travelling to Germany with a national visa are generally issued with a validity period of one year.After arriving in Germany, you must register at the residents' registration office in your new place of residence within 14 days. You must apply for a residence permit before your visa expires.
  • Applicants from Switzerland can enter Germany without a visa. They can obtain a residence permit for Swiss nationals, but must report their stay to the Foreigners' Registration Office within three months.

The residence permit is limited in time and is only valid for this purpose of residence. If the purpose of your stay changes, you must inform the foreigners authority immediately.

You must apply to extend your residence permit in good time before it expires.

The period of validity and conditions of the residence permit depend on the purpose of your stay:

  • Residence permit for participation in language courses
    • You can obtain a residence permit for intensive language courses for a maximum of twelve months. The course must comprise at least 18 teaching units per week, each lasting at least 45 minutes, and must impart comprehensive German language skills within a certain period of time german language skills within a certain period of time.
    • For study preparation measures (e.g. attending a language course or preparatory college, preparatory internships), you will receive a residence permit for a maximum of two years.
  • Residence permit for university application
    • The maximum period of validity is nine months. Within this period you must
      • apply for admission to a degree programme or
      • prove that you have been admitted to a preparatory German course or
      • the preparatory college.
  • Residence permit for study purposes
    • The period of validity ranges from one to two years. An extension of up to two years is possible.
    • The specialisation of the course of study is stated as the purpose of residence on the residence permit. You must therefore inform the Foreigners' Registration Office immediately if you change your specialisation or place of study.
    • Internships in a company during your studies do not change the purpose of residence. You require additional authorisation from the Foreigners' Registration Office. If necessary, you must obtain the approval of the Employment Agency.

Related forms and processes

Prerequisite

Prerequisites for the granting of a residence permit for study purposes are

  • Study at a
    • state or
    • state-recognised higher education institution (university, teacher training college, art college, university of applied sciences) or
    • comparable educational institution (e.g. Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University)
  • Studies as the main purpose of the stay
    This includes all training phases:
    • Language course or preparatory college to prepare for studies
    • Language examination
    • internships in preparation for the degree programme (if recommended or required by the university)
    • Study programme (basic studies, main studies, internships during studies, intermediate and final examinations)
    • Postgraduate, additional, supplementary studies or doctorate
    • practical activities following a degree programme (if they are a prescribed part of the training)
  • Your living expenses (assessment limit is the maximum funding rate according to the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG)) and health insurance in Germany are guaranteed.
  • You fulfil the requirements for admission to the desired educational institution.
    You cannot fulfil the necessary general school requirements in Germany.

Responsible department

  • for the issue of a national visa before entering the federal territory: the German mission abroad (embassy, consulate)
  • after entry: the foreigners authority;
    is the foreigners authority
    • if you live in an urban district or a large district town: the municipal administration
    • if you live in a district town or municipality: the district administration office

Procedure

Before travelling to Germany, you may need to apply for a visa in your home country.

After entering the country, you must apply for a residence permit in writing to the Foreigners' Registration Office before your visa expires. If you have entered Germany without a visa, you have 90 days to do so.

Deadlines

none

Required documents

  • Certificate of the purpose of residence, for example:
    • Admission to a language course or study programme
    • Certificate of enrolment
    • Proof of study progress
  • Proof of funding, for example:
    • Statement of income and financial circumstances of the parents
    • Payment of a security deposit into a blocked account in Germany
    • Scholarship contract
  • Proof of health insurance
  • valid passport - a valid identity card is sufficient for Swiss nationals
  • a current passport photo

Costs

  • First issue: EUR 100.00
  • Renewal for less than three months: EUR 96.00
  • Renewal over three months: EUR 93.00
  • for young people under the age of 18: half the fee
  • for persons who receive a scholarship from public funds for their stay in Germany: none

Miscellaneous

Do you have a residence permit for other purposes (e.g. for family reasons) or a settlement permit? In this case, you can study in Germany without an additional residence permit.

During your studies you may

  • work up to 140 full days or 280 half days per year and
  • part-time student jobs.

After successfully completing your studies, the competent authority will extend your residence permit for up to 18 months under certain conditions. During this time

  • you can look for a job appropriate to your degree and
  • may work without restriction.

You will receive the residence permit in the form of a cheque card with additional electronic functions. You can find more information on this under"Applying for an electronic residence permit (eAT)".

Mobility as part of your studies:

If you have a residence permit for study purposes in an EU member state and would like to complete part of your studies in Germany, you do not need a residence permit for this as long as your stay does not exceed 360 days. The prerequisite for this is that the host educational institution has informed the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees of this prior to your arrival and has submitted the following evidence:

  • Proof of the residence permit issued by the other member state for the purpose of study (copy)
  • Proof that you wish to complete part of your studies in Germany because you are participating in a Union or multilateral programme with mobility measures or there is an agreement between you and two or more higher education institutions
  • Proof of admission
  • Copy of a recognised and valid passport
  • Proof of your means of subsistence.

Study-related internship:

Foreigners who are either still studying at a university abroad or have completed a university degree no more than two years ago have the opportunity to complete an internship in Germany to supplement their studies. The foreigner will be granted a residence permit for a maximum of six months for the purpose of the internship if the employment agency has agreed to this, if necessary. It is also necessary

  • that the internship serves to enable the foreigner to acquire knowledge, practical skills and experience in a professional environment,
  • an agreement with a host organisation providing for theoretical and practical training measures is submitted,
  • proof of a degree programme or its completion in the last two years is presented,
  • the internship corresponds to the subject of the degree programme or university degree and
  • the host organisation undertakes in writing to bear the costs incurred by public bodies up to six months after the end of the internship agreement.

Appeal

  • Appeal
  • Action before the administrative court

Legal basis

Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG):

  • § 3 Passpflicht
  • § 4 Erfordernis eines Aufenthaltstitels
  • § 5 Lebensunterhalt, Krankenversicherung, Allgemeine Erteilungsvoraussetzungen
  • § 16b Studium
  • § 16c Mobilität im Rahmen des Studiums
  • § 16e Studienbezogenes Praktikum EU
  • § 16f Sprachkurse und Schulbesuch
  • § 20 Arbeitsplatzsuche im Anschluss an Aufenthalte im Bundesgebiet
  • § 17 Suche eines Ausbildungs- oder Studienplatzes

Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV):

  • §§ 39 - 41 Einholung des Aufenthaltstitels im Bundesgebiet
  • § 45 Gebühr
  • § 50 Gebühren für Amtshandlungen zugunsten Minderjähriger
  • § 52 Befreiungen und Ermäßigungen

Release note

machine generated, based on the German release by: Justizministerium Baden-Württemberg, 05.02.2025