German Student Visa

It is mandatory by law for all residents in Germany to have health insurance, and you will need proof that you have registered for healthcare insurance before you apply for your Student Visa.

Students over 30 have the choice of registering for private or public healthcare coverage. Those under 30 may take out public health insurance, and they can enjoy a discounted rate (around €110 per month). Expatrio’s health insurance partner, Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), is one of the biggest public healthcare providers in Germany, and the #1 provider for international students.

We can help you register for healthcare cover with TK before you make your visa application. You can find out more about this below and on our Health insurance for International Students page.

Health Insurance for International Students

German health insurance for international students is essential for being granted a student visa

Students aged under 30 must register with the public healthcare system, but they are eligible to pay a discounted rate (of around €110) per month, which covers both basic medical and nursing care insurance. You will need to provide proof of health insurance for a German Student Visa.

At Expatrio, we partner with Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), one of Germany’s largest public healthcare providers, and the one with the most international members. See our Health Insurance service page to find out how you can begin the sign-up process.

Students aged over 30 are not able to access this discounted rate but are eligible to apply for private healthcare cover. Whether you opt for private or public healthcare, bringing proof of the cover to your visa interview is imperative.

Those attending a Student Visa interview without proof of public (or private) healthcare cover will be refused a visa at that point. It may take up to another four months to arrange a second interview and wait for the visa to be processed.

You can find out more on our Health Insurance for Foreign Students page.

Application Process

How can I get a student visa for Germany?

You need to begin your student visa application around four months before the start date of your course. This should provide enough time to make an appointment, do the necessary paperwork, attend the interview, and wait the 6 to 12 weeks for your visa to be processed.

The process to obtain your visa involves liaising with the German consulate in your country, ensuring you have filled out all forms correctly, and having the necessary documents prepared.

1. Make an appointment with the German consulate

You will need to attend an interview at the German consulate in your home country in order to be accepted for a student visa. Because these appointments get booked up in advance, you need to do this in good time. After you have made the appointment, go through the following steps and ensure they are all completed by the time you attend the interview.

2. Set up a Blocked Account

A blocked account is a type of German bank account for international students to prove they have the funds to cover their costs of living during their studies. Because the average cost of living for a student in Germany is €861 a month, you will need to have an account with a balance of at least €10,332 (12 months of living costs). See Expatrio’s Blocked Accounts page to start the process of setting up an account quickly, easily, and safely online.

3. Apply for health insurance

Make sure you are registered for health insurance and have proof of this cover that is valid in Germany (in almost all cases, this will have to be with a German provider). You can start the registration process with one of Germany’s top providers, the Techniker Krankenkasse, on Expatrio’s Health Insurance page today.

4. Fill in the application form

This can be downloaded from your nearest German consulate’s website. When you fill the application form out, take care to check you have included everything that is asked. Ask a friend or family member to go over it for you to check you haven’t missed anything. An incomplete form can result in a refusal of the visa.

5. Check you have all the documents ready

Ahead of your appointment with the consulate, ensure you now have all documents ready with a Germany Student Visa checklist. This includes your health insurance, passport, copies of passport, passport photos, high school certificate, course acceptance letter, birth certificate, proof of blocked account or funds, and the correctly filled out application form itself.

Tips for your student visa application

To sum up, here are some tips for you

• It’s often worth seeking expert advice when it comes to applying for a student visa. Expatrio can offer individual support and advice to those applying for a German Student Visas. Expatrio can also help you with registering with public health insurance and setting up a blocked account.
• Check if your passport has enough validity on it. You will not be granted for a visa if your passport is going to run out during the course of your studies. It may, therefore, be necessary to renew your passport before you apply for your visa, even if it still has two years left on it.
• Draw up a well-researched Germany student visa checklist, with all the documents you’ll need and the timelines involved. This will mean you are less likely to miss anything important, and the visa is more likely to be accepted. Any problems with your documents can cause a delay in the processing of the visa.
• Do not confuse having a student visa with having a resident’s permit (Aufenthaltstitel). If a residency permit is what you need, check our German Permanent Residency Permit page.
• UK residents need to apply for a student visa to study in Germany if they plan to stay in the country for more than 90 days.