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    Student visa guide

    Germany student visa 2026: cost, requirements and how to apply

    The National visa for study purposes (Section 16b Residence Act) costs $190 in fees nobody can skip, up to $420 if every situational extra applies.

    By Global Admissions Editorial · Checked against 4 official sources

    How much does a Germany student visa cost in 2026?

    Applying for a student visa in Germany on the National Visa for Study costs $190 in fees you cannot skip: National visa fee ($80) and Anmeldung + residence permit (after arrival) ($110). Situational extras (blocked account opening fee and health insurance (1st month)) add up to $230 more. Separately, you must prove you have the money: Blocked account requirement: EUR 11,904/year as of 2024. All amounts are US dollars, last checked January 2026.

    National visa for study purposes (Section 16b Residence Act) cost breakdown

    Every line the Germany application puts on your card, in US dollars, as of January 2026.

    National visa fee$80
    EUR 75
    Anmeldung + residence permit (after arrival)$110
    EUR 100
    Mandatory total$190
    What the National visa for study purposes (Section 16b Residence Act) costs before any optional service.
    Situational extras, only if they apply to you
    Blocked account opening fee$100
    Expatrio / Fintiba; one-time
    Health insurance (1st month)$130
    Then ~€130/month enrolled at uni
    If every extra applied$420
    Worst case. Most applicants pay none or one of these.

    Amounts are US dollars. Germany bills in its own currency, so the exact charge moves with the exchange rate. The native figures are in the notes column where the fee schedule publishes them.

    Things to watch

    • Blocked account requirement: EUR 11,904/year as of 2024.
    • Most public universities charge no tuition, only a semester contribution (€150–350).
    • EU citizens do not need this visa.

    How much bank balance do you need for a Germany student visa?

    For the National visa for study purposes (Section 16b Residence Act), Germany asks you to show EUR 11,904. The accepted form is Blocked account (Sperrkonto), scholarship, or declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung), and it covers Twelve months of living costs for a student in 2026. Applicants coming to look for a university place rather than to enroll must show EUR 1,091 a month instead. This is money you show, not money you pay, so it never appears in the fee table above. The figure comes from Make it in Germany (Federal Government portal): Visa for studying, checked August 2026.

    Make it in Germany (Federal Government portal): Visa for studying · checked August 2026

    Germany student visa requirements and documents checklist

    6 documents every applicant provides, 1 more depending on where you apply from.

    DocumentWho needs itWhat it involves
    Letter of admission from a state-recognized higher education institutioneveryoneYou need admission to a state or state-recognized university, or confirmation of acceptance for a preparatory college (Studienkolleg) or comparable institution, including any preparatory program that comes first. source
    School-leaving certificate qualifying you for German higher educationeveryoneYour certificate must entitle you to enter higher education in Germany. If it is not recognized as equivalent to the Abitur, you attend a Studienkolleg and sit the Feststellungsprüfung first. source
    Proof of financial resources for the whole stayeveryoneShow at least EUR 11,904 for 2026, normally through a blocked account, or alternatively a scholarship or a declaration of commitment from a sponsor in Germany. source
    Language skills for your programeveryoneSome programs require a set level, usually CEFR B2, and you prove it to the German embassy or consulate. The requirement does not apply if a preparatory language course precedes the degree. source
    Blocked account opened with a named beneficiaryeveryoneYou can open the account at a bank or comparable provider of your choice, in Germany or elsewhere, usually online. Conditions and fees differ between providers, so compare before opening one. source
    Online visa application through the Consular Services PortaleveryoneRegister on the Federal Foreign Office's Consular Services Portal and apply online, then present the original documents and give biometric data at your appointment. source
    APS certificatefor Indian, Chinese and Vietnamese studentsApplicants whose qualifications come from India, China or Vietnam must have their academic documents verified by the Academic Evaluation Centre (APS) before the German mission will decide the student visa. source

    How to apply for a Germany student visa

    1. Secure admission to a German higher education institution

      Apply to a state-recognized university, or to a Studienkolleg if your school-leaving certificate is not recognized as equivalent to the Abitur.

      source
    2. Complete APS verification if your degree is from India, China or Vietnam

      The Academic Evaluation Centre checks your academic documents and issues the certificate that forms part of the visa file. Start early: verification takes at least two weeks, and longer when application volumes are high or the institutions being contacted are slow to respond.

      source
    3. Open a blocked account and fund it

      Pay in at least EUR 11,904 for a twelve-month stay, plus the provider's banking fees. The account is usually opened for a year unless your stay is shorter.

      source
    4. Apply online through the Consular Services Portal

      Register at digital.diplo.de, complete the study visa application, then attend the appointment at the German mission with your original documents to give fingerprints and a photo.

      source
    5. Convert the visa into a residence permit after arrival

      Once in Germany you apply to your local foreigners authority for a residence permit under Section 16b of the Residence Act. It is normally issued for two years initially, and can be renewed for a further two if you have not finished your degree.

      source

    Germany student visa processing time

    A residence permit for study purposes is normally issued for an initial two years, and you can request a renewal for a further two years if you have not completed your degree in that time.

    Make it in Germany (Federal Government portal): Visa for studying · checked August 2026

    Germany student visa work rights, dependants and what comes after

    Work rights

    While enrolled you may work up to 140 full days or 280 half days per year, or up to 20 hours a week. Part-time student jobs at the university can be held for an unlimited period. During a stay for seeking a university place the limit is 20 hours a week, plus up to two weeks of trial work.

    sourcecompare all countries

    After graduation

    After graduating you can apply for a jobseeker residence permit under Section 20 (1) No. 1 of the Residence Act, issued for up to 18 months to find skilled employment. You may work in any occupation while searching, and once you have a qualified job you convert to a residence permit for skilled workers or an EU Blue Card. Graduates can apply for a settlement permit after more than two years of work in Germany.

    sourcecompare all countries

    Language requirement

    Many degree programs require German at CEFR level B2, and you must prove your language skills to the German embassy or consulate. The requirement is waived where a preparatory language course precedes the degree, and English-taught programs set their own standard.

    source

    Germany student visa requirements for Indian students

    The full Germany visa guide for Indian students, with the fee in your currency.

    APS certificate is compulsory before the visa decision

    APS India, run by the Science Section of the German Embassy in New Delhi, verifies academic documents issued by Indian institutions. The certificate is part of the documentation generally required for the German student visa, and it does not replace either the university's admission decision or the mission's visa decision.

    source

    The verification fee is INR 18,000 and is non-refundable

    You pay online during registration, and processing only begins once payment has been received and the documents on the applicable checklist have been submitted. The fee is not returned regardless of the outcome of the verification.

    source

    Allow at least two weeks, and plan for longer

    APS India states the verification takes a minimum of two weeks, and can take longer depending on application volume and how quickly the schools, boards and universities it contacts respond. Build this into your timeline before the university's enrollment deadline.

    source

    Some master's applicants also need a dMAT certificate

    The dMAT is an extra element for selected master's applicants whose previous degree falls in engineering, commerce, accounting, finance, economics, business or management. You can submit the rest of your APS documents first so verification starts, but the APS certificate is only issued once the dMAT certificate has been submitted and checked.

    source

    Germany student visa requirements for Chinese students

    The full Germany visa guide for Chinese students, with the fee in your currency.

    APS certificate is compulsory before the visa decision

    Chinese applicants have their academic documents verified by the Akademische Prüfstelle in Beijing, a service of the culture section of the German Embassy, and the resulting certificate forms part of the student visa file.

    source

    Budget the APS step into your timeline

    Verification happens before the German mission decides the visa, so the APS procedure has to be finished ahead of your visa appointment rather than alongside it. Everything else is the same as for other applicants: admission letter, blocked account of at least EUR 11,904, and language evidence.

    source

    Germany student visa requirements for Vietnamese students

    The full Germany visa guide for Vietnamese students, with the fee in your currency.

    APS certificate is compulsory before the visa decision

    Vietnam is one of the three markets where the Academic Evaluation Centre verifies academic qualifications before a German student visa can be issued, alongside India and China.

    source

    The rest of the file is unchanged

    Once you hold the APS certificate you apply through the Consular Services Portal like every other applicant, with your admission letter, school-leaving certificate, language evidence and proof of at least EUR 11,904 in a blocked account.

    source
    United States
    From $535 all-in
    United Kingdom
    From $1,760 all-in
    Canada
    From $175 all-in
    Australia
    From $2,250 all-in
    France
    From $183 all-in
    New Zealand
    From $501 all-in

    FAQ

    Frequently asked questions

    How much is the Germany student visa fee?
    The National Visa for Study application charge is $80 (National visa fee). Add the other mandatory items (Anmeldung + residence permit (after arrival) $110) and the all-in mandatory total is $190. Optional extras add up to $230 on top.
    How much does a blocked account cost?
    $100 for the National Visa for Study, and only when it applies to you. Expatrio / Fintiba; one-time. It sits on top of the $190 mandatory total.
    How much proof of funds do you need for the National Visa for Study?
    Blocked account requirement: EUR 11,904/year as of 2024. That is money you show, not money you pay. It is separate from the $190 in fees.
    How much bank balance is required for a Germany student visa?
    EUR 11,904, held as Blocked account (Sperrkonto), scholarship, or declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung), covering Twelve months of living costs for a student in 2026. Applicants coming to look for a university place rather than to enroll must show EUR 1,091 a month instead. It is money you show rather than money you pay, so it is separate from the visa fees. The blocked account releases only a set amount each month, so the money cannot be withdrawn in one go at the start of your stay. You name the German mission abroad or the local foreigners authority as account beneficiary, though they cannot withdraw your money, and banking fees are charged on top of the blocked amount. A scholarship or a declaration of commitment from a sponsor in Germany can replace the blocked account. Source: Make it in Germany (Federal Government portal): Visa for studying (August 2026).
    Can you work on a Germany student visa?
    While enrolled you may work up to 140 full days or 280 half days per year, or up to 20 hours a week. Part-time student jobs at the university can be held for an unlimited period. During a stay for seeking a university place the limit is 20 hours a week, plus up to two weeks of trial work. Source: Make it in Germany (Federal Government portal): Visa for studying (August 2026).
    How long does a Germany student visa take?
    A residence permit for study purposes is normally issued for an initial two years, and you can request a renewal for a further two years if you have not completed your degree in that time. Source: Make it in Germany (Federal Government portal): Visa for studying (August 2026).
    What's not included in the National Visa for Study fee?
    Tuition, living costs and the money you have to show in your account are separate from the fees on this page. Use our cost-of-study calculator at /tools/cost-calculator for a complete budget.
    When are these fees due?
    Application and biometric fees are paid before submission. Health surcharges (UK IHS, Australian OSHC) are paid as part of the visa application. Some fees (Anmeldung in Germany, OFII in France) are paid after arrival.

    Official sources

    Last verified August 2026.