Germany student visa requirements explained
A practical checklist for your German study visa: choose the right route, prepare your evidence and check the responsible mission’s requirements.
Sources and last review
Reviewed 2026-09-15
Start with your entry route
Whether you need an entry visa depends on your nationality and circumstances. Check the official visa guidance before making travel commitments. A study visa and a residence permit are different stages; the validity printed on your own document controls your next deadline.
Admission or still applying?
With university admission
Use the study route and your admission evidence. For 2026, the government lists at least €11,904 in a blocked account as one financing option; scholarships or a declaration of commitment may also qualify.
Seeking a study place
The study-place-seeking route can allow up to nine months. Its financing requirement differs: the official 2026 guidance lists €1,091 per month or a declaration of commitment. Check eligibility before choosing this route.
Build your application folder
Plan your next step
Keep copies of what you submit and a record of deadlines. After arrival, follow the local authority’s residence process before your permitted stay expires. Avoid non-refundable arrangements that depend on an assumed decision date.