Entry Visa & Residence Permit

Visa or no visa?

Whether you need a visa to enter Germany as an international student depends on your nationality and the planned duration of your stay.
Please check in good time, for example on the website of the Federal Foreign Office, whether you need a visa to enter Germany.

Who does not need an visa to enter into Germany?

Citizens of EU/EFTA member states, Andorra, Australia, Brazil, El Salvador, Great Britain, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Canada, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, San Marino and the United States of America.
Students from abroad in EU countries (outside Denmark, Ireland and Great Britain) who are studying there.
Persons who are in possession of a residence permit for a Schengen state.

International students can obtain two types of visas:

Visa for the application to study

If you have not yet been admitted to a university or a preparatory college, apply for a visa for the purpose of applying to higher education programme.
This visa is valid for three months and gives you the opportunity to meet the requirements for admission. If this is not enough time, the duration of stay can be extended by a maximum of six months. If you are admitted to a degree programme or preparatory college during this time, you can apply for a residence permit for study purposes.

Visa for the study programme

If you have already been admitted to a course of study, you can apply for a visa for a study-related stay. The visa is normally issued for a period of up to 12 months. During this period, you must apply for a residence permit for your further stay at the Berlin Immigration Office.

The online application 'Residence permit for language and study purposes' can be submitted at the earliest 8 weeks before your current residence permit expires and is only possible here: https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/305244/en/

Usualy, the documents required for the application for a residence permit are as follows (PDF format, max. 50 MB)

Confirmation of admission (letter of admission from the HfM in the muvac portal) or certificate of enrollment
Color copy of valid passport
Proof of health insurance: either in the statutory health insurance scheme or in a comparable private insurance scheme (e.g. from the age of 30)
As a rule, foreign health insurance is not sufficient
Proof of secure livelihood or financing. To study, you must have €992.00 per month at your disposal, which corresponds to an annual amount of €11,904.00 (as of 2025); when first granted, proof can be provided as follows: a blocked account at a German bank/a declaration of commitment on an official form/a scholarship certificate/a notarized declaration from parents that they will provide for your living expenses during your studies, supported by proof of your parents' income in the last six months/an employment contract for a part-time job
For renewal/extension: as an alternative to the above points, bank statements for the last six months, proof of other income
Proof of academic achievements (only for the extension of the residence permit; not for the first issue) or a 'study prognosis' may be required. You can obtain the prognosis from the Study Advice Office, see Contact. The Transcript of Records can be downloaded from the EislerCampus.
Documentation of residence in Berlin (e.g. a registration confirmation or the tenancy agreement together with a confirmation of moving in from the landlord)

Current and operational email address

The Immigration Office will contact you via your current email address. Please check your spam folder regularly.

What happens after I have submitted my application?

You will receive a PDF document as confirmation of your application. This confirms that your current residence permit is still valid in Germany after the previous validity date. It is not possible to convert tourist or language visas into a residence permit for study purposes at a later date.

Note — Appointments at the Berlin Immigration Office ('LEA')

If your application is approved, you will receive an appointment. You do not have to book the appointment yourself. Bring all the documents listed in the invitation email to the appointment.

Information for refugees from Ukraine after the outbreak of war

Refugees from Ukraine who have been granted a residence permit in accordance with Section 24 (1) of the Residence Act (AufenthG) will automatically receive an extension of their residence permit until March 4, 2026 without having to visit the LEA. Refugees from Ukraine without Ukrainian citizenship are exempt from the extension, unless they or their family members lived there before the outbreak of the war with permanent residence or recognition of protection. The general regulations of asylum and residence law apply to these third-country nationals.

Job centers and social welfare offices provide advice on the possibilities of receiving benefits from the basic security for jobseekers or social assistance.
Further information at: https://www.germany4ukraine.de/EN/startseite_node.html

Note on Change of university/ 中国竞彩网_竞彩网足球-中国足彩网真诚推荐

If your residence permit is restricted to a specific university and/or course of study, you must apply to the LEA for the change and have it entered in your residence permit.

Information on having a job during your studies

International students have the opportunity to work alongside their studies. Nevertheless, they must observe the rules of the Immigration Office, as this may require a work permit. Since 1st March 2024, the residence permit for studying entitles you to work for a total of 140 full working days per calendar year.
https://www.berlin.de/einwanderung/en/residence/study/

On-site studies

Studying at the HfM is an on-site programme and is generally studied full-time. On-site study is a reason that justifies legitimate residence in Germany. If students are employed outside Berlin, they will probably have to change the purpose of their stay in Germany. Please contact the Study Advice Office if you are not sure which residence permit is right for you.