Residence Permit for Studying
To whom does this regulation apply?
In Germany, there are over 20,000 degree programs, many international study programs and low fees. Last year, almost 14% of all students came from abroad.
If you want to study in Germany, you can apply for a residence permit for the purpose of training. To do this, you must meet certain requirements, which are explained in more detail below.
If you successfully complete your studies, the Foreigners' Registration Office can extend your residence permit for up to 18 months to look for a job or convert it into a residence permit for academic specialists.
What are the requirements?
School leaving certificate with university entrance qualification (Abitur)
In order to be able to study at a German university, a secondary school qualification is required that qualifies for studying. At the admission database of the DAAD or at "anabin" you can see whether the secundary school qualification is sufficient for direct university access. If not, you can attend a Studienkolleg as preparation and take an assessment test.
Admission to university
In order to obtain a residence permit for the purpose of studying, admission must be granted to a state-recognised university. At some universities, the aptitude test "TestAS" is a prerequisite for admission, but that's not always the case. This offers a standardized test procedure that can be helpful in assessing the chances of success for a course of study.
In addition, a health insurance valid in Germany must be available.
In addition, a health insurance valid in Germany must be available.
Language skills
In order to obtain a residence permit for the purpose of studying, "language skills in the language of education" must be proven, unless they have already been checked at the time of admission to the university. For an international course of study, for example, English skills are sufficient. In most degree programmes, however, the language of instruction is German, in these cases German language skills at level B2 usually have to be proven. However, the residence permit also entitles you to attend a preparatory language course, so that the necessary certificate can also be presented after entry.
Securing your livelihood
During your studies, your livelihood must be secured from your own resources. The "proof of financing" usually must be available already when applying for a visa. There are various ways to finance your studies: through a scholarship, proof of income or assets from the parents, a declaration of commitment or a blocked account. The monthly requirement for the year 2020 is 853 €, for one year 10,236 €.
Passport and proven identity
For the issuance of the visa and later the residence permit, the identity of the person moving in must be clarified, and a passport must also be present.
No interest in expulsion
There must be no reason for expulsion, such as endangering public security (e.B. in the case of criminal offences).
No entry or residence ban
If someone has already applied for asylum in Germany or another Schengen state, e.B, he or she must not have been deported from there, as there is then an entry ban in this case. You have to be particularly careful after a rejection of people from so-called "safe countries of origin", because then certain residence permits are blocked, even if the person has not yet been deported. If there is an entry ban, each case has to be looked at individually, to ascertain how its duration can be shortened.
Entry with required visa
If family reunification is planned, entry must also be made with a visa for family reunification, otherwise usually, no residence permit can be issued – even if all other conditions are met. This also applies if a short-term stay is possible with a tourist visa or even visa-free.