Residence Permit for Students
If you're a foreign national planning to study in Germany, you'll need a residence permit that states this purpose. Find out how to apply.
General information
In order to be granted a residence permit for the purpose of studying, you must have been admitted to study at a state or state-recognized university or comparable educational institution. The main purpose of your stay must be to study and you can study full-time or, under certain conditions, part-time. It is not sufficient to attend an evening, weekend or distance learning course.
If you have not yet been admitted, you can apply for a residence permit to look for a training or study place. You can also apply for a residence permit for the purpose of studying if you are attending a preparatory language course or a preparatory college (Studienkolleg).
During your studies or preparatory studies, you are allowed to work 140 full days (more than 4 hours) or 280 half days (up to 4 hours) per year as well as to work part-time as a student ("studentische Nebentätigkeiten'). People who are looking for a place at university may work up to 20 hours per week.
Further information for international students can be found in this brochure.
Once you have successfully completed your studies, you can take up gainful employment. It is not absolutely necessary that your future job matches your studies. However, it cannot be a job as a helper. If your residence permit for studying is still valid at the time and you have not yet used up your maximum permitted working days (see above), you may already start the new job. Please apply for the residence permit for work as soon as possible.
To look for suitable employment, you can apply for a residence permit for job seeking.
Requirements
Visa for students
Exceptions
- Citizens of certain countries can apply for a residence permit after entering Germany. More on this in the article on visas.
- Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland enjoy unrestricted freedom of movement.
Letter of admission/enrolment certificate of the education institution.
Proof of financing (934€€ per month or 11.208€ per year), alternatively a Declaration of Commitment.
Sufficient health insurance.
Submit application
Intra-EU mobility for students (up to 360 days)
If you have a residence permit for the purpose of studying in another EU member state and want to pursue part of your studies in Germany, you may stay and study here without a German residence permit for up to 360 days.
Your host educational institution should notify the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). This must be done as soon as the host educational institution knows about your intention to study in Germany. If accepted, the Federal Office will issue a certificate for short-term EU mobility for the purpose of studying in Germany. With this certificate, you may enter Germany at any time during the validity of your residence title. If the Federal Office does not deny your application or does not send the certificate within 30 days, you may enter and stay in Germany without this document.
Requirements
- You hold a residence permit for the purpose of studying issued by another EU member state (in accordance with EU Directive 2016/801), valid for the full period of your intended stay in Germany.
- Proof that a part of your studies shall be spent at an educational institution in Germany, because you participate in a union or multilateral programme incorporating mobility measures or because an agreement exists between the education institutions involved
- Proof of admission to the host education institution in Germany
- A recognised, valid passport or replacement passport
- Proof that you can finance your stay in Germany and that you have sufficient health insurance