Moving to Germany on a student visa. List of documents for applying for a student visa.
Always check the current list on the website of the German consulate in your country before submitting: requirements vary from country to country and change over time.
The student visa (§ 16b AufenthG) gives you the right to study at a German university, work part-time during your studies and stay for 18 months after graduation to find a job. It is issued at the German consulate in your home country before departure.
Breaking it down as of August 2026: how much money you need to show, what documents to gather, how much you can work while studying, and what happens after graduation.
In this article:
- financial proof — €11,904 and how to replace it;
- full list of documents;
- how much you can work while studying;
- what to do after graduation.
To apply for a student visa, you will need:
1) Form, which can (and should) be found on the embassy’s website — https://videx-national.diplo.de The application form can be filled in in German or English. Two copies.
2) 3 recent 45x35 mm photographs on a white background. Two must be glued to the application forms (despite the fact that the form says “do not glue”), and another one brought along.
3) Russian passport and 2 copies of all pages containing data.
4) International passport and 2 copies of the personal data page.
N.B. It is better for everyone to get a new international passport valid for 10 years, as all documents in Germany will be linked to it. In the Russian Federation, you can now get a second international passport.
5) Admission/invitation to study at a higher education institution — it is sufficient to provide a printout of the file in PDF format, if it contains the signature and stamp of the university, along with 2 copies of each.
6) Confirmation of funds to cover the stay for at least the first academic year at the rate of 992 € per month11.904 € per year) with a translation into German and 2 copies. The following options are possible:
- Blocked account
Financial proof: how much money to show
This is the requirement that people most often trip over. The consulate needs to see that you have enough to live on for the entire first year of your studies.
The amount for 2026 is €11,904 for twelve months, that is €992 a month. The amount is tied to the calculated student requirement under the BAföG and is being reviewed: in 2023 it was €11,208, and from September 2024 it became €11,904. You cannot take figures from old articles — even a shortage of a few euros means rejection.
Money is deposited into a blocked account (Sperrkonto): after arrival, it is unblocked and pays out exactly 992 € per month. You can open it from your home country before submitting your documents.
A blocked account is not the only option. Other proofs are also accepted:
- Official guarantee (Declaration of commitment) from a person living in Germany — is issued at the local immigration office;
- Scholarship recognised organisation — DAAD, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and others. If the scholarship is less than the required amount, the difference must be covered otherwise;
- Equity in a bank account in the EU, provided that they are accessible at any time. Fixed-term savings deposits are not suitable.
Bear in mind that €992 a month is the legal minimum, not the actual cost of living. In Munich or Frankfurt, renting a room alone eats up a large part of that sum.
-Official sponsorship declaration (behördliche Verpflichtungserklärung) by a German resident
- Confirmation of receipt of a scholarship, at least €992 per month
7) School certificates and diplomas in the original and 2 copies.
8) Signed motivation letter in German and 2 copies
9) Your biography in German in the form of a table. There must be no gaps in this biography, plus you must state your address and contact telephone number. You can use your CV as a basis, adding the dates of your schooling and university education there. The main thing is that there must be no gaps in the biography. The original and 2 copies.
10) Proof of language proficiency – certificate and 2 copies.
11) Medical insurance policy and 2 copies.
Next, the documents need to be sorted into three piles.
One stack of originals and two stacks of document copies.
How much can I work while studying
From 1st March 2024, students from third countries have choice between two models, and you can calculate using whichever is more advantageous.
- By day: 140 full days or 280 half-days per calendar year. A half-day is no more than four hours.
- Hourly: Up to 20 hours a week during the semester. Outside of term time, hours can be arranged more flexibly.
Previously, there was a 120 full days limit — if you come across this figure, the article is out of date.
Working as a student assistant at a university (HiWi) is usually not included in this limit, but it is worth checking with your local immigration office, as practice varies between federal states.
On taxes and contributions from side hustling: up to a certain income threshold, a student pays less than a regular worker — more on this: social security contributions and income tax, explained in separate articles.
What to do after graduation
A German university graduate receives 18-month residence permit for jobseeking (Section 20 of the Residence Act (AufenthG)). During this period, you can work without restrictions — including full-time, which is not permitted during your studies.
As soon as a job is found, switch to a regular status, and a degree from a German university gives an advantage here: it doesn’t need to be recognised, it’s German anyway.
- Blue Card — if the salary is above the threshold. For recent graduates of the last three years, the threshold is reduced to €45,934.20 instead of €50,700, and a permanent residence permit is granted after 21 months — Blue Card conditions.
- Work visa § 18a or § 18b — if the salary is below the Blue Card threshold — what types of work visas are there.
If the degree is not German but foreign, the procedure is different — you need to start with recognition of qualifications.
Frequently asked questions
Is German needed?
It depends on the programme. German-taught programmes usually require C1 – TestDaF or DSH. For English-taught programmes, German is not needed; IELTS or TOEFL is enough. For the visa, the enrolment document is what matters, and what requirements the university has is its own business.
What is a Studienkolleg and who needs it?
Preparatory college for those whose school-leaving certificate is not recognised as sufficient for admission in Germany. It lasts for a year and ends with the Feststellungsprüfung exam. You can check your certificate in the anabin database.
Is it possible to arrive without being enrolled in order to apply on the spot?
Yes, there is a separate visa for university applicants for that — the Visum zur Studienbewerbung, usually valid for nine months. The financial proof required for it is the same.
Is medical insurance compulsory?
Yes, without it they won’t issue a visa or enrol you in the university. Before enrolment, an incoming policy will do, and after that, the student rate of the public health insurance scheme, which is noticeably cheaper than the standard one.
What is APS and who does it apply to?
A document verification certificate, which is compulsory for applicants from China, Vietnam and India. It is processed in your home country prior to applying for a visa and takes several weeks—please factor this time into your plan.
How long do I have to wait for the visa?
From a few weeks to a few months, depending on the consulate and the season. It is worth submitting documents immediately after receiving an invitation from the university, rather than in August before the start of the semester.
About the author and sources
Author. Valery Melech, Finber. Versicherungsmakler (insurance broker) licensed under § 34d para. 1 GewO and Immobiliardarlehensvermittler (real estate loan broker) under § 34i GewO, IHK Rhein-Neckar. Over 20 years of practice, around 6’000 clients.
Sources. Conditions of the student visa and rules for part-time work — Section 16b Aufenthaltsgesetz (Residence Act), amended as of 1 March 2024. Residence permit for jobseeking after graduation — § 20 AufenthG. The amount of financial proof corresponds to the calculated student requirement under BAföG, applicable from September 2024.
Status. The amount in the blocked account is reviewed alongside BAföG rates. Data verified in August 2026.
This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice on immigration law.
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