General Information

If you intend to participate in a German language course in Germany that is not meant to prepare you for university studies, this is not the correct visa type for you. If you wish to do an intensive German course to prepare you for your vocational training, please refer to the information on vocational training visa. If you wish to do an intensive German course just because you wish to learn German, please refer to the information on “language course” in the section on non-CSP applications.

Visa to study in Germany also have a number of sub-types, so as a first step in the Consular Service Portal, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire. The answers from this questionnaire will determine which sub-category of this visa type applies to you. You need to answer the question truthfully. Answers that do not match your situation will lead to a request to delete your process and start over again with correct answers. It is not possible to change the sub-type without starting the process over.

Please note: the questionnaire will only ask if you have the necessary level of knowledge of German for your intended studies and does not pay attention to the fact that many studies in Germany can be done in English. In these cases, please read “English” instead of “German” and upload proof of knowledge of English in the documents. The only exemption from that is the question “Do you have knowledge of German on level B2?” Here, you only answer “yes” if you indeed have knowledge of German on level B2, otherwise you will be requested to delete your application and start anew.

Necessary and optional documents

The Consular Service Portal will guide you through the process and give additional information to each upload. You can stop, safe your progress and return to your application at any time during the uploading process.
When making your application through the Consular Service Portal, you will be asked to upload the following documents:

• valid passport (issued within the last 10 years and with at least 2 empty pages for visa) – page with your photo and personal details
• School leaving certificate or proof of previous degree
  If you intend to do a preparatory course or bachelor studies, this means your 12th and 10th Mark Sheet and mark sheets of any semesters you might have already studies in India.
  If you intend to do a Master’s degree or a PhD, this means your previous degree and note sheets for each semester
• Proof of German language skills – or English skills if your preparatory course or studies are in English
  If you do a preparatory course in German, you need knowledge of German at least on a level of B1.
  If your preparatory course is in English, you need knowledge of English at least on a level of B2.
  If you intend to enter degree studies (Bachelor or Master) right away, generally the required level of knowledge is C1, regardless if the studies are in German or English.
  All knowledge of the study language has to be proven by a recognized certificate, such as Goethe Institute / Max Mueller Bhavan, ÖSD, telc for German or IELTS or ALTE members for English. Please note that neither Duolingo tests nor Pearson PTE or TOEFL home edition tests are recognized for applications in India.
• APS certificate
  Please refer to the information under “general information”
• If you do not require an APS certificate because there is an exemption, you need to upload a recognition of your school-leaving certificate. This means either the anabin confirmation that your school leaving certificate allows you to enter a university in Germany (more information can be found in the anabin data base here) or a Statement of Comparability by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) – (more information can be found here)
• Proof of admission to a full-time degree programme and/or preparatory college (Studienkolleg) or language course
  This is either
  - your letter of admission from a full-time degree programme in presence at a German university. If you have to still fulfill any conditions (for example preparatory college, proof of knowledge of the study language, etc) it has to be noted in the admissions letter.
  - admissions letter to a preparatory college
  - confirmation of registration for a language course
• Intention to study (freely written letter) – a motivation letter in English or German why you would like to study in Germany, why you have chosen the specific degree programme and university, how you found that university and what your plans are after graduation
• CV in English or German in table form, listing all previous training, qualifications and activities
• Proof of secure livelihood by one of the following means
  • Blocked bank account (“Sperrkonto”) in Germany with sufficient funds to cover the first year of studies, currently amounting to 11,904.—EUR and with a blocking confirmation stating that no more than 992.—EUR per month can be withdrawn. More information can be found here https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/sperrkonto/388600
  • Formal Declaration of Commitment / Formal Obligation Lettter (“Verpflichtungserklärung”) by a sponsor residing in Germany. If you have someone in Germany who agrees to cover all your costs, this person can make a formal declaration of that commitment in front of the local immigration office in Germany and provide you with the original of that document
  • If you receive a scholarship, proof of a German or EU scholarship or stipend
  • If you have taken out an education loan, please also provide proof of that
• If you intend to study at a private university and have to pay tuition fees in addition to the semester fees or if you intend to participate in a language course: proof of the fee amount, for example in form of an invoice and proof that you have paid the fees for the first year or have paid a substantial deposit
• Certificate about compulsory health insurance (Gesetzliche oder private Krankenversicherung) from the intended date of arrival in Germany.

Optional documents

• In “Other documents” you can upload additional relevant documents to support your application. Examples would be previous long-term German or EU visa or residence permit if you have previous long-term stays.

Please note that the German Missions reserve the right to ask for additional documents or the verification of certificates, for which additional fees would be charged.

Submission of the above-mentioned documents does not guarantee that a visa is granted.
Submission of incomplete documentation or refusal to appear for a visa interview may result in the rejection of your application.