DE
Germany · Nationales Visum zum Studium · apply online
Germany's national visa and subsequent residence permit under Section 16b of the Residence Act allow eligible third-country nationals to pursue full-time study at a state or state-recognised higher education institution. Residence for study purposes also covers qualifying preparatory measures and compulsory internships.
Many public universities charge no tuition for most bachelor's and master's programmes, regardless of nationality. Exceptions include Baden-Württemberg, which charges most non-EU students EUR 1,500 per semester, and some Bavarian institutions that set tuition for non-EU students. Private universities and continuing-education programmes may charge tuition, and there is no single nationwide maximum. Students also pay a semester contribution set by their institution; this is not tuition.
The residence permit allows up to 140 full workdays or 280 half-days per year. Each workday of up to four hours may count as a half-day. Alternatively, work can be counted as up to 20 hours per calendar week during lecture periods and 2.5 workdays per week outside lecture periods. Student assistant jobs are excluded from the account. Freelance or other self-employment is not automatically authorised and needs the appropriate permission.
| Program | Type | Duration | Min degree | Work | PR path |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residence permit for job seeking after graduation (§ 20(1) no. 1 AufenthG) | Job seeker | 18 mo | Bachelors | Unrestricted | No |
| Test | Purpose | Language | Min score | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TestDaF | Admission | German | TDN 4 | Many German-taught programmes accept TDN 4 in all four sections; DSH-2 is also widely accepted. The university sets the programme-specific requirement, and preparatory study can have different rules. |
| IELTS Academic | Admission | English | — | For English-taught programmes, the university sets accepted evidence and minimum scores; there is no nationwide IELTS threshold. |
| Fee | Type | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Visa Application Fee | Application | $87 | One time |
| Residence Permit Fee | Permit | $116 | One time |
Applications can be submitted through the Federal Foreign Office's Consular Services Portal, with an in-person appointment still required for biometrics and document checks. University admission determines programme-specific language evidence and scores. Study residence time counts at half value toward the ordinary settlement-permit residence period; a separate graduate route can allow a settlement permit after two years of qualified employment if its conditions are met. Five years of lawful ordinary residence may count toward naturalisation, but a Section 16b study permit alone does not satisfy the residence-title requirement at the time of application.
Last verified Oct 9, 2026 Last changed Oct 9, 2026 Source
corrected the PR residence-time fraction and clarified the separate citizenship-title requirement (https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__9.html; https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/__10.html).
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