VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR COUNTRY

You will generally need a visa, which you must apply for before coming to Germany. You can apply for the visa at the German diplomatic mission in your home country. There are exceptions for specific countries, depending on the duration and purpose of your stay.

TIPS ON APPLYING FOR A VISA (GOOD TO KNOW!)

When applying for a visa, be sure to keep the following in mind:

1. Submit your application early enough! Visa processing can take several months and you won’t be able to enter the country without a valid visa.

2. Apply for the correct visa! Make sure it is a student visa! Tourist and language course visas cannot be converted into a student visa later on. If you have the wrong visa, you will have to leave the country.

3. Arrange your date of arrival in Germany so that you have enough time to enrol at your university and take care of the administrative formalities. Enrolment is a prerequisite for obtaining the “student residence permit”.

4. Make sure your passport is valid for the length of your stay! If your passport/ID documents expire while you are in Germany, you will have to return to your home country and extend them there.