Germany

Information for all students

Students should ensure that their passports are signed and stamped when entering and exiting Border Control. These stamps will prove the duration of your visit and, more importantly, prove to the visa official that you have not overstayed your 90-day visit.

It is important to understand the Schengen 90/180 rule. You are allocated 90 visa-free days to use within the Schengen Zone, however you must remember these are rolling days and are added onto a cumulative total of days in the Schengen region. Leaving and entering does not reset your calculator – only leaving for a period of 90 days in a non-Schengen country will reset your visa-free 90-day allowance.

Read more about the Schengen rules

Studying for up to 3 months

British students do not require visas or Residence Permits for study or research visits for up to 90 days within the 180 period – provided no economic activity is pursued. Your visit to Germany may be self funded. British students can complete the following activities without a visa:

• Scholarship-funded research
• Studies
• Language course

EU/EEA students do not need a visa or Residence Permit to study, work or reside in Germany.

If you are unsure whether you are eligible to apply for a German visa from the UK, you can use the German Schengen visa Eligibility checker.

Students from a non-visa waiver country will need to apply for a Schengen visa for a duration of 90 days.

Overview of the visa process

Follow the below steps to apply for your German visa:

1. Complete the online application form and print it out, including the barcodes. You should also sign the form.
2. Compile your supporting documentation – please see below.
3. Book an appointment to apply for your visa.

Please note that separate application forms are required for each visa applicant. All children require separate forms.

Gather your documents

To apply for a short-stay Schengen visa, you must gather the following documents:

• Visa application form.
• Valid passport.
• UK Residence Permit.
• UK Residence Card for EU/EEA family members, plus printout of EU Settlement Scheme (if applicable).
• Fully biometric passport photo.
• Proof of reserved entry and return travel methods (e.g.: flight booking, ferry booking, train tickets).
• Travel health insurance.
• Proof of accommodation (e.g.: hotel booking, etc.).
• Proof of sufficient funds.
• Confirmation letter of employment/student status/unemployment/pension.

Discover the full list of required documents.

All students should check if their documents need to be translated and legalised (Apostilled).

All documents that are not issued in German, English, Spanish or French require translation into German or English.

How to apply

All Schengen type-C visas must be applied for at a Visa Application Centre, run by the external service provider TLScontact.

TLScontact operates from Edinburgh, London and Manchester, with 3 distinct jurisdictions. Your place of residence determines which Visa Application Centre you will need to contact to apply for your visa. The Visa Application Centres in London and Manchester serve the Mission in London. The centre in Edinburgh serves the Mission in Edinburgh. Please refer to our Consular district map for details.

Students should submit their visa application no later than 15 calendar days before their intended date of travel to Germany.

Please note that type C visas involving an economic activity may require approval by other German government agencies, such as the Federal Employment Agency ('Bundesagentur für Arbeit') or the local immigration office ('Ausländerbehörde').

Studying for over 3 months

British students studying in German for 3–6 months or completing an exchange year have 2 visa options:

• Obtain a long-stay national visa D before travelling to Germany*
• Enter Germany using the 90 day visa-free allowance and apply for a Residence Permit at the local German foreigner's office ('Ausländerbehörde')

*You are required to present your long-stay national visa D at the local German foreigner's office ('Ausländerbehörde') to obtain your Residence Permit, which allows you to study in Germany for up to 12 months.

Your Residence Permit lasts for at least 12 months and can be extended for a maximum of 2 years.

Non-EU/EEA students who already have a visa or Residence Permit (for study purposes) from another EU member state do not need to apply for a Residence Permit for Germany (as long as your stay does not exceed 360 days).

You will be asked to provide evidence of your mobility upon entry to Germany. Proof of mobility may include:

• BRP card/Residence Permit
• Acceptance/admissions letter from your host university

EU/EEA students can reside, work and study without restriction in other EU countries. However, you may need to complete some post-arrival actions, such as registering your presence at the local immigration office.

If in doubt, use the visa navigator on the German Diplo website.

Gather your documents

In order to apply for a long-stay national visa D, you will need to gather the following documents:

• Completed online application form
• Printouts of the online application form, including barcodes
• Valid passport, signed by the holder
• 2 photocopies of the passport biodata page
• Current UK Residence Permit/BRP card/visa (foreign residents only)
• 2 fully biometric passport photos, 35mm x 45mm
• Proof of admission to university/exchange semester/degree course/PhD programme
• 2 copies of the German university admission letter ('Zulassungsbescheid') (applicable to undergraduate and graduate students taking a full degree course at a German university)
• 2 copies of the German university admission letter ('Zulassungsbescheid') or corresponding confirmation (applicable to undergraduates enrolled at a UK university undertaking an exchange semester/year abroad in Germany)
• 2 copies of study abroad confirmation from UK university
• proof of sufficient funds (minimum EUR 992 per month of stay in Germany)
• 2 copies of professional/academic CV
• Prepaid, self-addressed Royal Mail Special Delivery return envelope, up to 500g (to return your passport after processing)

Your letter of admission/confirmation must state:

• Your name
• Course title
• Duration of study at German university

Your letter of study abroad confirmation must state:

• Your name
• Course title
• Duration of study at UK university
• Place and dates of study abroad

Acceptable proofs of sufficient funds include:

• Evidence of scholarship
• Evidence of UK student loan (indicating the maintenance loan component per month, term or year) and personalised confirmation from the Student Loan Corporation that the loan is also payable to students studying abroad
• Formal commitment from sponsor resident in Germany ('Verpflichtungserklärung')

The above options may be combined to ensure the required amount is met.

All students should check if their documents need to be translated and legalised (Apostilled).

All documents that are not issued in German, English, Spanish or French require translation into German or English.

How to apply

You will need to apply directly to the German Mission from your home country or current place of residence.

The German Missions in the UK operate from both London and Edinburgh, with 2 distinct jurisdictions. Your place of residence determines which German Mission or Visa Application Centre you will need to contact to apply for your visa. Please refer to our Consular district map for details.

Certain categories of visa must be applied for at Visa Application Centres run by our external service provider, TLScontact. TLScontact currently has two Visa Application Centres in operation, in London and Edinburgh.

Discover further information on where to apply for your visa.

Upon arrival

All students need to register their new residence ('Anmeldung') with the authorities ('Meldebehörde') within 2 weeks of having moved in. You should apply for your Residence Permit with the local immigration office ('Ausländerbehörde') within the first 90 days of arriving in Germany.

Working for less than 3 months

British students and nationals of visa-exempt countries do not require a visa to complete the following activities in Germany:

• Academic research and development
• Voluntary services and charity work
• Internships
• In-company education and training
• Senior management activity
• Travel for business
• Journalism
• Sport, culture and entertainment
• Domestic staff activity

Discover the full list of activities on the German Mission website.

Please note that you can only complete these activities without a visa for a total of 90 days within a 12-month period.

If you wish to pursue paid work not listed above for a duration less than 90 days within a single 180-day period, you will require a type-C visa, as well as authorisation of economic activity.

pPior to applying for your visa, your employer must apply for pre-approval from the Federal Employment Agency. Please note that you may not take up any employment or pursue any economic activity in Germany unless such activity is explicitly authorised by a visa or Residence Permit issued by the local immigration office ('Ausländerbehörde') in Germany.

EU/non-EU students do not need a visa to work, study or remain in another EU country, such as Germany.

Gather your documents

In order to apply for your type-C visa, you will need to gather the following documents:

• Completed online visa application form
• Printout of the signed visa application form, including barcodes
• Valid passport, signed by the holder
• Photocopy of the passport's bio data page
• UK Residence Permit (issued as a biometric card (BRP) or endorsed in the passport)
• Photocopy of the BRP (front and back) or endorsement
• UK Residence Card and printout of EU Settlement Scheme online status (for EU/EEA family members; issued before Brexit)
• Fully biometric passport photo, 35mm x 45mm (no older than three months)
• Reserved return airline/ferry/train ticket.
• Travel health insurance policy, covering at least €30,000 and valid for all Schengen member states
• Proof of address in UK (e.g.: latest council tax bill, utility bill, bank statement, pension certificate)
• Employer’s declaration ('Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis')
• Contract/confirmation of works or services between the applicant’s employer and the German client, including schedule of contractual obligations
• Proof of sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay in Germany

Discover the full list of required documents.

All students should check if their documents need to be translated and legalised.

How to apply

In order to apply for your C visa, you must visit a Visa Application Centre run by our external service provider TLScontact.

Discover further information on the application process.

Working for more than 3 months

Prior to applying for a study-related visa, UK/non-EU/EEA students must have their employer apply for an approval of work from the Federal Employment Agency ('Bundesagentur für Arbeit'). You must not start working without this approval.

UK students seeking employment in Germany should apply for an 'Studienfachbezogenes Praktikum' (study-related internship). You will need to confirm with your local German Mission as to which route you need to pursue when it comes to working in Germany.

Internships in Germany are viewed as employment. Therefore, any employment over a period of 90 days requires:

• A visa-D with Residence Permit
• Arrival or entry via visa exemption
• An application to the local German immigration office ('Ausländerbehörde') within the first 90 days of your stay in Germany

Gather your documents

In order to apply for your Visa D for a study internship, you must gather the following documents:

• Completed online application form
• Valid passport, signed by the holder
• 2 photocopies of the passport's biodata page
• Current UK Residence Permit/BRP/visa (foreign residents only)
• 2 photocopies of the Residence Permit/visa
• 2 fully biometric passport photos
• Internship contract
• 2 photocopies of the contract
• Confirmation of agreement ('Einvernehmen') from the Federal Employment Agency, specifying a named student undertaking an internship with a named company
• Photocopy of the confirmation of agreement
• Enrolment confirmation from relevant UK university
• Proof of sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay
• confirmation of health insurance cover, commensurate with the level of statutory German public health insurance ('gesetzliche Kankenversicherung')
• Academic CV
• 2 copies of your academic CV

Your enrolment confirmation must include:

• Subject of course
• Dates of course commencement
• Anticipated completion of course
• Details of whether the internship is voluntary or mandatory for the related degree

Acceptable proofs of sufficient funds include:

• Internship remuneration (minimum EUR 964 gross per month)
• Scholarship (minimum EUR 934 net per month)
• Blocked account holding a minimum of EUR 934 net per month
• OR evidence of a UK student loan indicating the maintenance loan component per month (minimum EUR 934 per month), term or year.
• OR formal commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) by sponsor resident in Germany.

All students need to register their new residence (“Anmeldung”) with the authorities (“Meldebehörde”) within 2 weeks of having moved in and should apply for thier residence permit with the local immigration office (“Ausländerbehörde”) within the first 90 days of your stay in Germany.

Discover the full list of required documents. All students should check if their documents need to be translated and legalised.

How to apply

All students should apply for their internship visa at the TLScontact Visa Application Centre.

TLScontact operates from both London and Edinburgh, with 2 distinct jurisdictions. Your place of residence determines which Visa Application Centre you will need to contact to apply for your visa. The Visa Application Centres in London and Manchester serve the Mission in London. The application centre in Edinburgh serves the Mission in Edinburgh. Please refer to our Consular district map for details.

If your internship is funded by Erasmus, you cannot apply via the TLScontact Centre. You should apply directly at the German Mission in the UK instead.

Discover further information about the application process.

British Council – Language Assistantships

EU passport holders do not need a visa to work in the EU.

If you are a UK students working as a Language Assistant in Germany, you must apply for a Residence Permit ('Aufenthaltserlaubnis') upon arrival. You do not need to apply for a separate German work permit.

Your Residence Permit lasts for at least 12 months and can be extended for a maximum of 2 years.

 

All students need to register their new residence (“Anmeldung”) with the authorities (“Meldebehörde”) within 2 weeks of having moved in and should apply for thier residence permit with the local immigration office (“Ausländerbehörde”) within the first 90 days of your stay in Germany.

UK students should enter Germany as a tourist using the 90 visa-free days allowance. No entry visa is required, however, you must ensure you have enough visa-free days in the Schengen area remaining to enter Germany and apply for the Residence Permit.

Ensure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond the end of your assistantship and has been issued within the last 10 years (even if it has six months or more left).