Study in Germany / exchange students
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Who needs a study visa
All persons who wish to study at a high school, college or university in Germany are required to obtain a residence permit. In order to enter Germany, a student visa has to be issued.
Citizens of Canada, Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, The Republic of Korea and the United States, Switzerland, as well as EU citizens may apply for their residence permit after entering Germany without a visa.
The application can be submitted at the competent Aliens Authority after arrival in Germany. You don't have to apply for a German visa before leaving Canada.
Citizens of other countries are required to apply and obtain a student visa prior to enter Germany in order to receive a student’s residence permit.
Please note: A visa in order to study in Germany is a so called national visa and does also entitle you to enter the other Schengen countries for a stay up to 90 days. List of Schengen countries
Where and how to apply
The German Foreign Missions only accept applications from Canadian residents. Applications from persons holding a Canadian student visa, work permit or long-term visitor’s visa are also accepted.
You have to submit your application in person at one of the German Foreign Missions listed on the right side. You must book an appointment when applying at the German Consulate in Toronto or Vancouver.
Request an appointment with the Visa Section in Toronto
Request an appointment with the Visa Section in Vancouver
Upon submission of ALL the required documents the application will be forwarded to the competent German Aliens Authority (“Ausländeramt”). Student visa applications take between 4-8 weeks to be processed. After the application has been approved by the Aliens Authority, the German Foreign Mission will issue a residence permit in the form of a visa with the duration for the first three months. A final residence permit for the whole duration of your studies will be granted in Germany by the Aliens Authority. The Alien Authority requires all residence permit holders to register upon their first arrival.
Required documents
Please download the checklist below to overwiew the documents have to be submitted upon application.
Checklist study visa [pdf, 81,28k]
Please note:
Only applications which include ALL the relevant forms fully completed, signed by the applicant and being submitted with ALL the relevant documentation will be accepted!
In individual cases, you may be required to provide additional documents.
Passport requirements
Please note these important regulations concerning the passport for all applicants:
- Its validity has to extend the duration of the visa you are applying for by at least three months.
- It has to contain at least two blank pages.
- It must have been issued within the last ten years. A passport older than ten years that has been extended for a period exceeding ten years from the time of issuance cannot be accepted.
