GERMANY

To qualify for a German study visa, the most important step you need to complete is to get accepted to a German study program or language course. This is essential as you must present proof of your acceptance to the German institution as a part of your visa application. If you still haven’t been accepted or are waiting for a response regarding your application, you must apply for a student applicant visa and present proof that you submitted your application successfully.

Before you begin assembling your documents, you must first find the correct German diplomatic mission in India that is processing student visas. Several German diplomatic offices in India deal with student visa applications— make sure to locate one near your residence.

As soon as you have located your nearest German embassy/consulate in charge of visa processing, make an appointment to submit your application. Please note that you cannot submit your application without a prior appointment. Also, depending on the embassy’s workload and the season/time of the year, it may take several weeks before you can get an appointment.

Until it’s time for your appointment date, you need to complete the required documents for your visa application. This will usually include documents such as your passport, educational qualifications, proof of financial support, and any important documents— you can find a full list of documents below. Please make sure you have all of the required documents on time for your appointment, as an incomplete application may result in visa rejection.

On the day of your visa appointment, you must visit the embassy or consulate and submit the required documents. On the same day, you may also be required to submit your biometric data (fingerprints) and attend a visa interview.

You may be required to complete the visa fee payment on your visa appointment date at the embassy or consulate— this varies by the German diplomatic mission.

Once you submit your application and complete the visa interview, it may take 15 to 30 days for the embassy to process your application and give you an answer. You can enter Germany and start your study program if the answer is positive. If your Germany student visa application is denied, you will receive a letter detailing the reason for your denial and what you can do next.