How do I apply for a language visa for Germany?

Germany is a popular travel destination for people from all over the world. Many foreigners traveling to Germany require a visa. For visa-required nationals, Germany offers visa types for various travel purposes. For travelers wishing to visit Germany or the entire Schengen Area for tourism or business purposes for up to 90 days within six months, there is the Schengen Visa Type C. However, if you wish to stay in Germany for more than 90 days to attend a language course, you can apply for a special Language Visa for Germany. We will show you the requirements for a language course visa in Germany.

Which visa do I need for a language course in Germany?

Depending on how long you plan to stay for your language course in Germany, you will need different types of visas:

• A Schengen Visa Type C for short stays: If your language course lasts no longer than 90 days, you can also attend a language course with a Schengen Visa.
• A language course visa in the form of a national visa for long stays: If your German language course lasts longer than 90 days and you wish to stay in Germany for more than 3 months, you must apply for a language course visa in the form of a national D visa.

If you are applying for a long-term German visa for more than 90 days to attend a German course, you have two options for applying for a language visa:

• You will need a language visa for Germany if you are taking the German course for professional or private reasons.
• A preparatory language visa is required if you are attending the course to prepare for studies at a university in Germany.

What are the requirements for a language visa for Germany?

If you want to participate in an intensive language course for more than 90 days in Germany for private or professional reasons, you need to apply for a language visa, also partially known as an educational visa. Your planned German course must meet certain requirements for the language visa to be approved.

Language Visa for Germany - Requirements for the Language Course:

• Course duration limited to 3 to 12 months
• At least 18 lessons per week

When should I apply for a preparatory language visa?

If you want to study at a university in Germany, you should have particularly good German skills at level C1 and have passed the German Language Test for University Admission (DSH) at a university of your choice or the "TELC C1 Hochschule" exam. If you are taking a language course to meet the necessary requirements for subsequent study in Germany, you should apply for a preparatory language visa.

Note: If you plan to study at a German university after the language course, you will need a student visa or a student applicant visa. You can apply for this visa at the German mission in your home country.

Where can I apply for the language visa for Germany?

You must submit your completed and signed application with all required documents for a language visa for Germany in person to the German mission in your country of residence. Since the processing time can take up to four months, we recommend that you contact the embassy or consulate in your home country as early as possible.

What do I need to apply for a language visa?

In addition to the completed application for a residence permit, you will need other important documents such as a valid passport or a certificate from the language school to successfully apply for your language visa for Germany. To ensure nothing stands in the way of your language course in Germany, we have compiled a checklist with all the necessary documents that you should submit along with your application to the German mission.

Checklist for your application:

• Completed and signed application for a residence permit
• Valid passport
• Recent biometric passport photo
• Proof of intensive language course
  • Certificate from the language school
  • Contract with the language school
• Confirmation of payment for the course fee
• Health insurance for the duration of the language course
• Proof of sufficient financial means
  • Blocked account
  • Submission of a third-party commitment declaration on an official form
  • Or notarized statement from parents, with proof of their income over the last six months
• Proof of main residence in Germany
  • Certificate of registration of the apartment (registration certificate)
  • Rental contract and confirmation of moving in from the landlord
• Motivation letter for attending the language course
• Proof of payment for the visa fee

Which health insurance for my language visa?

To obtain a language visa, foreigners coming to Germany and Europe for more than 90 days need travel health insurance that meets the requirements of the EU and the benefits of statutory health insurance in Germany.

The health insurance should:

• protect against high doctor and hospital costs
• ensure repatriation to the home country in case of illness

Why do I need a blocked account?

When applying for the visa, you must prove that you have sufficient financial means. For this purpose, a so-called blocked account is set up at a German bank. You can choose where to set up the blocked account. It is important that the following conditions are met:

• The blocked account must have enough funds to cover the duration of the planned stay in Germany. The required amount to be deposited in the account is 10,236 euros.
• The account holder may withdraw only 853 euros per month from the blocked account.

How much does a visa for a language course cost?

The fees for a language course visa in Germany depend on the duration of the visa. For up to one year, the fees for the applicant are 100 €, and for longer periods, the fees are 110 €.

Can I extend my language course visa?

Your language course visa for Germany allows you to attend a language course and is initially granted for three months. In some cases, the language visa can be extended by an additional 9 months at your local immigration office.

With your language visa for Germany, you are not allowed to:

• change to a student or applicant visa,
• begin a university degree program,
• apply for university admission,
• apply for a work permit, or
• engage in employment.

How can AXA help?

If you are planning a short stay in Germany and attending a language course lasting no longer than 3 months, you must present a Schengen travel insurance for your visa application. If you are staying in Germany for more than 3 months and do not yet have health insurance at the time of entry, you can also be insured through AXA. The AXA-Schengen Health Insurance Low Cost and Europe Travel are suitable for stays of up to 6 months in Germany and the Schengen Area and meet the Schengen visa criteria. With the Europe Travel insurance, you are also covered in EU countries that are not part of the Schengen Area, such as Ireland, Bulgaria, and Romania, as well as the microstates Liechtenstein, San Marino, Andorra, Monaco, and Vatican City. Order online and easily get the right health insurance for your language visa to Germany. You can conveniently print the proof of the insurance policy at home and include it with your visa application.

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FAQ about the Germany Visa Application

How long can foreigners stay in Germany?

Germany offers different residence permits. As a rule, a residence permit is granted for a period of up to three years.

What is needed for a visitor visa to Germany?

For applying for a visitor visa (Schengen visa), a fee of 80 euros is charged. Additionally, you must submit a completed and signed application, along with the necessary documents and evidence, to the responsible German diplomatic mission in your home country.

How to get a work visa for Germany?

A work visa for Germany must be applied for at the responsible German diplomatic mission in the home country before entering the country. In addition to the visa application, relevant documents regarding qualifications and intended employment (e.g., a concrete job offer), as well as accommodation documents in Germany (e.g., rental contract), must be submitted.