"There are some rules and regulations you have to fulfill studying in Germany. But Germany is not as bureaucratic as I thought before living here."

Visa and immigration rules

Mode, procedure and required documentation for applying a German visa is mainly dependent on student`s origin and the expected duration of stay. It is very important to all students that plan to study in Germany to know all requirements and constraints in good time in order to apply according to the existing procedures and avoid any delays. Existing complex and versatile application procedures often lead to inadequate and/or delayed submission so that desired academic studies often fail or start delayed. It is therefore advisable to foreign students to read up early on application guidelines or to look for relevant and professional support.

In general, the following regulations prevail:

EU students

EU students from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland don`t require any visa. Entry to Germany can be operated by exhibiting a valid identity card with unlimited duration of stay.

Non-EU students  

Expected duration of stay less than 90 days

Students from the following countries are allowed to enter Germany for a total stay of less than 90 days by exhibiting a valid passport:

Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Macau, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, the Seychelles, Singapore, Uruguay, Venezuela.

Other Non-EU students have to apply for visa for an expected stay of less than 90 days.

Expected duration of stay more than 90 days

For an expected duration of stay more than 90 days within Germany, students from the following countries are allowed to apply for a visa-on-arrival:

Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, USA.

Students from other Non-EU countries have to apply for visa prior to their arrival in Germany at the German embassy of their home country.

IFAME offers substantial support in respect to all visa application procedures and steps to all its students. Its continuous contact to responsible ambassadors and authorities puts IFAME into the position to enable a smooth and successful application procedure. For all questions in reference to visa application procedures you can rely on the provided IFAME services. Further details in respect to existing visa requirements can be seen on www.schengenvisainfo.com