Germany Student Visa Requirements for Indians: 2026 Checklist

Everything below is as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026, mainly the German Missions' national visa checklist for studies dated 16.02.2026. For Schengen visits and other routes, see our Germany visa guide for Indians.

What is on the 2026 Germany student visa checklist?

The student visa is a national (D) visa for a full-time degree programme, a preparatory college (Studienkolleg) or a language course that prepares for studies. Use this table as your file plan.

Bring originals or copies certified by a German authority. Indian notarised copies are not accepted, but attestation or apostille is not required. VFS Bangalore notes that your original degree certificate or final convocation certificate is returned after verification.

Do you need an APS certificate?

Almost certainly, if your school-leaving certificate or degree is Indian. The Missions list these exemptions:

• PhD and PostDoc studies
• EU or German public stipend holders
• Non-German degree programmes
• Applicants with non-Indian foreign degrees
• International school-leaving certificates such as the International Baccalaureate

Your APS status also decides where you submit. Most student applications, including APS holders, EU or German scholarship holders and PhD or postdoc applicants, are submitted at VFS. Students at institutions awarding non-German degrees apply at the Embassy or Consulate. The appointment category you book must match.

How much money must you show for a German student visa?

The standard proof is a blocked account of EUR 11,904 for the first year, with withdrawals capped at EUR 992 a month, as published by German Missions in India on 16.02.2026. Two rules catch many Indian families out:

• An education loan is in addition to the blocked account, not a replacement for it.
• An Indian affidavit of support does not replace a blocked account or a formal obligation letter from someone in Germany.

The alternatives are a formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung) from a sponsor in Germany, or a German or EU scholarship.

Which language certificates are accepted from India?

The level depends on the course: German B1 for a German-taught preparatory course, English B2 for an English-taught one, and generally C1 for direct entry to Bachelor or Master studies. Duolingo, Pearson PTE and TOEFL home edition results are not accepted for applications in India.

A university's waiver of English proof is accepted only if the university tested your skills individually. Exemption letters and medium-of-instruction certificates are not considered.

Where do you apply, and which German mission covers your state?

Online applications through the Consular Services Portal became available worldwide for student visas on 1 January 2025, and German missions in India make the portal compulsory for every visa type offered there. You complete the online pre-check and then receive a link to book the on-site appointment; a booking without a completed portal pre-check is not accepted. The appointment is with the mission responsible for where you live.

You attend in person; relatives may accompany you only to the gate of the visa section. Refusing to appear for a visa interview may lead to rejection.

How long does a German student visa take, and what does it cost?

No fixed processing time is published. German Missions say national visas may take several months depending on the category. There is no online tracking, and status inquiries are not answered within the first three months after filing. Appointments are allotted automatically and cannot be brought forward for a course start date, except in extreme medical or humanitarian cases. Start early.

The fee for applicants over 18 is 75 EUR / 8300 INR, payable in INR at the exchange rate on the day of your appointment; it is a processing fee and is not reimbursed if the visa is refused. VFS one-pagers list INR 7600, so check the amount on the day. Applicants under 18 pay 4200 INR. If you submit at VFS, add the VFS service fee of INR 1024 and the D-visa logistic fee of INR 1420.

Mistakes to avoid, and what happens after you land

• Counting an education loan as your blocked-account proof.
• Booking an appointment category that does not match your APS or degree situation.
• Submitting Indian notarised copies instead of originals or German-certified copies.
• Using a test result the Missions do not accept in India.
• Waiting for your admission date to approach before starting the portal process.

A national visa is usually issued for 90 days up to one year. After entering Germany, register with the residents' registration office immediately and book an appointment with the foreigners' authority for your residence permit. The national visa also lets you travel within the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or get in touch.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use an education loan instead of a blocked account for Germany?

No. German Missions in India say an education loan is in addition to the blocked account, not instead of it. The accepted alternatives are a formal obligation letter from a sponsor in Germany or a German or EU scholarship.

Is IELTS accepted for a German student visa from India?

German Missions in India list Duolingo, Pearson PTE and TOEFL home edition as not accepted for applications in India. You need a certificate at the level your course requires: B2 English for an English-taught preparatory course and generally C1 for direct Bachelor or Master entry.

Can I track my German student visa online?

No. National (D) visas have no online tracking, and status inquiries are not answered within the first three months. The Consulate emails you when the decision is ready, and you then submit your passport for visa stamping.

What can I do if my German student visa is refused?

German Missions in India say you can reapply at any time or file a lawsuit at the Administrative Court in Berlin within one month of receiving the refusal; the court fee is currently EUR 483. The free remonstration procedure was abolished in India from 1 January 2024.