How to Get a Germany Study Visa from India (2026)

This walkthrough uses only what German Missions in India and VFS Global publish, as checked on 15 October 2026. It covers full-time degree programmes, a preparatory college (Studienkolleg) and language courses that prepare for studies. For tourist, business and work visas, use our Germany visa guide for Indians.

What do German Missions require from Indian students?

Documents must be originals or copies certified by a German authority. Indian notarised copies are not accepted. Attestation or apostille of Indian documents is not required.

How much money do you need for a German student visa?

The core figure is the blocked account (Sperrkonto). German Missions in India publish EUR 11,904 for the first year, with withdrawals capped at EUR 992 a month (page dated 16.02.2026). Alternatives are a formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung) from a sponsor in Germany or a German or EU scholarship.

Three rules catch 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.
• The first two semesters of tuition fees have to be paid. At a private university or language school, show the first year's fees and proof of payment, or a substantial deposit.

Then come the visa costs:

VFS one-pagers still show the national visa fee as INR 7600 (fees effective 10 July 2025). The German Missions figure of 8300 INR is on a page dated 01.10.2026, so plan for the higher amount.

Do you need APS, and which English tests are accepted?

Almost every applicant with Indian school-leaving certificates or degrees needs an APS certificate from the Akademische Prüfstelle. Exemptions include PhD and PostDoc studies, EU or German public stipends, non-German degree programmes, non-Indian foreign degrees and international school-leaving certificates such as the International Baccalaureate.

For English, Duolingo, Pearson PTE and the TOEFL home edition are not accepted for applications in India. A university's language waiver counts only if the university tested your skills individually. Exemption letters and medium-of-instruction certificates are not considered.

How do you apply through the Consular Services Portal?

1. Secure admission and APS. Get the admission letter and, unless exempt, your APS certificate.
2. Open the blocked account and buy health insurance. Insurance must start on your intended arrival date.
3. File online. Student visas must be filed in the Consular Services Portal and its documents uploaded there. If you live outside India, select your country of residence, not your citizenship.
4. Book the on-site appointment. The portal gives you a booking link at the end. Bookings without a completed portal pre-check are not accepted.
5. Attend in person. One appointment per applicant. Bring your originals, including the degree certificate or final convocation certificate, which is returned after verification.
6. Wait for the email. When the Consulate emails you, submit your passport for visa stamping, for example at VFS.

Where do you submit: VFS or the consulate?

Most student applications are submitted at VFS: APS holders, EU or German scholarship holders, and PhD or postdoc applicants. Students at institutions awarding non-German degrees apply at the Embassy or Consulate. The booked category must match your case. The appointment is always within the jurisdiction of your place of residence.

How long does a German student visa take?

German Missions in India publish no fixed processing time. They 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. You are notified automatically.

Appointments are allotted automatically and cannot be brought forward because your course is about to start; only extreme medical or humanitarian cases qualify. In practice, file on the portal as soon as your admission letter, APS certificate and blocked account are ready.

What happens after a refusal, and after you land?

If refused, you can reapply at any time; there is no cooling period. The other option is a lawsuit at the Administrative Court in Berlin within one month of receiving the refusal, with a court fee currently of EUR 483 paid regardless of outcome. The free remonstration procedure was abolished in India from 1 January 2024. German Missions say most rejections result from incomplete or unverifiable documentation. They also publish no refusal statistics for student visas; the EU figures cover Schengen visas only.

After arrival, register with the residents' registration office immediately and book an appointment with the foreigners' authority for your residence permit. National visas are usually issued for 90 days up to one year.

Need a flight reservation or a travel itinerary for your file? 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 contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Is an education loan enough instead of a blocked account for Germany?

No. German Missions in India say an education loan is in addition to, not instead of, the blocked account. The accepted alternatives to a blocked account of EUR 11,904 are a formal obligation letter from a sponsor in Germany or a German or EU scholarship.

Is PTE accepted for a German student visa from India?

No. Pearson PTE, Duolingo and the TOEFL home edition are not accepted for student visa applications in India. A university waiver counts only if the university tested your English individually.

Can I check my German student visa status online?

No. National visas have no online tracking, and German Missions do not answer status inquiries within the first three months after filing. The Consulate emails you when it is time to submit your passport for stamping.

Do I need to get my Indian degree apostilled for a German student visa?

No. Attestation or apostille of Indian documents is not required. You must, however, bring originals or copies certified by a German authority, because Indian notarised copies are not accepted.