Language Course Visa in Germany

A German language course visa is the type of educational visa issued for foreigners intending to complete an intensive language course lasting 3-12 months. The courses the visa applicants are expected to complete shall contain a minimum of 18 hours of lessons each week.

Language course visa can be extended in some cases for up to one year if the intention of attending the course is not to pursue further education in Germany.

With a German language course visa you can:

partake in an intensive German language course
require an extension of the visa, if the German language courses will not be followed by full-time studies – the extension shall be offered for up to 1 year (counted as of the day of arrival in Germany)

With a German language course visa you can’t:

convert it into a student or student applicant visa
change it into a work permit
undertake any gainful employment
start university studies
apply for university admission

If you decide to continue your studies directly after the Language course you will have to return to your home country to apply for a Germany Student Visa. It is not possible to apply for a Student Visa/Permit while you are in Germany.

A German Language Course Visa’s validity is up to the length of the course that can be three months up to one year and it CANNOT be extended further while in Germany.

Which are the requirements to apply for a German Language course visa?

Documents required to apply for a German language course visa are:

Two duly completed visa application forms
A valid passport (with minimum 3 months validity period following your planned date of return and not older than 10 years, containing at least two empty visa pages)
Confirmed registration in the language course, or, certificate of enrollment (the course must contain at least 18 hours/week of classes)
Proof of financial means “Finanzierungsnachweis” – €10,236 per year (Submit ANY of the following documents):
- Personal financial statements of the last three months,
- Scholarship award certificate,
- A fixed deposit statement “Sperrkonto” – blocked account. One of the easiest and the fastest way to open a German Blocked Account is through Fintiba/Sutor Bank. The blocked account provided by Fintiba is accepted by German embassies/consulates all around the world.
- A letter of commitment “Verpflichtungserklärung” by someone hosting you and they live in Germany
- A letter of declaration from parents – declaring their will to financially support their child for the period of their stay in Germany, as well as their salary slips or their bank account transactions over the past 6 months.
Covered health insurance – for the entire period of stay in Germany.
Two recently taken portrait photographs (strict requirements, read our photo requirements page)
Three photocopies of the passport ID pages
Copies of the earlier Schengen visas (if applicable)
A motivational letter for attending the language course (learn how to write a motivation letter)
Proof of accommodation – for the complete stay
An official letter of leave from the employer (signed and stamped) – for employees – IF APPLICABLE
Proof of a paid visa fee – 60 Euro