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| GERMANY
: VISA INFORMATION |
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VISA PROCESS
If you belong to a country outside the European Union
and are applying to study in Germany, you need a visa.
However, if you are from Australia, Japan, Canada, Israel,
New Zealand, USA, Switzerland, Honduras, Monaco and San
Marino, you are exempted from this rule. Be careful: all
visas are not the same. A “tourist visa” cannot
be converted into a “student visa” and as
a tourist; you are not eligible to study in Germany. So
it’s essential to pay attention to the word preceding
“visa”.
Three types of visa exist for international students :
A language course visa, which cannot be subsequently converted
into a student visa. It is valid only for the
duration of the course.
A three-month study applicant’s visa, which is valid
if you have not yet obtained university admission. After
admission, it must be converted as quickly
as possible into a resident permit for student purposes
at the
office for foreigners’ affairs.
The visa for study purposes, valid for one year. In order
to obtain this visa, you must provide proof of
admission and financial support for
the duration of study.
In order to apply for a student visa, the following documents
are generally required :
A valid passport.
Passport photos.
Entitlement to university admission, as recognized in
Germany (usually a high school diploma or graduation
examination certificate)
Evidence of previous academic performance
Proof that complete financial support for one year is
guaranteed
The notification of admission from the university is also
required for the application for a visa for study purposes.
Generally, a confirmation from the university, certifying
that the application documents are available to them,
suffices.
The visa application is submitted at the German Embassy
or the German Consulate in your country of residence –
preferably as early as possible. German Embassy or Consulate
personnel can provide further information.
Essential Documents
The following documents are an absolute necessity for
every international student :
Student visa
Passport or an equivalent document
Original certificates and the originals of the certified
German translations
A note from a qualified medical doctor concerning illnesses
or important drugs, if required
Vaccination certificate, preferably international
Passport photographs for identification cards
The visa is issued when the student is assessed to be
a genuine student, who intends to undertake further studies
in Germany, abide by visa conditions, and depart on completion
of the course. The student should convince the visa officer
that his German language skills are adequate for the course
he/she is undertaking. That the course is relevant to
his/her current academic / professional status. That he/she
will comply with visa conditions and leave Germany after
completion of the course. Processing of the visa can take
up to eight weeks.
Working
Foreign students may work in Germany, even without a work
permit. But students who are not citizens of the European
Union, or are from the ten new EU member states, can only
work for a limited period per year. They are allowed to
work for 90 days or 180 half-days every year without a
work permit. In many Federal States, you can only work
in the summer vacation. The office for foreigners may
authorize an additional working period of 10 hours per
week with the approval of the local employment office.
Students from EU countries (with the exception of Estonia,
Lativa, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech
Republic and Hungary) may as a matter of principle work
unrestrictedly.
The following basically applies: many employers are glad
to hire students. The reason for this is that, if the
student does not work more than 19.5 hours a week, the
employer is required to pay only a portion of the social
welfare contributions. Students are therefore cheaper
than “normal” employees. However: a complete
study course is difficult to finance with a conventional
student job in a bar, as a pizza delivery boy or a cleaner.
The average hourly rate in this case is around 8 euro
per hour. The prospects are better of course for those
with specific knowledge in demand on the employment market,
e.g. programmers in the IT field. Complete lecture schedules
leave no time for a full-time job however.
The local student services associations can be of help
in looking for a job. It is also worthwhile however to
visit the student job location department of the local
employment exchanges, which are indeed frequently to be
found on the premises of the student services.
Useful Addresses :
Consulate General-Kolkata
1, Hastings Park Road,
Calcutta 700027
Phone : 033–479
11 41, 479 11 42
Fax : 033–479
30 28
E-Mail : gerconsu@vsnl.com
Consulate General-Chennai
MICO Building, 22, Ethiraj Road
Chennai - 600105
Phone : (044) 8271747,
8273593
Fax : (044) 8273542
E-Mail : gercons@md3.vsnl.net.in
Consulate General-Mumbai
Hoechst House 10th floor
Nariman Point 193
Backbay Reclamation
Mumbai 400021
Phone : (022) 2832422,
2832517, 2832661
Fax : (022) 2025493
E-mail : germanconsulmumbai@vsnl.com
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany-New Delhi
6/50 G, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri
New Delhi 110021
Phone : 011–687
18 91
Fax : 011–687
31 17
E-mail : german@del3.vsnl.net.in
, german@del3.vsnl.net.in
For more information, check out :
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Website: www.daad.de
German Embassy Website: http://www.germanembassy-india.org
Useful Websites :
http://www.study-in-germany.de
http://www.new-delhi.diplo.de
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