Route: language course (§ 16f)
Under § 16f (1) AufenthG you can come to Germany for an intensive German course that does not prepare for a specific degree programme.
What the Embassy Beijing asks for (leaflet, January 2025)
- Enrolment in a course of at least 18 hours a week – no evening or weekend courses – and proof that the fees are paid for the whole stay.
- Proof of the German you already have, a motivation letter explaining why you need German and why in Germany, and your school or vocational certificates.
- €1,091 a month, at least €13,092 for one year (less for shorter stays), by blocked account, scholarship or declaration of commitment.
- Health insurance from entry for 180 days. Fee €75. The Berlin immigration office must consent.
- Processing about 8 to 12 weeks.
Limited work; a change of purpose needs a new permit. Under § 16f (3) sentence 4 AufenthG (since 1 March 2024) you may work up to 20 hours a week with a language-course permit. The statutory ban on changing purpose now covers only school attendance and school exchange, not language courses; but there is no right to convert the permit to a study permit either (§ 9 settlement permit is excluded). A change of purpose needs a new permit and is checked case by case. APS and some embassies are stricter in practice and tell applicants to return and apply again; that is their own statement, not the statute. Ask the Embassy and the Berlin immigration office before you plan on a switch.
If you want to study afterwards
Do the APS procedure first. With APS and an admission (or conditional admission), the preparatory German course is part of a study visa (§ 16b), see Study. That avoids the trip back.
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