Route: studying in Berlin

Visa (§ 16b), steps, timing and what to prepare in India.

Legal basis: § 16b AufenthG (residence permit for studies). You apply for a national visa before you travel.

Steps

1. Choose programmes and check admission: Admission with Indian certificates. Class XII alone is not enough for direct admission.
2. Get your APS certificate (mandatory for Indian school or degree credentials) and your language certificate.
3. Apply to the university (directly or via uni-assist). Public universities in Berlin charge no tuition, see Costs.
4. Prove your funding: blocked account, scholarship or declaration of commitment.
5. Apply for the visa on the Consular Services Portal (digital.diplo.de/visa), then book the appointment at VFS Global. Apply at the mission for your place of residence: Embassy New Delhi or the consulates in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai or Kolkata.
6. Travel, register and get your residence permit: After arrival in Berlin.

Documents for the visa

Passport (issued within the last 10 years), certificates, language certificate, APS certificate, admission letter, motivation letter, CV in table format, health insurance and proof of funding. Missing documents or a missed interview can lead to refusal (Embassy checklist, updated 16 Feb 2026).

Fees and timing

• Visa fee: €75 (INR 8,400), non-refundable. VFS charges a service fee on top.
• An Embassy leaflet from September 2024 mentions 6 to 8 weeks, because the file is sent to the foreigners' authority. The Embassy FAQ says it may take several months and does not answer status questions in the first three months. Mumbai reports a long waiting list and says an upcoming semester is no reason for priority. We found no current exact waiting time. Apply as early as possible.
• Since 1 January 2024 a refusal can no longer be challenged by "remonstration" (asking the mission to reconsider).

Study-applicant visa (§ 17)

If you do not have an admission yet, § 17 (2) AufenthG allows a permit of up to 9 months to look for a place, with funding secured and up to 20 hours of work a week. We could not confirm that the missions in India issue these in practice; ask the mission before planning on it.