Germany Student Visa for Indian Students: Fee, Blocked Account, APS and Process (2026)
Germany student visa for Indians 2026: €75 fee (₹8,400), €11,904 blocked account (₹13 lakh), APS certificate, C1 language proof and 6–8 week processing.
Get a Germany student visa action plan before you apply.
Share your phone or email and receive a Germany student visa shortlist with document risks, budget checks, and counselor follow-up tracked from this SEO page.
Germany student visa plan
Free checklist for Indian students
The German national (D) visa for studies costs €75, charged at ₹8,400 in India, and the German missions in India ask for a blocked account (Sperrkonto) of €11,904 for the first year, about ₹13 lakh, with withdrawals capped at €992 a month. Indian applicants also need an APS certificate from the Academic Evaluation Centre in New Delhi, proof of the study language at C1 for direct degree entry, health insurance from the day you land, and the missions quote six to eight weeks of processing because the file goes to the Ausländerbehörde in your German city.
What is the Germany student visa and who needs it?
Indian citizens need a German national visa (a "D" visa for stays over 90 days) issued for the purpose of studies under Section 16b of the Residence Act. It is the entry document: the mission in India issues it for 90 days to a year, you fly, register your address at the Bürgeramt, and then convert it into a residence permit for studies at the local Ausländerbehörde. That residence permit is normally issued for two years at a time and never for less than a year unless the course itself is shorter.
The same visa type covers three situations: direct admission to a bachelor's or master's (the common case for Indian applicants), admission to a Studienkolleg preparatory year for students whose 12th-board certificate is not a direct university entrance qualification, and a study-preparatory German course tied to a conditional admission. Since 2025 the German missions in India take almost all student applications online through the Consular Services Portal (CSP): you answer a questionnaire that sorts you into the right sub-type, upload documents, pass a pre-check, and only then book the in-person appointment at VFS Global for biometrics, originals and the fee.
Two things make the German process different from the UK or Australia. First, the APS certificate: the Academic Evaluation Centre in New Delhi must verify your Indian marksheets and degree before you even apply. Second, the decision is not taken in India alone. Student files are forwarded to the Ausländerbehörde of the city where you will study for approval, which is why the missions quote six to eight weeks and warn that status questions are not answered in the first three months.
How much does a Germany student visa cost from India in 2026?
The visa fee itself is small. The real cash requirement is the blocked account, which is not a fee but your own money, released to you in Germany at €992 a month. Budget also for the APS procedure, the health insurance that must start on your arrival date, and courier and VFS charges.
| Item | Amount (EUR) | Approx. INR | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| National visa fee, applicant aged 18+ | €75 | ₹8,400 | Rupee amount fixed by the missions; paid on the appointment day; not refunded on refusal |
| National visa fee, applicant under 18 | €37.50 | ₹4,200 | For school-age or early bachelor's applicants |
| VFS Global service fee | Set by VFS | Check VFS | Charged on top of the visa fee at the appointment |
| Blocked account deposit for 12 months | €11,904 | ₹13.0 lakh | Your money, released at €992 a month once you open a German current account |
| Blocked account provider charges | Provider sets fee | Check provider | Set-up and monthly fees vary; the Foreign Office tells you to compare providers |
| APS certificate | Fee on aps-india.de | Check APS India | Paid to the Academic Evaluation Centre before the visa; verify the current fee on its fee page |
| Health insurance from arrival date | Insurer sets premium | Check insurer | Statutory student cover for under-30s; the visa is dated to the policy start |
| Tuition (only where charged) | First two semesters paid upfront | Depends on university | Baden-Württemberg €1,500 a semester; TUM €2,000–6,000 a semester; most public universities €0 |
| Semester contribution | €70–430 per semester | ₹7,600–47,000 | Paid to the university at enrolment, not to the visa section |
Sources: German Missions in India national visa and student visa pages, Federal Foreign Office Sperrkonto page, DAAD finances page, all read 26 Sep 2026. €1 = ₹109 (Wise mid-market, 26 Sep 2026). The APS fee and insurance premiums are set by those bodies and change; confirm on their pages before paying.
How much money do you need in a blocked account for a Germany student visa?
The proof-of-funds figure is pegged to the maximum BAföG support a German student can receive. The German missions in India state €992 a month, or €11,904 a year, from 1 September 2024, and DAAD still shows the same amount as of 1 January 2025. It is adjusted when BAföG rates change, so read the mission page on the day you open the account.
| Requirement | Amount | Approx. INR | How it is proved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly living requirement | €992 | ₹1.08 lakh | Maximum monthly withdrawal written into the blocking confirmation |
| 12-month blocked account | €11,904 | ₹13.0 lakh | Deposit confirmation from the provider naming the German mission as beneficiary |
| Shorter course (e.g. 9-month Studienkolleg stay) | €992 × months of stay | Pro rata | The account is normally opened for a year unless the stay is shorter |
| Alternative: Verpflichtungserklärung | Full costs | — | Formal obligation letter signed by a sponsor resident in Germany at their Ausländerbehörde |
| Alternative: scholarship | Award letter | — | German or EU public scholarship (DAAD, Erasmus Mundus, etc.); also exempts you from APS |
| Education loan | Sanction letter | — | Accepted as supporting proof alongside the blocked account, not instead of it, per the India checklist |
| Tuition where charged | First two semesters | — | Invoice plus payment receipt uploaded to the CSP |
Sources: German Missions in India student visa page and student checklist; DAAD finances page (992 EUR per month, as of 1 January 2025), read 26 Sep 2026. €1 = ₹109.
Blocked account rules Indian students get wrong
The Federal Foreign Office does not run blocked accounts; banks and licensed fintech providers do, and you may open one with any of them. What the visa section checks is the blocking confirmation.
- Name the right beneficiary. Before the visa it is the German mission you applied to; after arrival it becomes your Ausländerbehörde. The beneficiary cannot touch your money, but without the correct one the confirmation is invalid.
- Transfer the full €11,904 plus the provider's fees. Parents usually send it under the RBI Liberalised Remittance Scheme; ask your bank about TCS on the transfer and keep the SWIFT copy, because the visa section may ask where the funds came from.
- Allow a week for the provider to confirm receipt, longer in July–August when thousands of students open accounts at once. Open the account as soon as you accept the admission.
- Withdrawals are capped at €992 a month. You cannot pull the whole year out on arrival, so carry a small separate float for the first month's deposit, semester contribution and rent.
- If the visa is refused or you never travel, the refusal letter or a consular certificate lifts the block and the money comes back. In Germany, only your Ausländerbehörde can lift it.
- Loan-funded students: the missions in India list an education loan as an additional document, not as a substitute for the blocked account. The missions set no loan amount, so ask your lender early how and when it can fund the blocked account.
How to apply for a Germany student visa from India: step by step
Winter semester starts in October and most Indian students apply between May and July. Summer semester starts in April; apply in November–January. The APS step comes before everything else and takes weeks, so start it the day you decide on Germany.
Apply for the APS certificate
Send your 10th, 12th, semester marksheets and degree to the Academic Evaluation Centre India in New Delhi by courier. Master's applicants whose previous degree is in engineering, commerce/accounting/finance/economics or business/management must also take the digital Master Test (dMAT) for APS applications relating to the summer semester 2027 intake and later; bachelor's, PhD and exchange applicants, and anyone who registered for APS or sent APS documents before 29 June 2026, are exempt. APS India lists the first test date as 26 September 2026, with certificates from 12 October 2026, so check its dMAT page. APS verifies documents against anabin criteria; it does not decide admission or visas.
Secure admission and, if charged, pay the first two semesters
Apply to universities directly or via uni-assist. The admission letter must state the language of instruction and any conditions. If your university charges tuition (Baden-Württemberg, TUM, private universities), the visa section wants proof that the first two semesters are paid.
Open the blocked account and transfer €11,904
Choose a provider, name the mission as beneficiary, transfer the deposit plus fees under LRS and download the blocking confirmation showing the €992 monthly cap.
Take a recognised language test
For direct entry to a bachelor's or master's the missions in India generally expect C1 in the study language. IELTS and other ALTE-member tests count for English; Goethe/Max Mueller Bhavan, ÖSD or telc for German. Duolingo, PTE and TOEFL Home Edition are not recognised for applications in India. A university letter replaces the test only if the university individually tested you.
Buy health insurance from your arrival date
The visa section dates the visa to the start of the policy, so a policy that starts after your intended travel date pushes your visa start back. Statutory student insurance applies to most students under 30; take travel cover for the first weeks if your insurer starts only at enrolment.
Write the motivation letter and CV
A freely written letter in English or German: why Germany, why this programme and university, how you found it and what you plan after graduating. The CV is tabular and lists every qualification and activity without gaps.
Apply online in the Consular Services Portal
Pick the mission responsible for your Indian state of residence, complete the questionnaire truthfully (answer "yes" to German B2 only if you actually have it), upload passport, certificates, APS, admission letter, language proof, funds proof, insurance, CV and letter. Save and resume as needed.
Book and attend the VFS appointment
After the CSP pre-check you receive a booking link. Bring originals of everything, two A4 copies, biometric photos, and ₹8,400 for the fee plus the VFS service charge. A visa officer may interview you briefly about your course and finances.
Wait for the Ausländerbehörde and the decision
The file is forwarded to the foreigners authority of your German city. The India checklist quotes six to eight weeks; the FAQ warns that some categories take months and that status queries are not answered in the first three months. Do not book non-refundable flights before the passport is back.
Arrive, register and convert to a residence permit
Register your address at the Bürgeramt within two weeks, enrol, activate the blocked account payouts, then apply at the Ausländerbehörde for the Section 16b residence permit before the visa expires. Expect it to be issued for two years.
Germany student visa requirements for Indian students: the document checklist
- Passport issued within the last ten years with at least two blank pages; only originals or copies certified by a German authority are accepted, not notary attestations.
- APS certificate, or proof of an exemption (PhD/postdoc, German or EU public scholarship, a non-German degree awarded in Germany, or a non-Indian school certificate or degree) together with an anabin or ZAB statement of comparability.
- Admission letter from a German university, Studienkolleg or study-preparatory language course, stating the language of instruction and any conditions.
- Academic documents: for bachelor's or Studienkolleg, the 10th and 12th marksheets and any Indian university semesters; for master's, the degree certificate and every semester marksheet; for PhD, the master's degree.
- Language certificate not older than one year: IELTS or another ALTE-member English test, or Goethe/Max Mueller Bhavan, ÖSD, telc, TestDaF or DSH for German.
- Proof of funds: blocked account confirmation for €11,904 with the €992 monthly cap, or a Verpflichtungserklärung, or a German/EU scholarship award; plus any education loan sanction letter.
- Tuition invoice and payment proof for the first two semesters where the university charges fees.
- Health insurance certificate valid from your intended date of entry.
- Motivation letter and tabular CV in English or German.
- Biometric photos and, on the day, the fee in rupees. Prepare two identical A4 sets if the mission asks for paper copies.
What can you do on a German student residence permit?
Section 16b(3) of the Residence Act gives students a working-day account of 140 full days a year. A day of up to four hours counts as half a day, so the rule is often quoted as 140 full or 280 half days. Alternatively each calendar week can be counted as 2.5 days if you work up to 20 hours in lecture time, or any hours outside lecture time; the authority applies whichever counting is better for you week by week. Student assistant jobs at your university are not counted at all, though you must inform the Ausländerbehörde. Self-employment and freelancing need separate permission.
Health insurance is compulsory for the whole stay. Under-30s on statutory student insurance pay a reduced student rate; from age 30 the standard statutory contribution applies even if you are still studying, which costs more. Your permit also lets you travel visa-free within the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180.
After graduating you are entitled to a Section 20 residence permit of up to 18 months to look for a job matching your degree, and you may take any work during that search. Once you hold a qualified job, BAMF confirms you can get an open-ended settlement permit after two years of work as a German graduate, or after 27 months on an EU Blue Card (21 months with B1 German). None of this is automatic: each step needs your own application and continued proof of subsistence.
Why Germany student visas from India get refused
Frequently asked questions
What is the Germany student visa fee for Indian students in 2026?
The national visa fee is €75, collected as ₹8,400 at the appointment for applicants aged 18 and over, and €37.50 or ₹4,200 for under-18s. VFS Global charges a separate service fee. The visa fee is a processing charge and is not refunded if the visa is refused or you withdraw.
How much money is required in a blocked account for a Germany student visa?
The German missions in India ask for €11,904 for the first year, about ₹13 lakh, in a blocked account with a confirmation that no more than €992 a month can be withdrawn. The figure follows the BAföG maximum and the missions in India have applied it since 1 September 2024; check the mission page for any revision before you deposit.
Is the APS certificate mandatory for a Germany student visa from India?
Yes, for anyone whose qualifications were issued by Indian institutions. The exemptions are PhD or postdoc studies, a German or EU public scholarship, studying for a non-German degree in Germany, or building on a non-Indian school certificate or degree. In those cases you upload an anabin or ZAB recognition instead. Master's applicants with a previous degree in engineering, commerce/finance or business/management may also need the dMAT for later intakes; check the APS India dMAT page.
Is IELTS mandatory for a Germany student visa?
Not IELTS specifically, but a recognised certificate is. For direct degree entry the missions in India expect C1 in the study language and accept IELTS or other ALTE-member tests for English. Duolingo, PTE and TOEFL Home Edition are not recognised in India. A university confirmation replaces the test only if the university individually tested your language.
How long does a Germany student visa take from India?
The student checklist of the German missions in India quotes six to eight weeks because the application is forwarded to the Ausländerbehörde in your German city. The missions do not answer status enquiries in the first three months and say some categories can take several months, so apply as soon as your admission and blocked account are in hand.
Can I work in Germany on a student visa?
Yes. Section 16b of the Residence Act allows 140 full days or 280 half days of work a year, with a day of up to four hours counting as half. Working up to 20 hours a week during lectures counts as 2.5 days a week. Student assistant jobs at your university are not counted. Self-employment needs separate permission from the Ausländerbehörde.
Do I need to pay tuition fees before the visa appointment?
Only if your university charges them. Most public universities charge no tuition, just a semester contribution of €70–430. If you are going to Baden-Württemberg (€1,500 a semester), a fee-charging Bavarian university such as TUM (€2,000–6,000 a semester) or a private university, the missions in India require proof that the first two semesters are paid.
What happens after I graduate in Germany?
You can apply for a residence permit of up to 18 months under Section 20 of the Residence Act to look for a job matching your degree, and you may work in any job meanwhile. With a qualified job you can reach a settlement permit after two years as a German graduate, or after 27 months on an EU Blue Card (21 months with B1 German).
Can I appeal a Germany student visa refusal in India?
Not through remonstration: the German missions in India abolished that remedy from 1 January 2024. Your options are to apply again with a corrected file at any time, or to file a lawsuit at the administrative court in Berlin within one month of receiving the refusal. In practice, fixing the reason stated in the refusal letter and reapplying is faster than litigation.
Official sources used on this page
- German Missions in India — Visa for studies, preparatory college and language courses (documents, blocked account, APS, language) — Federal Foreign Office, German Missions in India · checked 26 September 2026
- German Missions in India — National visa: fee, Consular Services Portal, appointment — Federal Foreign Office, German Missions in India · checked 26 September 2026
- German Missions in India — National visa FAQs (students, tuition, language confirmation) — Federal Foreign Office, German Missions in India · checked 26 September 2026
- German Missions in India — Checklist for a national visa: students (PDF, processing time, APS exemptions) — Federal Foreign Office, German Missions in India · checked 26 September 2026
- Federal Foreign Office — Opening and closing a blocked bank account (Sperrkonto) — Auswärtiges Amt · checked 26 September 2026
- Federal Foreign Office — Visas for Germany: fees and Consular Services Portal — Auswärtiges Amt · checked 26 September 2026
- DAAD — Finances: proof of financial resources, tuition fees, living costs — German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) · checked 26 September 2026
- Residence Act (AufenthG) Section 16b — Studies: permit duration and 140-day work rule — Federal Ministry of Justice, gesetze-im-internet.de · checked 26 September 2026
- Residence Act (AufenthG) Section 20 — Job search after graduation (18 months) — Federal Ministry of Justice, gesetze-im-internet.de · checked 26 September 2026
- BAMF — Studying in Germany: residence, 18-month job search, settlement after 2 years — Federal Office for Migration and Refugees · checked 26 September 2026
- APS India — FAQs on the Academic Evaluation Centre procedure — Academic Evaluation Centre India, German Embassy New Delhi · checked 26 September 2026
- APS India — dMAT (digital Master Test): who must take it and when — Academic Evaluation Centre India, German Embassy New Delhi · checked 26 September 2026
- German Missions in India — Remonstration, refusal and lawsuit at the Berlin administrative court — Federal Foreign Office, German Missions in India · checked 26 September 2026
- Wise — EUR to INR mid-market rate — Wise · checked 26 September 2026
Related NexStudy intents
Ready to study in Germany?
Get a free profile evaluation, personalized university shortlist, and expert visa guidance from our counselors.