Visa / residence permit for studying
Residency route facts
Identity
| Official name (local) | Aufenthaltserlaubnis zum Zweck des Studiums (§ 16b AufenthG) as of 2026-08-08[2] |
|---|---|
| Official name (English) | Visa / residence permit for studying as of 2026-08-08[12] |
| Legal basis | Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 16b as of 2026-08-08[2] |
| Instrument type | residence permit as of 2026-08-08[2] |
Who can apply
Permit terms
| Initial duration | 2 years as of 2026-08-08[2][12] Usual term at first issuance and renewal (minimum one year; at least two years in mobility-programme cases; course length where the course is shorter, sec. 16b(2)). |
|---|---|
| Renewable | Yes as of 2026-08-08[2] Extended while the purpose has not yet been achieved and is achievable in a reasonable period (sec. 16b(2) s.4). |
| Renewal duration | 2 years as of 2026-08-08[2][12] Usual renewal term (sec. 16b(2) s.1). |
| Work rights | hours capped as of 2026-08-08[2][12] See work_hours_cap; student side-jobs (studentische Nebentaetigkeiten) are additionally uncounted. |
Permanent residence and citizenship
| Counts toward permanent residence | No as of 2026-08-08[2] |
|---|
Requirements
| Enrolment status required | admitted as of 2026-08-08[2][12] Admission (Zulassung) by a state or state-recognised higher-education institution suffices; the purpose includes preparatory language courses, Studienkolleg and mandatory internships. Course-language proficiency (often B2) is checked by the institution or the mission – no statutory level. |
|---|---|
| Means requirement | EUR 11,904 per year as of 2026-08-08[2][12] |
| Work-hours cap | 20 as of 2026-08-08[2][12] |
| Post-study route exists | Yes as of 2026-08-08[3][12] Sec. 20(1) no.1 jobseeker permit after successful graduation; unrestricted work during the search; recorded as its own route de-post-study-job-search. |
| Post-study permit duration | 18 months as of 2026-08-08[3][12] |
| Post-study income requirement | Recorded at the source, but not reducible to a single value[3] Livelihood must be secured for the sec. 20 permit; no fixed amount published. |
Process
| Where to apply from | either as of 2026-08-08[8][12] Default is a national D visa; sec. 41 AufenthV nationals may apply in-country after visa-free entry. |
|---|---|
| Fees |
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Physical presence
| maximum consecutive absence | 6 months · to keep the permit as of 2026-08-08[7] Sec. 51(1) no. 7 AufenthG: the permit lapses if the holder leaves Germany and does not re-enter within six months (or a longer period set by the foreigners authority); it also lapses on departure for a reason that is not temporary by nature (no. 6). |
|---|
Family inclusion
| Family members may be included | Yes as of 2026-08-08[4][5] Conditional: spouse reunification to a student requires inter alia that the marriage existed when the sponsor entered and the stay is expected to exceed one year (sec. 30(1) s.1 no.3e), plus livelihood and housing; minor children per sec. 32. |
|---|---|
| Eligible relations | spouse, minor child as of 2026-08-08[4][5] |
| Family members' work rights | full as of 2026-08-08[6] |
Your next step
Read the requirements above considering your own situation: the income multiple, the absence limits, who you can bring. Check the country record for the reference figure those amounts are calculated from, and for anything that has changed recently.
The next step is your own case. That assessment is legal work. Create profile for our assistance in this.
Profile benefits
- A 30-minute call with our consultant, who reads your profile first.
- An offer for legal support built around your case, covering the whole process.
Verification
| Sources cited | 12 |
|---|---|
| of which official (tier 1) | 12 |
| Oldest as-of date | 2026-08-08 |
| Newest as-of date | 2026-08-08 |
| Reviewed on | 2026-08-11 |
| Schema version | 1.1 |
Sources
- [1] Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 1 – Zweck des Gesetzes; Anwendungsbereich (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 - [2] Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 16b – Studium (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 - [3] Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 20 – Suche nach einer Erwerbstätigkeit (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 - [4] Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 30 – Ehegattennachzug (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 - [5] Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 32 – Kindernachzug (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 - [6] Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 4a – Zugang zur Erwerbstätigkeit (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 - [7] Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 51 – Beendigung der Rechtmäßigkeit des Aufenthalts (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 - [8] Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) § 41 – Vergünstigung für bestimmte Staatsangehörige (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 - [9] Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) § 45 – Gebühren Aufenthaltserlaubnis (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · fee schedule · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 · Archived copy - [10] Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV) § 46 – Gebühren Visum (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · fee schedule · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 - [11] Freizügigkeitsgesetz/EU (FreizügG/EU) § 1 – Anwendungsbereich (consolidated)
Bundesministerium der Justiz / juris (gesetze-im-internet.de) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08 - [12] Visa for studying
Make it in Germany (Federal Government portal for skilled workers) · official portal · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-08