Among the different kinds of German long-stay visas, also called D Visas, we find this one: the German Language Course Visa. As well as the rest of long-stay visas, its granting is generally subject to the approval of the immigration authorities, though there still exist many differences between them. Keep reading if you would like to get to know more about German language course visas, here you will find answers to all of your questions.
German language course visa is a type of educational visa required for those non-EU citizens who would like to attend an intensive language course in Germany for a period longer than 3 months. This visa will be issued for the length of your language course, but you must also consider that a German language course visa can be issued for a maximum of one year. By ‘intensive’ we mean that the course the visa applicant is planning to complete must contain at least 18 class hours per week. Furthermore, classes cannot be solely held in the evenings and/or weekends.
In the case of students enrolling in a course being shorter than 3 months, they should apply for a German short-stay visa. And, in case the course lasts more than that, students should apply for a German Long-Stay Language Course Visa instead.
Without a doubt, the German language course visa is one of the easier visas to apply for. This visa is perfect for those willing to learn the German language or enjoy a wonderful experience living in Germany. As a German language course visa holder, you can benefit from many things such as traveling throughout the whole Schengen Area freely, though, in contrast to German Student Visa holders, you are not allowed to work under any circumstances.
Nevertheless, as we mentioned earlier, people applying for a German language course visa must be non-European nationals. You will also be exempted from applying for a visa to attend a language course in Germany if you are a citizen of one of the following countries:
- Australia
- Canada
- Israel
- Japan
- New Zealand
- South Korea
- United of States
Types of German Language Course Visa
This visa perfectly fits international students planning to study at a German university, since they may have to show evidence of German language ability to a certain degree when applying to enroll in one of these academic institutions.
Only a few types of German language ability certificates are recognized by German universities and these are Goethe Institute German Language Diploma (GDS), Test of German as a Foreign Language (TestDaF), and German Language Diploma of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs Level 2 (DSD).
For those who did not obtain any of these certificates, you can apply for a German language course visa and enroll in a language course in Germany, before being admitted to the corresponding university.
However, be aware that there exist two different types of German language course visas. Depending on the reason why you would like to study a language course in Germany, you may need to choose one of the different options:
- Language Learning Visa: this visa is designed for people willing to come to Germany, complete a language course and then return home.
- Residency for Study Preparation: apply for this visa if, as we were commenting earlier in this section, you are learning the German language to later be admitted to a German university or higher academic institution. Be aware that, if you choose this option, you should return to your home country after finishing the course and apply for a German Student Visa from there.
In case you have already been admitted to a German university but the completion of the German language course is a requirement before starting to attend classes, you should not apply for a German language course visa but a German student visa from the beginning, giving you additional time to complete your language course before starting to attend classes at the university.
How to Apply for a German Language Course Visa?
Firstly, you must fill out the application form for a German national visa. Questions are very simple and specifically created to gather some personal information. Make sure you do not commit any mistake while completing your form or that any provided information disagrees with that included in the rest of the required documents.
Now, we would recommend you start gathering the different documents. Therefore, you could avoid last-minute problems and have all documentation in order before continuing with the next step. In case you cannot submit any of the required documents, you will need to start the application process once again. Moreover, many of these documents may take you some time to obtain. We will have a look at the different documents you need to submit when applying for a German language course visa in the following section.
The next step is to schedule a visa interview at the nearest German embassy or consulate in your country. It is essential to bring the required documents to your appointment.
Lastly, pay the visa fees and keep the receipt, which you will later need to submit when collecting your visa at the application centre.
German language course visa may take up to 3 months to process, so make sure you apply for it in advance.
Take into consideration that if your visa application was accepted and you come to Germany, you are obliged to follow a couple of additional steps; namely:
- To register your new address at the nearest registration office from your accommodation place in Germany.
- To apply for a German Study Residence Permit at the Immigration Authorities. To that end, you should schedule an appointment, pay the fees, attend your interview and submit additional documents.
Required Documents to Apply for a Language Course Visa
Before attending your visa interview, gather the different documents. Be aware that original documents must be submitted along with two photocopies. These are the different documents you are required to submit on the day of your interview:
- Two national visa application forms.
- Copy of previous German visas if applicable.
- Visa fee payment confirmation.
- Document proving that you have accommodation in Germany (e.g., letter of invitation from a German host, hotel reservation, rental contract).
- Motivational letter.
- Health insurance including the minimum coverage.
- Bank account proving the applicant is financially independent.
- Document confirming that the applicant has been accepted in a language course. Remember that the language course must comply with the above-mentioned conditions.
- Valid passport for at least 6 months before you plan to return home.
- Two German visa photos complying with official guidelines. You can learn more about this in the following section.
Moreover, you should know that you can be asked to submit additional documents depending on the embassy or consulate you attend. For instance, you may be required to file a document proving that you already have basic knowledge of the German language, receipts confirming that you have already paid your language course fees, or a certificate of a criminal record.
German Visa Photo Tips
We strongly recommend you read German visa photo requirements before attending your visa interview or you may submit the wrong photo. This is essential if applying for a German visa, as I guess you wouldn’t like to repeat the application process from the start. Photos which don’t comply with the official regulations established by the German government will be rejected without hesitation.
The problem sometimes is that people rely blindly on photo booths, as many of them don’t provide official guidelines for German visa photos. They just provide some general instructions regarding biometric photos and are aware of the correct photo size or background color but they don’t provide the customer with instructions regarding how to look in german visa photos or what clothing/complements are forbidden, among many other conditions to take into account.
Furthermore, don’t you find it annoying? Do you really leave home for a couple of visa photos when you can benefit from a better service online?
Times change my friend, and new and better options come up in the photo market as well. Online photo booths allow you to take a German visa photo easily, from home and at an unbeatable price.
