Gather documents that pertain to your schooling at home These include records of your past academic performance, such as report cards or transcripts, and proof that you are entitled to be admitted to a German university -- a high school diploma or GED should suffice. Be sure that your passport is current and that you have a passport photo.
Provide proof that the cost of your living expenses will be paid for at least the length of one year. This amounts to approximately 643 euros monthly -- 7716 euros annually, according to Studentenwerk. Your financial guarantee can take one of several forms: A resident of Germany can pledge a guarantee to the Foreigner Registration Office that he will cover your expenses, you can set up a restricted German bank account -- you must maintain a minimum balance and observe a maximum withdrawal limit, three to four months' worth of bank statements showing that you meet the minimum income requirements -- the account may belong to your parents or relatives, if they support you -- or a notarized statement signed by your parents or other relatives indicating that they will pay your expenses while you are in Germany.
Contact the German consulate or embassy in your home country. It will process your application and provide you with any other information you require. Graduates Hotline advises that you apply well in advance of your trip, as you will need your visa to enter Germany. Your student visa will have certain restrictions, depending upon the circumstances of your visit. A language course visa is issued only for the life of a language course and cannot be upgraded to a student visa. A study applicant's visa is a temporary visa for students who are not yet enrolled in university. It is good for three months. A visa issued for study purposes is the one requiring the academic performance proof and the monetary guarantee. This is valid for one year. A national -- or student -- visa is valid for longer than three months but not necessarily as long as a year. This is to accommodate a specified length of time, such as the length of a program. Finally, the Schengen Visa applies in cases of short, more general visits. Once you arrive in Germany, you must apply for a residence permit.