Process For Student Immigration

Germany has three types of Visa’s for International Students:

National Visa/ Student Visa

This is the visa you will need in order to pursue a long course of postgraduate studies in Germany. The National Visa/ Student Visa is issued for stays lasting longer than three months (for example, to attend a preparatory course or to study a full program). The documents you will require for obtaining this visa are listed below. This visa must be obtained before you arrive in Germany unless you are transitioning to it from a Student Application Visa.

Student Applicant Visa

Student applicants who have not yet been admitted to a German university can apply for a Student Applicant Visa. This visa is only good for three months and can be transitioned into a Permanent Residence permit or National Visa for studying once you have been admitted to a higher education institution. You must have the necessary documents for obtaining this permit with you if you are going to do this after entering Germany.

Language Course Visa

Before you can be admitted to a university for a full course of studies, you first have to pass a German language test called "TestDaF" at a Test-DaF center in your home country or in Germany. Alternatively, you can take another German language test, the "Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang" (DSH), at your German university.

Both higher education admissions language tests – DSH and TestDaF – pursue the same goal. They test whether you are good enough at German to be able to study successfully at a German university. Additionally, these tests naturally also generally confirm that you are proficient at a high level in written and spoken German.

For the reason above, you may need to improve your German via a formal course. The Language Course Visa has been designed for those who are coming to Germany in order to do a formal course in the language.

If no good language courses are available nearby, you can also enroll in a web-based, online distance studies course. Language courses offered by Deutsch-Uni online specifically prepare students for academic studies in Germany. You can find a list of the German language courses offered by German universities and by non-university course providers on the homepage of the Professional Association of German as a Foreign Language (Fachverband für Deutsch als Fremdsprache).

However, note that this visa is only valid for the length of the language course and that it cannot be converted into a student visa. If you plan to take a language course in connection with your academic studies, this must be stated when you apply for your visa. You have to apply for a student visa or a student applicant visa if the purpose of your stay is to study in Germany.

Step by Step Procedures

• Provide two completed Permanent Resident Visa application forms and two sets of required declaration forms.  Student Visa Applications will be provided at German Embassy.

• Provide original copy of letter of acceptance from German university/language school/college and one copy.

• Valid national passport and one copy.

• Proof of Financial Solvency.  (Financial solvency can be proven with bank statements). 

• If student wishes to be accompanied by any family members (wife or children) marriage certificate (with apostille) or birth certificates (with apostille) must be submitted for each.  An apostille is a specific text that certifies the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the  signer of the document has acted and, where appropriate, the identity of the seal of stamp which the document is taken). The Embassy cannot issue  Apostilles.  Apostilles for marriage certificates are issued by Directorates, which are General or the Secretaries of the Interior of the respective  States through the Consulate Office.

• Submit original copy of birth certificate and 2 copies of Apostille.

• 2 passport photographs.  Strict requirements. 

• Documents not in German should be submitted with German translation along with 2 copies.

• Basic knowledge of language skills should be demonstrated before entering the country. A certificate of the Goethe-Institut for the A1 language examination “Start Deutsch 1” must be submitted with all other application documents. The “Start  Deutsch 1” can be taken at the Goethe-Institut. It can also be taken at a licensed examiner’s, an institute that is entitled to conduct tests of the  Goethe-Instiut in country of residence.   

• Please note: In individual cases, you may be required to provide additional documents.

• Visa fees are approximately $1000.00 Mexican pesos (60.00 Euros) depending on the change of the day.  Fees must be submitted along with Visa  application and other forms only in Mexican pesos.

• Applications and all other documentation must be submitted in person at the German Embassy. No payments will be accepted online or through mail. 

German Embassy in Mexico
Lord Bryon 737
Colonia Polano
11560 Mexico, D.F.
Phone: (01 55) 5283 22 00

Hours:
Monday - Thursday:  7:30am to 5:30pm
Friday:                     7:30am to 5:00pm  

Website  

• Student visa applications take about 25 days to be processed. After the application has been approved by the Aliens' Office the Consulate will issue a residence permit in the form of a visa. 

• The Embassy will not provide information over the telephone for security reasons. All applicants will be notified by e-mail with the status of applications. Applicants may contact the Embassy in writing as an exception.

• If the candidate's application has been approved, the Embassy provides an entry visa to the candidate.

• Upon arriving in Germany, the foreign national and any accompanying family members must apply for their work and residence permits at the local  foreigner’s authority.  Locations and full details will be provided at time of receiving entry visa.