Visas and paperwork
If you come from a country outside the EU or Schengen area but which is part of the agreement on the Electronic Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), list here: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/etias/ you can obtain a visa valid for all the countries of the Schengen area.
The ETIAS will cost 7 euros and will be valid from three to ten years, or until the expiry of your passport. The procedures to obtain one will be very simple, and it is estimated that the application process will take about 10-20 minutes.
If you are not a citizen of one of these 62 countries that have established a visa-free regime with the European Union, then you must first obtain a visa in order to enter Germany and stay for more than 90 days, valid for up to 6 months. Depending on the purpose of stay, a different visa applies:
- Tourist and Visitor Visa – for people who wish to enter Germany for the purpose of visiting friends or relatives, or simply to visit and experience the country and its culture.
- Visa to reunite with a relative or partner – which is a visa for family members of German residents who wish to join them in Germany.
- Jobseeker’s visa – gives its holder the opportunity to come to Germany and look for a job.
- Study and Language Learning Visa – for foreigners who wish to enter the country for the sole purpose of attending a language course or continuing their studies at an educational institution in Germany.
- Work visa – for people who have found a job in Germany.
- Business Visa – for businessmen who need to stay in Germany for a period of more than 90 days within 6 months, with the purpose of doing business.
- Airport Transit Visa – required for a very limited number of third world nationals who need to pass through one of Germany’s airports to reach their final destination.
- Visas for Visiting Scientists – for scientists or researchers who have been invited by an institution to conduct a study or research.
- Training/Trainee Visa – is a visa that gives the opportunity to attend a training course or an internship to citizens of third world countries.
- Medical Treatment Visa – was established to allow foreigners with various diseases and medical conditions to enter Germany and seek medical treatment.
- Fair and exhibition visas – for those planning to attend a fair or exhibition.
- Visa for cultural, sporting and religious reasons – for those who intend to enter Germany for the purpose of participating in a cultural, sporting or religious event or as part of a film crew.
Healthcare system
The German healthcare system is administered independently by local authorities and is not public. You can choose from a wide range of insurance packages (132 Krankenkassen to be precise), and there is an obligation to do so if you have a gross monthly income of 4 462.60 euros or less.
The contribution to be paid is 15.5% of the monthly salary, 47% of which is paid by the employer. In addition there are additional fees* to be paid every three months for conventional medical examinations, but as a spending limit of 1% of annual income is in vogue, the rest is reimbursed.
Health insurance costs an average of 80 euros per month if you are under 30 or have not yet completed your 14th semester of study. After that, the contribution increases to at least 160 euros per month.
*Underage students do not pay additional expenses.
Germany’s COVID-19 situation is constantly evolving, and with it, so are government restrictions around it. You can see all the updates here: https://www.deutschland.de/en/news/coronavirus-in-germany-informations
Living costs
According to statistics, students in Germany spend on average about 850 euros per month on living costs. Prices differ considerably between the major German cities. You would need more money to live and study in Munich than you would in, for example, Leipzig.
The biggest monthly expense will be rent. However, rents in German cities vary greatly. Students pay between 290 and 560 euros per month for accommodation, depending on where their higher education institution is located. In some large cities such as Cologne, Munich, Hamburg and Frankfurt am Main, rents are higher than average.
At the beginning you should also expect a security deposit for the room or apartment. The amount of the deposit can vary greatly. According to an estimate, the monthly costs of an international student in Germany are shown in the table below.
| Rent and utilities | € 323 |
| Food and drink | € 168 |
| Clothing | € 42 |
| Working/learning material | € 20 |
| Travel expenses (car and public transport) | € 94 |
| Health insurance, medical expenses, medicine | € 80 |
| Telephone, Internet, TV | € 31 |
| Leisure time, culture, sport | € 61 |
| Total | € 819 |
Studying in Germany can be an exciting opportunity, where you can enjoy its culture, learn the country’s traditions, and meet new people from all over the globe. Dreamando is here to help guide you through the application and moving process. So get in touch, we’d love to hear from you!