Do you need a visa to study in Germany?

The answer to this question is YES and NO. The good news is that you won’t need to apply for any study visa while in the US, before going to Germany. You can enter Germany on the tourist visa and then onsite the Site Director will help you get the proper visa.

This process is pretty simple and the Site Director will help you through it, but basically you’ll need to get a special photo taken in Reutlingen and then go to the City Office to request a longer stay visa. Our partner on this program, Valparaiso University, has been running the program since the 1960’s without any visa issues, so this is a tested and successful process.

There is a cost for both the photo and visa extension but it is only around 50 Euro, which is significantly cheaper than most visas around the world.

In addition to the visa, please make sure you have a valid passport for your travels and check to ensure it will not expire 6 months after your program ends or before.

Please read through the visa instructions carefully, as visa instructions can be complicated, and materials can take weeks or months to obtain.

IMPORTANT: CISabroad will only advise students on visa procedures for travel requirements for your CISabroad program only. CISabroad is not responsible for advising students on visa issues if they plan to travel internationally before or after the program dates.

These instructions are intended for US passport holders. International students must also be aware of additional documentation and/or processing time needed for their visas. Please contact your Program Coordinator to discuss your visa.

Please note that all consulates have varying visa processing times and/or requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of their assigned consulate’s visa processing period and to send in their complete visa application well enough in advance to allow adequate time for processing. Each consulate lists the visa processing period on their website. Note: Required documents for your visa are always subject to change at the discretion of the consulate.