Students and doctoral candidates from member states of the EU, EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) and from countries with which the Federal Republic of Germany has concluded intergovernmental agreements (e.g. USA, Japan and Canada) do not require a visa.
Please note that we strongly recommend that you apply for a German visa at your local German embassy, even if you are allowed to enter Germany without a visa. The reason for this is that you can stay in Germany for up to three months without a visa, but the processing time for applying for a residence permit at the Stuttgart Foreigners' Office can take at least six months. To avoid legal problems and ensure a successful start to your studies in Hohenheim, you should apply for a German study visa with a validity of one year so that you have enough time to apply for a residence permit in Stuttgart.
Citizens of all other countries require a valid “visa for study purposes” in order to study or do a doctorate in Germany. Find out in good time about the current entry and residence regulations from a German diplomatic or consular mission in your home country or on the website of the Federal Foreign Office. In any case, you must submit the following certificates, among others, to the embassy:
The issuing of a visa usually takes several weeks and should therefore be applied for in good time. Foreign prospective students require a visa that entitles them to study in the Federal Republic of Germany. Do not enter the country on a tourist visa. It cannot be converted into a residence permit for study purposes, i.e. you cannot be enrolled and must return home. All this costs a lot of time and money. You may miss the start of your studies.
Further information on the student visa and blocked account, including step-by-step instructions and free webinars, can be found on the My German University website.
Please also note that a residence permit for study purposes only entitles you to study. A work permit is not included. Exceptions are permit-free activities up to 140 days or 280 half days per calendar year.
Applicants who are already studying in Germany must have their change of study program approved by the Foreigners' Office. The approval must be entered into the passport, otherwise enrollment at the University of Hohenheim is not possible!
