Some countries have special entry agreements with Germany, allowing their citizens to enter without a visa and apply for a residence permit upon arrival.

Here you can find an overview of these countries:

• EU Nationals (including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland): No visa is required; however, a residence permit may be needed for longer stays.

• Nationals of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, and the USA: May enter without a visa but need to apply for a residence permit within 90 days of arrival.

If your country is not listed above, please see the complete list of entry regulations on the Federal Foreign Office website.

To apply for a student visa, you will need an admission letter from TU Darmstadt. If you have not received your admission letter in time to apply for the visa, please contact our International Admissions office for assistance.

Unfortunately, we do not have authority over the German Embassy’s visa processing or appointment scheduling in other countries. We advise our students to apply for a visa appointment as soon as they apply to the university, rather than waiting until they receive their admission letter. Appointment wait times can vary significantly, often taking several months. It’s easier to cancel an appointment if admission is denied than to start the appointment process later.

Typically required documents:

• Valid passport
• Proof of health insurance
• Proof of sufficient funds
• Records of previous study and language skills
• Recognised higher education entrance qualification (if necessary)

Important: The required documents may vary depending on the Embassy where you are applying. Please make sure to inquire with them directly for any specific documents.

Before you can begin your studies in Germany, and typically as part of the visa application process, you must show proof of sufficient financial resources. This financial proof is also required when applying for a residence permit after your arrival. Our information sheet (opens in new tab) provides a list of acceptable methods for demonstrating financial means.

Please review this information thoroughly to ensure your financial documentation meets the requirements.

The visa process takes place at the embassy or consulate where you are currently living.

Unfortunately, ISS is not authorized to intervene in this process or to contact the embassy on your behalf to expedite the processing of your application.

Please allow some time for the embassy to process your visa application. This can take on average around 4 weeks or longer. If you have any questions regarding your application, please contact the embassy directly.

Once you arrive in Germany and settle in Darmstadt, our International Student Services team is here to support you with any administrative tasks, such as registering with local authorities or applying for a residence permit. We’re committed to making your transition as smooth as possible and are happy to answer any questions you may have.

In order to help you with the organisation of your stay, we have provided you with a number of checklists which will help you to find answers to the most important questions you may have before, during and shortly after your stay at TU Darmstadt .

If you intend to or have already received an admission letter from the Studienkolleg at TU Darmstadt, you will need to apply for a D-Visa (German national visa) for the purpose of study preparation. This visa category is intended for international students who need to complete a preparatory language course (Studienkolleg) before starting a degree program at a German university.

It is a bridge-program for international students to acquire the academic and language skills in German needed to qualify for university admission.

Why is it different from a regular German-study visa?

Some embassies require prospective students to go through a different department in order to apply for this specific visa. Please make sure to inform yourself directly via their website or by phone.

For more detailed information about the Studienkolleg program, please visit the official TU Darmstadt Studienkolleg website.