StudyGermanby LECTOR
DE
Menu

STUDYGERMAN · BY LECTOR

Language course visa & arrival in Germany

Learn German while living in Germany: an intensive in-person course can form the basis of a language course visa under section 16f(1) of the Residence Act. Use this guide to prepare your next steps.

This information provides general orientation. The responsible authorities decide on visas and residence. Booking a course and receiving course documents do not guarantee a visa.

Your language course visa journey in five steps

Start early: appointment waiting times and the visa procedure together may take several months. Use this overview to plan; your responsible German mission determines the details.

  1. Choose your course and arrange funding

    Choose an intensive course, agree the intended period and secure your living costs.

  2. Prepare your documents

    Gather your passport, course confirmation, payment evidence where required, finances, insurance and motivation.

  3. Apply for your visa

    Check the procedure for your place of residence, bring originals to the appointment and budget for the visa fee.

  4. Receive your visa and book travel

    Book firm travel only after approval; arrange accommodation and insurance for your full stay.

  5. Arrive and arrange your residence

    Check address registration and, if needed, apply for your residence permit before the visa expires.

Make it in Germany · Visum zum Spracherwerb – Ablaufübersicht (01/2026)

1. Do I need a visa?

Nationality, residence status and length of stay matter. Stays exceeding 90 days generally require a national visa, with exceptions. A single eight-week module and a longer stay covering several modules may fall under different entry rules. Check your case with the Federal Foreign Office’s Visa Navigator before booking.

Auswärtiges Amt · Visa für Deutschland

2. Choose the right purpose of stay

Section 16f covers a standalone language course. Courses preparing for university may fall under section 16b and different requirements. Vocational training or recognition of qualifications may also require a different residence purpose. Discuss your actual plans with the German mission.

Auswärtiges Amt · Studium, Schulbesuch und Sprachkurs

3. Intensive courses and our timetable

The Visa Handbook generally requires daily tuition, at least 18 teaching units of 45 minutes weekly, comprehensive language learning and a limited course duration. Evening-only and weekend courses are insufficient.

StudyGerman plans 20 units of 45 minutes weekly, Monday–Thursday from 14:00, eight weeks per module. This meets the stated weekly volume. Acceptance of the specific four-day timetable must be checked with the responsible mission. Classes take place at Bleichstraße 27, 66111 Saarbrücken. Breaks and module transitions are still to be confirmed.

Auswärtiges Amt · Visumhandbuch, Sprachkurs (01/2026)

4. Prepare your documents

Typical documents are listed below. Your local checklist determines validity, format, copies, translations and any authentication. Additional documents may be requested.

  • Completed, signed application; valid passport and biometric photo.
  • Course admission stating level, start, end and weekly timetable; payment evidence where required.
  • Proof of financial support and suitable health insurance.
  • Motivation letter and CV; existing language and education certificates where applicable.

Deutsche Botschaft Bern · Sprachkurs (örtliches Merkblatt)Deutsche Botschaft Jakarta · Sprachkurs (§ 16f)

5. Living costs and course fees

Budget separately for accommodation, food, insurance, travel and tuition. A blocked account permits limited monthly withdrawals; a suitable formal declaration of commitment may be an alternative. The responsible authority determines the amount and period to prove. Check current requirements for your application, especially for a stay in 2027, before depositing funds.

For orientation, Berlin’s immigration authority specifies EUR 1,091.20 in monthly living costs for 2026. This is not a confirmed figure for your application or for 2027; follow your responsible authority’s current requirements.

Our tuition fee is EUR 850 including VAT per module. The optional B1 examination costs an additional EUR 250. Accommodation, travel and insurance are not included.

Auswärtiges Amt · SperrkontoDeutsche Botschaft Bern · Sprachkurs (örtliches Merkblatt)

6. Health insurance

For language courses, the Federal Foreign Office generally requires private health insurance, often called incoming insurance, covering the full visa period. It must cover outpatient and inpatient treatment, not just emergencies. Ordinary travel insurance is generally insufficient. Check coverage with the insurer and German mission before applying.

Auswärtiges Amt · Krankenversicherung für nationale Visa (21.08.2026)

7. Where and how to apply

Normally apply through the German mission responsible for your habitual residence. Check whether your application is available in the Consular Services Portal; otherwise follow the local appointment procedure. Even with digital preliminary checks, an in-person appointment is required for biometrics and, where necessary, original documents.

Auswärtiges Amt · Visa für DeutschlandAuswärtiges Amt · Auslandsportal und Antragsverfahren

8. Fees, processing and travel plans

The standard national visa fee is EUR 75; exemptions or reductions may apply. Service, insurance and account fees may be additional. Appointment waiting times and processing vary by mission and case. Jakarta, for example, states processing may take up to twelve weeks, with possible variations. Start early and book flights only after the visa has been issued.

Auswärtiges Amt · Visa für DeutschlandDeutsche Botschaft Jakarta · Sprachkurs (§ 16f)

9. Duration and employment

A standalone language course stay may be permitted for up to one year. The actual duration depends on your circumstances and course. Section 16f permits employment of up to 20 hours weekly; self-employment is not permitted. Observe the conditions stated on your visa or residence permit.

Deutsche Botschaft Jakarta · Sprachkurs (§ 16f)Auswärtiges Amt · Visumhandbuch, Sprachkurs (01/2026)

10. After approval and on arrival

Check your issued visa’s personal details, validity and conditions. Book travel only afterwards and arrange accommodation and continuous health coverage. Carry your passport, visa and course documents. If the visa does not cover your full stay, apply for the necessary residence permit before expiry; booking an appointment alone is not an application.

  • Register your address: in Saarbrücken, generally within two weeks of moving in, with valid identification and confirmation from your housing provider. Exceptions apply to temporary stays from abroad; check your situation with the citizens’ office.
  • Clarify residence arrangements: obtain the document checklist and application procedure from the responsible foreigners authority. Prepare passport, course evidence, finances, insurance and residence registration where required. A residence permit may cost up to an additional EUR 100.
  • Check insurance: switching to statutory health insurance after arrival is not automatically possible or necessary. Have your insurer confirm suitability and continuous validity of your specific policy.

Deutsche Botschaft Bern · Sprachkurs (örtliches Merkblatt)Stadt Darmstadt · Aufenthalt nach der Einreise (ergänzende Behördenquelle)Stadt Saarbrücken · Wohnsitzanmeldung und WohnungsgeberbestätigungMake it in Germany · Visum zum Spracherwerb – Ablaufübersicht (01/2026)Auswärtiges Amt · Krankenversicherung für nationale Visa (21.08.2026)

11. Your next step with StudyGerman

Send a non-binding booking request for A1, A2 or B1 and discuss your intended course period with us. A request is not admission evidence for a visa application. Binding course and payment confirmations follow only after a confirmed booking and the relevant conditions are met.

Language learning, an examination certificate and a visa are separate steps. The optional B1 examination costs an additional EUR 250; an examination certificate requires a pass. The examination board and date are still to be confirmed. The responsible authority decides on the visa.

Request a booking ↗

Official sources

Research checked: 23 October 2026. Always follow the current instructions of the German mission responsible for your place of residence. Individual embassy checklists apply to their own jurisdiction.

Visa-Navigator · Consular Services Portal