Students from countries within the EU, EEA or Switzerland do not need a visa to study in Germany. These students simply need to register at the nearest registry office on arrival, to obtain a residence permit. This also applies to students coming from a number of other countries, including Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea and the US. Students from Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco, San Marino or Taiwan can also follow this path, as long as they don’t intend to work before or after their degree in Germany.
Students from elsewhere will need to apply for a visa before arrival in Germany, via the nearest German embassy. Those already accepted onto a program can apply for a student visa, while those awaiting confirmation or sitting entrance exams will need an applicant visa. The fee for your visa is €75 (£64). It can take several months for visas to be issued, so apply as early as possible. Visa applicants will be asked to submit the following:
Once in the country, you need to apply for a residence permit. You should do this by registering with the local Alien Registration Office within two weeks of arrival and after finding accommodation.
Once in the country, you need to apply for a residence permit. You should do this by registering with the local Alien Registration Office (Bürgeramt or Einwohnermeldeamt) within two weeks of arrival and after finding accommodation (so that you can register your address). You’ll be asked to submit a set of documents similar to those required for a visa, and will need to pay €110 (~US$125) for the initial residence permit (valid for two years) and will need to pay between €60 and €110 (€50-94) for the initial residence permit depending upon your situation.
You must take out health insurance before arriving in Germany, as you can’t be enrolled without it. Germany has social security agreements with all EU nations, and also with non-EU countries such as Israel and Switzerland, which means that as long as you have public health insurance in your home country, you can get this insurance coverage approved by a public health insurance company in Germany. You’ll generally need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), however. Private domestic and foreign health insurance policies from other countries may also be recognized in Germany.