Germany Study Visa Support
Germany offers world-class education at little or no tuition, and asks for two things in return that no other destination requires: an APS certificate verifying your documents, and a blocked account holding a year of living costs.
APS is mandatory and it is slow
Pakistani students must obtain a certificate from the Academic Evaluation Centre (APS) verifying their academic documents before applying to German universities. Without it, applications are not processed and the visa is not issued.
It takes time (measured in weeks to months, depending on volume) and it sits at the very front of the sequence. Students who discover it after receiving an offer have usually already lost the intake. If you are considering Germany at all, start APS before you start anything else.
The blocked account
Germany does not accept a bank statement as proof of funds. You open a blocked account (Sperrkonto) with a provider recognised by the German missions, deposit a set annual sum, and the account releases a fixed monthly amount to you after arrival.
The required figure is revised periodically and the setup involves identity verification that can take a fortnight or more. There are alternatives in principle (a formal declaration of commitment from a sponsor resident in Germany, or certain scholarships) but the blocked account is the route almost all Pakistani students use.
Admission and language
- Many public universities route international applications through uni-assist, which checks and forwards them for a fee per application.
- German-taught degrees generally require TestDaF or DSH: academic language exams, not a general Goethe certificate.
- English-taught Master's programmes are widespread and waive the German requirement for admission, though not for daily life or part-time work.
- Your Pakistani qualification has to map onto German entry requirements; some applicants need a Studienkolleg foundation year first.
Health insurance and enrolment
Enrolment normally depends on proving statutory health cover or a recognised exemption from it. A private travel policy will not do, and sorting this out after arrival delays registration, which in turn delays the residence permit.
The visa you receive is an entry visa. The residence permit for study purposes is issued after you arrive and register locally, which is a step students frequently do not know is coming.
Germany study visa plans
Frequently asked questions
What is APS and do I need it to study in Germany?
APS is a certificate from the Academic Evaluation Centre that verifies Pakistani academic documents. Without it German universities will not process your application or the visa. It takes weeks so start before applying.
What is a blocked account for Germany?
A blocked account (Sperrkonto) is a special bank account that releases a fixed monthly amount after you arrive. Germany does not accept an ordinary bank statement as proof of funds and the required sum changes, so confirm it before you transfer.
Is study in Germany really free?
Most public universities charge no tuition for international students apart from a small semester fee. You still need money for living costs, German health insurance and the blocked account.
Do I need to know German to study in Germany?
For German-taught degrees yes, and usually TestDaF or DSH, not a general Goethe certificate. English-taught Master's programmes do not need German for admission, but you will need it for daily life and part-time work.
What is the difference between a German entry visa and a residence permit?
The embassy gives you an entry visa. The residence permit is issued after you arrive and register, and it needs proof of health insurance and enrolment. Late insurance delays it.
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