Residence permit - German intensive language course

Description

The intensive language course must be of limited duration from the outset. A residence permit for a language course can be granted for a maximum of twelve months, which means that an extension is not possible. If, after successfully completing a language course, you wish to remain in Germany for other reasons (such as to study or work), this is generally possible.

A residence permit to attend an intensive language course requires that you have sufficient means of support and adequate health insurance cover for the duration of your stay.

Before entering the country

You will usually need a visa to enter Germany. You can find all the information on the visa application process on our website.

After arrival

You must first register your address at the Citizens’ Office.

Application for a residence permit

Before your national D visa or current residence permit expires, you must apply for a residence permit. Please use the same online application form to renew your residence permit as you did for your initial application.

You can submit your application and the required documents online:

• Please upload your documents as PDF files where possible.
• Once you have submitted your application, a confirmation will be displayed. You can save this as a PDF file for your records.
• This confirmation states that your current residence permit remains valid in Germany beyond its previous expiry date and that you may continue to work to the same extent as before (legal fiction).
• You can present this confirmation as proof to the authorities or at your place of work.
• Once your application has been assessed, you will be given an appointment.

Work permit

The residence permit entitles you to work for up to 20 hours per week. Self-employment is not permitted.

Requirements

Who needs a residence permit?
Citizens from outside the EU, with the exception of Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

General requirements for obtaining a residence permit (§ 5 AufenthG)

• the language course must be an intensive language course. This means that there must be daily lessons with at least 18 lessons per week. Evening and weekend courses are not sufficient.
• it must be a German course, courses in other languages are not possible.

Required documents

• a fully completed application form
• a valid passport or passport substitute
• a recent biometric passport photo, submitted digitally by a certified photography studio or chemist’s. Alternatively, you may use one of the photo kiosks at the Immigration and Naturalisation Service Centre for a fee.
• A valid visa to enter the country for the purpose of ‘attending a language course’, if required
• Proof of sufficient means of support: A blocked account with a German bank or financial institution containing at least 13,094 euros; or a declaration of financial commitment or means test (in individual cases), for example through a declaration of financial support, scholarship offers, a formal declaration of financial commitment or a blocked account
• Proof of health insurance (insurance card) from a statutory health insurance provider or from travel health insurance for the duration of the language course.

Note

• The documents submitted (such as proof of identity and language certificates) will be checked for authenticity. We will consistently report any forgeries to the police.
• ​ Should we require any further documents, we will write to you.

Legal basis

§ Section 16f Residence Act