ABOUT AACHEN STUDENT VISA GUIDE · 28 JUNE 2026
Accepted at RWTH or FH Aachen? This guide covers the student visa application process — required documents, blocked account, health insurance, and Ausländerbehörde appointment in Aachen.
You’ve been accepted to RWTH Aachen or FH Aachen. Now comes the part that trips up a surprising number of students: the visa process. The good news is that Germany’s student visa is one of the more straightforward long-stay visas available to international students. The bad news is that it involves several parallel steps, each with its own timing, and missing one can delay your start by an entire semester.
This guide walks you through every step from your acceptance letter to picking up your residence permit at the Aachen Ausländerbehörde.
EU/EEA citizens and Swiss nationals do not need a student visa. You can study in Germany freely. The only requirement is to register your address at the Bürgeramt (Anmeldung) within two weeks of arriving.
Non-EU nationals generally need a student visa. The exception: citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Japan, South Korea, and Israel can enter Germany without a visa and apply for a student residence permit directly at the Ausländerbehörde in Aachen after arrival. You have 90 days from entry to do this.
For everyone else, the process starts at the German embassy or consulate in your home country.
Getting a student visa as a non-EU national involves two distinct stages:
Stage 1: National Visa from your home country. You apply for a long-stay student visa (Type D) at the German embassy or consulate in your country before travelling to Germany. This visa is typically valid for 3 to 6 months and allows you to enter Germany.
Stage 2: Student residence permit in Aachen. After arriving in Germany, you convert your National Visa into a student residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis zum Studium) at the Ausländerbehörde in Aachen. This permit is then valid for the duration of your studies.
Both steps require preparation, and several things need to happen in parallel before your embassy appointment.
Your official admission letter from RWTH Aachen or FH Aachen is the cornerstone of your visa application. Without it, the embassy will not process a student visa application. Make sure your letter clearly states the programme name, start date, and duration.
This is the step most students underestimate. Germany requires you to prove that you can financially support yourself during your studies. The standard method is a blocked account (Sperrkonto): a special bank account into which you deposit a fixed amount that is then released to you in monthly instalments after you arrive.
For 2026, the required amount is €11,904 per year (€992 per month). You must deposit the full amount before your visa appointment and bring the confirmation certificate (Sperrbestätigung) to the embassy.
The three main providers are Expatrio, Fintiba, and Coracle, all of which are fully online and accepted by German embassies worldwide. The setup process takes 2 to 4 weeks from start to finish, so open your account at least 6 to 8 weeks before your embassy appointment.
A few important practicalities:
Some students with recognized full scholarships (DAAD, Erasmus+, Studienstiftung) can use their scholarship letter instead of a blocked account. Check with your embassy to confirm whether your scholarship qualifies.
Health insurance is mandatory in Germany. For students under 30, statutory public health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, or GKV) is almost always the right choice. Providers like TK (Techniker Krankenkasse), Barmer, and AOK offer student rates of approximately €120 to €130 per month.
For your National Visa application, you need either a confirmation letter from a statutory insurer or documentation of private travel health insurance valid from your date of arrival. Many blocked account providers (Expatrio, Fintiba) bundle incoming health insurance as part of their packages, which simplifies this step.
After arriving in Germany, switch to a full statutory health insurance plan before or at the time of enrolment. Your university will require proof of health insurance to complete enrolment.
Some embassies ask for proof that you have a place to live in Germany. If you have a confirmed place in a student dormitory (Wohnheim) through the Studierendenwerk Aachen, that letter suffices. If not, a hotel booking, Airbnb reservation, or a temporary furnished apartment confirmation will usually be accepted.
You do not need a permanent flat before applying for your visa. A temporary address is fine for the application; you can find permanent accommodation after you arrive.
If your programme requires German language proficiency (TestDaF, DSH, or Goethe-Zertifikat), bring your original certificate to the appointment. If your programme is English-taught, bring your English language certificate (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent).
Bring certified copies of your secondary school certificates and/or university transcripts and degree certificates, with certified German or English translations where required. Check your specific embassy’s document list; requirements vary by country.
Standard biometric photos (35×45 mm) and a completed visa application form. Most embassies now accept or require online pre-registration through the Consular Services Portal (CSP). Check your local embassy website for the current process.
The standard German National Visa fee is €75. This is non-refundable regardless of the outcome.
Book your appointment at the German embassy or consulate in your country as early as possible. In high-demand countries like India, Nigeria, or Pakistan, waiting times for appointments can be 2 to 4 months. Start the process at least 4 to 6 months before your intended semester start date.
In some countries, you can submit your application online via the Consular Services Portal before your appointment, which speeds up the process. In others, you apply in person.
Find your nearest German embassy at: diplo.de
Bring all your documents in originals and copies. The appointment itself is typically brief; 10 to 20 minutes if your documents are complete. The consular officer will review your application and may ask a few questions about your study plans and finances.
Processing times vary by embassy and country, but typically range from 4 to 12 weeks. You cannot travel to Germany before receiving your visa (unless you are a citizen of a visa-exempt country).
Your National Visa will be stamped into your passport. It is typically valid for 3 to 6 months from the date of issue and allows you to enter Germany and begin your studies.
Your National Visa is temporary. Before it expires, you must convert it into a student residence permit at the Ausländerbehörde in Aachen.
Aachen has two immigration office locations:
SuperC branch (RWTH Aachen students and researchers): Located inside the SuperC building on the RWTH campus, this dedicated branch handles all immigration matters for RWTH students and their family members. If you are enrolled at RWTH, this is your office.
Main Ausländerbehörde (all others): FH Aachen students and those not affiliated with RWTH go to the main office at Hackländerstraße 1, 52064 Aachen.
Before anything else, register your address at the Bürgeramt. This is legally required within two weeks of moving in and is a prerequisite for the Ausländerbehörde appointment. The immigration office will not have your registration in their system until approximately 24 hours after your Anmeldung is processed.
Appointments at the Aachen Ausländerbehörde are released online every morning at 07:45. Log in at that time for the best chance of securing a slot. Appointments fill quickly, especially in October when the winter semester begins and thousands of new students arrive simultaneously.
Book online at: termine.staedteregion-aachen.de/auslaenderamt
Start trying to book your appointment as soon as you arrive in Aachen. If your National Visa is close to expiring and you cannot get an appointment in time, email the Ausländerbehörde immediately. This triggers the Fiktionswirkung mechanism, which legally extends your right to stay in Germany while your application is being processed.
For your student residence permit appointment in Aachen you will typically need:
The officer will review your documents, take your biometric data, and issue a temporary certificate confirming your right to stay while your permit is processed. Keep this certificate with you at all times.
Your student residence permit is a physical card (the elektronischer Aufenthaltstitel, or eAT). It is produced in Berlin and typically takes 4 to 6 weeks to arrive. The process:
Student residence permits are typically issued for 1 to 2 years and must be renewed before they expire. Start the renewal process at least 3 months before expiry. You will need an updated enrolment certificate and proof that your studies are progressing (in some cases, a transcript showing passed exams).
After completing your degree at RWTH or FH Aachen, you are entitled to an 18-month residence permit to search for qualified employment in Germany. This is one of Germany’s most valuable student benefits and a major reason international graduates choose to stay in Aachen.
To apply, visit the Ausländerbehörde before your student permit expires and bring your degree certificate and proof of financial means for the search period.
Yes, students from non-EU countries can work up to 120 full days or 240 half-days per year. During semester breaks, you can work full-time. EU students have no working hour restrictions.
You need an official acceptance letter before applying. If you have applied and are waiting for a decision, you cannot yet apply for a student visa.
It is possible, but the family reunion visa for partners and children of student visa holders involves additional requirements, particularly proof of sufficient finances for the whole family. This is assessed case by case.
If you have applied for an appointment before your visa expired and can prove this (for example via an email submission), the Fiktionswirkung mechanism protects your right to stay. Contact the Ausländerbehörde by email immediately if you are in this situation and keep all records.
The student visa process involves many steps happening simultaneously, and a delay in any one of them can push your start date back by months. ABOUT Aachen offers relocation support specifically for students arriving in Aachen.
The 60-Minute Expert Strategy Session (€170) gives you a personalised plan covering your visa steps, accommodation options, and administrative checklist in sequence, so nothing falls through the cracks. The Kickstart Relocation Package (€990) handles your city registration and furnishes accommodation so you arrive to a ready-to-live space.
Resource
Details
Ausländerbehörde Aachen (main office)
Hackländerstraße 1, 52064 Aachen
SuperC branch (RWTH students)
SuperC building, RWTH Aachen campus
Online appointment booking
termine.staedteregion-aachen.de/auslaenderamt
Blocked account providers
expatrio.com, fintiba.com, coracle.de
German embassy finder
diplo.de
Studierendenwerk Aachen (housing)
studierendenwerk-aachen.de
ABOUT Aachen relocation support
aboutaachen.com/relocation-service
Disclaimer:
This guide is for informational purposes only. Visa requirements, document lists, and financial thresholds are subject to change. Always verify current requirements with the German embassy in your country and the Ausländerbehörde in Aachen before submitting your application.
