Work & Study
Student residence permit (§16b AufenthG)
For people admitted to study at a German university. Follow the path from admission letter to residence permit.
- €992a month in funds (€11,904 a year in 2026)Source: €992 a month in funds (€11,904 a year in 2026) (opens in new tab)
- 140 daysof work a yearSource: 140 days of work a year (opens in new tab)
- 18 monthsto look for a job after graduatingSource: 18 months to look for a job after graduating (opens in new tab)
Your local offices
City not listed? Find your Bürgeramt with the federal service search and your Ausländerbehörde with BAMF-NAvI, or see the guide for your state.
General information summarised from official sources. Rules change and the authorities make every decision. Check with your Ausländerbehörde or a qualified adviser.
General information only, and no outcome is promised. Check with your local Ausländerbehörde before acting.
Your local office: documents, fees, booking and waiting times are set by each Ausländerbehörde and differ from city to city. Pick your situation and city in the step finder to get a direct link to your own office, or see the local office guide for your state. You can also find your office with BAMF-NAvI or the federal service finder.
Found a job? See the EU Blue Card guide and the skilled worker guide.
Who it's for
People admitted to full-time study at a state or state-recognised higher education institution. It also covers preparatory measures (a required language course, Studienkolleg) and mandatory internships (MIG, checked 2026-11-04). It is not available for intensive foreign-language courses.
Still applying from India? Before the visa come APS, the dMAT for some degrees, and your university applications: see Before you come.
Requirements
- Enrolment or conditional admission (MIG, checked 2026-11-04).
- Funds of €992/month, i.e. €11,904 per year in 2026, e.g. via a blocked account, scholarship or declaration of commitment (MIG, checked 2026-11-04). The two sources agree.
- Language proof: for direct entry into a Bachelor's or Master's, generally C1, whether you study in German or English. For a preparatory course, at least B1 German or B2 English. Your university's admission requirements also apply (German missions in India, checked 2026-11-05).
- Health insurance Not yet confirmed.
Rights
- Usually issued for 2 years and renewable (MIG, checked 2026-11-04).
- Work: up to 140 working days a year. A day with up to 4 hours counts as a half day; alternatively, each week counts as 2.5 days, which during lecture periods applies only up to 20 hours a week. The more favourable method is used week by week (§16b Abs. 3 AufenthG; MIG, checked 2026-11-04).
- Student assistant jobs are unlimited. Not yet confirmed.
- After graduating: a §20 job-search permit for up to 18 months (MIG, checked 2026-11-04).
Documents, fees and steps at your local office
Each Ausländerbehörde publishes its own document checklist, fees and booking or online-application process, so this guide doesn't copy one city's list. Pick your situation and city in the step finder for a direct link to your office's page, or open the local office guide for your state. Fees for residence permits are set nationwide in § 45 AufenthV; your office tells you the exact amount.
Processing notes
A label can be issued at the appointment; an eAT usually takes several weeks Not yet confirmed. Embassy wait times vary; check your German mission's website.