Apply for a residence permit to attend a general education school

If you are a third-country national and would like to attend a general school in Germany, you can apply for a residence permit to attend school.

If you are a third-country national - i.e. not from an EU or EEA country - and would like to attend a general education school in Germany, you can apply for a residence permit to attend school.

The foreigners authority will issue the residence permit for the duration of the planned school attendance if the requirements are met and no grounds for refusal are apparent.

The granting of a residence permit requires, among other things, that attending school is the main purpose of your stay. Mere part-time schooling does not meet these requirements.

The foreigners authority responsible for the applicant's place of residence

• Recognized and valid identity document (e.g. passport or passport substitute)
• Current biometric photo in passport format (45 x 35 mm)
• Proof of means of subsistence (e.g. from own assets, payment of a security deposit into a blocked account, bank guarantee, declaration of commitment, scholarship, proof of parents' income or similar)
• Proof of health insurance cover (e.g. confirmation of health insurance cover or insurance policy).
• Certificate from the school stating the duration and general conditions of school attendance
• For minors: Consent of all persons with custody rights to the planned school attendance (declaration of consent); if the parents with custody rights cannot submit the application jointly for their child, a written power of attorney from the absent parent is required; if only one parent has custody rights, the signature of this parent is sufficient

The documents and information must always be submitted in German. In individual cases, the Immigration Office may require less or further proof.

Forms available: No

Written form required: No

Informal application possible: Yes

Personal appearance necessary: Yes

• You want to attend a public or state-recognized school with an international focus or a private school that prepares its students for international qualifications, qualifications from other countries or state-recognized qualifications (such as the International Baccalaureate [IB]).
• Your chosen school ensures classes with a mix of students of different nationalities.
• You want to attend at least the ninth grade.
• You can cover your living expenses and health insurance for the duration of your stay from your own resources without claiming public benefits. The current BAföG rate (Federal Training Assistance Act) is used as a guideline.
• There are no grounds for deportation against you.

• Appeal against the decision of the immigration authority within one month of notification
• Legal action before the court named in the objection notice if the objection is not upheld

• The residence permit must be applied for before your visa or visa-free stay ends.
• Find out whether your immigration office allows you to apply online or has a special application form.
• If you have not yet reached the age of 18, you are not allowed to submit the application yourself, but need a representative (as a rule, the application is submitted by the custodial parent).
• If the application can only be made in person, make an appointment at the Foreigners' Registration Office. If you apply online, the Foreigners' Registration Office will contact you after receiving your application to arrange an appointment.
• If you have not yet reached the age of 18, you must be accompanied by at least one representative at the personal appointment. If the parent with custody is unable to attend in person, a written power of attorney must be provided for the application.
• Your identity and documents will be checked during the appointment (please bring your documents to the appointment, in the original if possible).
• If your application is approved, your fingerprints will be taken to produce the residence permit in the form of an electronic residence permit (eAT card).
• The Foreigners' Registration Office will commission the Bundesdruckerei to produce the eAT card. After completion, you will receive information and can collect the eAT card from the responsible office. The eAT card must always be collected in person.
• If your application is rejected, you will receive a notice of rejection.

Duration: 6 weeks to 8 weeks

Note (for more information on the deadline):

The residence permit should be applied for at least eight weeks before the expiry of your valid visa or visa-free period.

Note (for more information on the deadline):

The residence permit is issued for the duration of the planned school attendance, for example until the completion of the educational measure.

Duration: approx. 6 weeks to 8 weeks

Note for further information on the processing time:

The processing time may vary depending on the workload at the immigration office.

The production of the electronic residence permit by the Bundesdruckerei takes about 4 weeks to 6 weeks.

Cost amount (fixed):

• 100.00 euros for adult applicants
• 50.00 euros for underage applicants

Remark:

Additional fees may apply for the issue of a residence permit in the form of an electronic residence permit (eAT card), which can also be used as electronic proof of identity.

The time and form of fee collection and payment vary depending on the authority.

In certain cases, fee reductions or exemptions may apply (e.g. for persons entitled to asylum or recognized refugees). Lower fees may apply for Turkish nationals

• Gainful employment is not permitted while in possession of the residence permit. An exception may be made for the vacation period.
• During your stay for the purpose of attending school, i.e. until you have successfully completed the educational measure and received the relevant certificate, a residence permit for another purpose of residence should generally only be issued if there is a legal entitlement (e.g. for family reunification or for studying).
• If you have attended school in Germany while in possession of another residence permit, this does not justify the issue of a residence permit for school attendance.
• The procedure is usually carried out in German.
• All information provided to the Immigration Office should be correct and complete to the best of your knowledge and belief so that your application can be processed without major delays.
• Incorrect or incomplete information can slow down the procedure and be detrimental to the person concerned. In serious cases, incorrect or incomplete information that is not completed or corrected in good time vis-à-vis the immigration authority can result in the revocation of residence rights that have already been granted, a fine, a prison sentence of up to three years or expulsion from the federal territory.
• Due to the complexity of residence law, this description is for information purposes only and is not legally binding.