Goal · visa

Language courses for a German visa

1An in-person intensive course with at least 18 teaching units a week. Lessons on weekdays; evening and weekend courses do not count. 20 or more lessons give a margin if the school cancels a day.
2The school's confirmation of enrolment and payment with the type of course, its length and the lessons per week. The school issues it.
3Proof of funds for your stay — usually a blocked account (Sperrkonto): currently €992 a month.
4Health insurance for the whole stay. The exact list of documents is in the leaflet of the embassy or consulate in your country.

Timing to keep in mind

Consulate appointment: 4–6 weeks
Opening a blocked account: 1–2 weeks
Visa decision: 4–8 weeks
In total before the start: 2–4 months

Book the consulate appointment first: it can be moved, but not obtained retroactively.

In short

Only an intensive course qualifies for a German language-course visa: at least 18 teaching units a week, taught on weekdays. Evening and weekend courses do not count. Here are the in-person courses from our catalogue that meet these conditions. The embassy or consulate makes the final decision.

Common mistakes when choosing a course for the visa

These are the most frequent reasons for a refusal. All of them are visible on the course page before you pay.

An online course

It is no basis for a language-course visa — whatever its intensity and price.

Fewer than 18 lessons a week

Below the threshold: cheaper, but no visa is issued for it.

An evening or weekend course

It does not count even with many lessons in total: lessons must be on weekdays.

A course that is too short

According to the embassies' leaflets the course should last from 3 months to a year. Book the length you need from the start.

172 courses · from €145 / week

Only in-person courses with at least 18 lessons a week, for adults

Quick choice: up to €200 a week 6

Filters Reset

Country

Germany 171 Austria 1

Federal state

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City

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School

All

Profession

for doctors 24 for dentists 4 for nursing staff 11 for business 5 for teachers 4

Time of day

morning 73 afternoon 30 evening 8

Starting level

beginner 108 A1 108 A2 118 B1 131 B2 150 C1 108 C2 6

Intensity

from 20 lessons 172 from 25 lessons 57 from 30 lessons 32

Budget per week

up to €200 6 up to €300 19

Filters change the page address — you can save or share the link.

172 courses

Sort Relevance Cheaper first More lessons

Relevance: partner schools first, then by price.

Language courses for a German visa

Where these courses take place: how many courses and schools each city has and what a week costs there.

City	Courses	Language schools	Price per week
Berlin	32	5	€200–€3,740
Munich	19	5	€200–€1,450
Heidelberg	14	2	€205–€885
Hamburg	12	4	€145–€1,300
Konstanz	12	1	€395–€3,740
Cologne	9	2	€330–€1,450
Düsseldorf	9	2	—
Nuremberg	7	2	—
Frankfurt am Main	6	2	€200–€1,300
Braunschweig	4	1	—
Leipzig	4	2	—
Aachen	3	1	—
Bielefeld	3	1	—
Karlsruhe	3	1	—
Kassel	3	1	—
Mannheim	3	1	—
Passau	3	1	—
Stade	3	1	—
Ulm	3	1	—
Augsburg	2	1	—
Bonn	2	1	—
Bremen	2	1	—
Essen	2	1	—
Ingolstadt	2	1	—
Münster	2	1	—
Regensburg	2	1	—
Stuttgart	2	2	—
Giessen	1	1	—
Jena	1	1	—
Rosenheim	1	1	—
Vienna	1	1	—

Prices from the schools' current price lists, according to the StudyInFocus catalogue.

Other goals

Each goal has its own requirements for the course — and its own selection with an explanation, as here.

Intensive course at a school

An intensive course means group lessons every weekday, usually 20 or more a week. It is the fastest way to ra…

113 courses

For children and teenagers

German programmes for school students: lessons in a group of the same age, many programmes with accommodation…

42 courses

One-to-one

Lessons alone with a teacher: the programme and pace follow your goal — an exam, university admission or a sp…

56 courses

Studienkolleg preparation

A Studienkolleg is the foundation year for school leavers whose certificate gives no direct access to a Germa…

3 courses

Exam preparation

A course for a specific format: TestDaF, DSH, telc, Goethe or ÖSD — the tasks of the exam, its timing and how…

26 courses

Online

When you need the level, not the move: group or one-to-one lessons online, from the same schools as the in-pe…

19 courses

Courses at universities

The universities' own language courses. You do not book a place but apply within deadlines — as for a degree;…

2 courses

Summer camps

Sessions for children and teenagers: German in the morning, accommodation, meals, a daily programme and excur…

24 courses

German for work

Courses for a specific profession: for doctors — preparation for the Fachsprachprüfung (FSP) of a state medic…

64 courses

All language courses

Questions: Language courses for a German visa

Which course qualifies for a language-course visa?

An intensive German course taught on weekdays — at least 18 teaching units of 45 minutes a week. Evening courses, weekend courses and integration courses do not qualify. The basis is section 16f of the German Residence Act (AufenthG) and the leaflets of the German missions.

What else do I need for the visa?

The school's confirmation of enrolment and payment — with the type of course, its length and the lessons per week — proof of funds for your stay and health insurance. The exact list is set by the embassy or consulate in your country: check its leaflet.

How long does the visa take?

The visa usually needs the consent of the foreigners' authority in Germany, so it takes longer: 6 to 12 weeks according to the leaflets of different embassies. Book the course and apply well in advance.

How much money do I need in the blocked account?

Currently €992 a month for the whole length of the course. Germany sets the amount and changes it about once a year; opening the account takes 1–2 weeks.

Does a language-course visa allow me to study at university?

No. The visa under section 16f is for a language course only. Studying at university needs another residence permit: it is a separate step after the exam.

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Weeks needed from your current level to the required one
Exam dates and application deadlines for your semester
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Choose the course for a visa together with the timing

In 30 minutes we count back from your date: when to book the consulate appointment, when to open the blocked account and which course you can still make. If the dates do not work, we will say so.

Free review Visa support

Language courses for a German visa

Common mistakes when choosing a course for the visa

172 courses · from €145 / week

Intensive German Course

Combination course: Berlin + Constance

Intensive German course

German Course B2

Super-intensive course B1 (visa)

Visa course — 24 lessons

German for nurses

Intensive course — 24 lessons

Business German Crash — 30 lessons

Intensive German Course

Intensive course 30 with accommodation and full board

German for nursing staff

German Course C1

Visa course — 24 lessons

German for doctors — Fachsprachprüfung preparation

Intensive course — 24 lessons

Intensive German Course

Intensive course 30 with accommodation and full board

Intensive German course

Visa course — 24 lessons

Language courses for a German visa

Other goals

Questions: Language courses for a German visa

A language plan: from your level to the university application

Choose the course for a visa together with the timing