If you are a national of a third country and would like to attend a general education school in Germany, you can apply for a residence permit for the purpose of attending school. As a rule, you may begin attending school starting in the 9th grade.
A third country is a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA). In addition to the European Union (EU), the EEA includes Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
You will receive the residence permit for the duration of your planned schooling if the requirements are met.
One of the requirements for granting a residence permit is that attending school must be the primary purpose of your stay. Part-time schooling is not permitted.
You must
- attend a public or state-recognized school with an international focus or
- a private school.
The school must prepare students for:
- international qualifications,
- qualifications from other countries, or
- state-recognized qualifications, such as the International Baccalaureate (IB)
While attending school, your living expenses, including adequate health insurance coverage, must generally be secured without relying on public assistance.
If you have not yet turned 18 at the time of the student exchange, your parents or legal guardians must consent to your stay in Germany.
The residence permit is issued for the duration of the planned course of study, for example, until the completion of the educational program and the issuance of the corresponding diploma.
- Appeal period: 1 month
You may appeal the decision of the Foreigners’ Registration Office within one month of notification.
Application deadline: 8 weeks. You should apply for the residence permit no later than 8 weeks before your current visa or visa-free period expires.
The immigration office responsible for the applicant's place of residence
