If you are a citizen of a country that is not a member of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), you will need a residence permit to participate in a German language course or a student exchange program.

The German course must be an intensive language course designed to help you acquire comprehensive German language skills, not to prepare you for university studies.

The duration of the intensive language course must be limited in time. Attending and following up on the course should take up all of your working hours. As a rule, this means classes from Monday to Friday with a weekly workload of at least 18 class hours. Evening, weekend, or part-time language courses are not sufficient.

In the case of a student exchange, you participate in a temporary school stay that generally does not exceed one year and is often organized through student exchange organizations. You may also choose a privately or commercially organized exchange year. A reciprocal exchange is not required to obtain a residence permit. This means that a return visit by a guest student to your home is not necessary.

During the language course and the student exchange, your living expenses and health insurance must be covered without relying on public benefits. As a guideline, the current rate under the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG) applies to student exchanges, and for language courses, the BAföG rate plus 10 percent applies.

You may work up to 20 hours per week during your stay for the language course. The student exchange stay does not entitle you to take up employment.

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 procedure is generally conducted in German.

• The decision to grant a residence permit is at the discretion of the competent immigration authority. As an applicant, you are therefore only entitled to a decision that is free from errors of discretion.
• During your stay to attend a language course, there are no restrictions on changing the purpose of your stay.
• After completing language courses required for taking up employment or vocational training, a residence permit for the corresponding purpose may be granted without prior departure from the country.
• Following participation in a student exchange program, a residence permit for a different purpose of stay may only be granted if there is a legal entitlement.

• Appeal against the decision of the Immigration Office
• Lawsuit before the court specified in the notice of decision on the appeal, if the appeal is denied

The duration of your residence permit is determined by the purpose of your stay; for student exchanges, it is generally one year, while for language courses, the duration of the language course determines the validity period of the residence permit.

• Appeal period: 1 month
  
• 
  Application deadline: 8 weeks. You should apply for the residence permit no later than 8 weeks before your current visa expires.

The immigration office responsible for the applicant's place of residence is responsible for processing the application.

• Fee: EUR 50.
  00 This fee applies if you are a minor.
• Fee: EUR 100.
  00 Under certain conditions, you may be eligible for a fee reduction or exemption.