German Student Visa Requirements for Nigerian Students

Nigerian students are one of the largest groups of African students enrolled in German universities. If you are from Nigeria and have been admitted into a German university, you have to apply for a visa. Here is how to navigate the sometimes confusing process of applying for a German student visa application in Nigeria.

What Visa Do Nigerian Students Need to Study in Germany?

As a Nigerian national, if you are accepted to a German university, you have to apply for a National (D-type) Visa for studying. However, this visa is only temporary, and as soon as you get to Germany you have to start the process for a student residence permit, so you can live in Germany for the duration of your studies.

Where Can I Apply for a German Student Visa in Nigeria?

You have to apply for a student visa at the German Consulate General in Lagos. The German Embassy in Abuja only accepts applications for short-term visas or in certain exceptional cases, such as for official and medical emergency trips.

How to Apply for a German Student Visa in Nigeria?

The step-by-step process for a German student visa in Nigeria is:

1. Schedule an appointment online.
2. Open a blocked bank account.
3. Complete the national visa application form.
4. Collect the required documents.
5. Submit the application.
6. Pay the visa application fee.

After you submit the application, you have to wait for the German Consulate in Nigeria, to process your student visa and give you a decision.

Step 1. Schedule a Student Visa Appointment With the German Consulate in Lagos

You have to schedule an appointment with the German Consulate General online. Within two hours, you will receive a confirmation email. Then, in about 4-6 weeks before your appointment, you will receive a second email with the exact date and time.

If you are in Category A, you will receive an appointment within 2 months. If you are in Category B, you have to wait at least one year for an appointment.

Students Category A

• Applicants admitted to PhD studies.
• Applicants holding a BA degree with a grade of 1, that have been admitted to Masters or PhD studies. Applies to classes issued after January 1st, 2019, or (for registrations until March 31st, 2021) after January 1st, 2018.
• Applicants who have a scholarship financed by German public funds or a European-supported fund.
• Applicants who have a signed hosting agreement (Aufnahmevereinbarung) about a research fellowship with a university or research institute approved by the “German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).

Students Category B: Everyone else.

Make sure you do not complete a registration form as a different category from what you are, since your visa application will be cancelled.

Step 2. Opening a Blocked Bank Account for Nigerian Students

When your student visa appointment at the German Consulate in Nigeria is nearing, you have to start the process of opening a blocked bank account. You can open a blocked account with one of the providers approved by the German Federal Government. You have to transfer €11,208 to the account; the sum will be frozen and after arriving in Germany, you will be able to withdraw only €934 per month for your daily expenses.

You need the blocked account to submit as proof you can sustain yourself financially during your studies. Expatrio is one of the few providers where Nigerian students can open a blocked account entirely online.

Step 3. Complete the Germany Student Visa Application Form

You have to complete the Application Form for a Student Visa electronically then print out two copies and sign them. You can find the form on the website of the German Missions in Nigeria. On the application form, you have to give your personal information, family situation, and answer questions regarding the reason why you want to go to Germany (in this case, for studies).

You must attach the forms to the rest of the required documents.

Step 4. Collect the Required Documents

When you submit the application for a German student visa in Nigeria, you have to submit the following documents:

• Your valid passport.
• Two photocopies of the personal data page.
• Visa application form. Print out two copies and sign them each.
• Two biometric visa pictures. Attach one of the pictures to an application form and leave the other as is. The pictures must follow these requirements.
• Declaration for Information provided to applicants pursuant to Section 54 (2) 8. Print two copies and sign each one.
• The letter of acceptance into the German educational institution. Original + two copies.
• Travel insurance for Germany Visa. As a Nigerian student, you can buy a travel insurance policy from international providers such as DR-WALTER or Europ Assistance, or from Nigerian local travel insurance companies.
• Your WAEC Certificate (Primary and Secondary School). Original + two copies.
• Your NPC birth certificate (if you are born after December 13th, 1992). Original + two copies.
• The Declaration of Age, deposed to by the head of Family (if you are born before December 13th, 1992). Original + two copies.
• Proof of language proficiency in the language of your course instruction in Germany. Original + two copies.
• Motivational letter. The letter must be electronically typed, a maximum of one page, and printed in A4 format. Print out two copies.
• Your CV. It must be a maximum of 2 pages, electronically typed, and state all the schools and universities you have been to as well as any work experience. Two copies.
• Proof of financial means to sustain your stay in Germany. Submit the original + copies of one of the following documents, as applicable:
  • Confirmation of a blocked account.
  • Declaration of sponsorship (Verpflichtungserklärung) by someone in Germany.
  • Proof of a scholarship financed by German or European funds.

  The German Consulate in Nigeria can ask for additional documents.

  Step 5. Submit the Student Visa Application at the German Consulate in Lagos

  On the date of your appointment, you have to submit the full set of the required documents and enter a visa interview. Make sure you arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the time of your appointment and that your application is complete since if it is not, it could jeopardize your visa.

  Additionally, you have to bring the requested amount for the student visa fee.

  Do not take a bag with you to your appointment.

  Step 6. Paying the German Student Visa Application Fee

  The fee for the German student visa in Nigeria is €75 (equivalent to 36,406 ₦, as of August 2021). For applicants under the age of 18, the fee is €37.50 (equivalent to 18,203 ₦, as of August 2021). You have to pay the fee at the same time you submit your visa application. The German Consulate in Lagos will only accept 500 and 1000 bills. Fees must be paid in Nigerian Naira.

  Processing Time for a German Student Visa in Nigeria

  The German Consulate in Nigeria can take up to three months to process your student visa application. However, you have to start the application process much sooner than that, since it can take up to a year to even get a visa appointment.

  Can Nigerian Students Work in Germany?

  Yes, Nigerian students can work in Germany part-time. As of 2024, you may work 140 full days or 280 half days per year. If you want to work more than this, you have to make an official work permit application to the Foreigner’s Office (Ausländerbehörde).

  You also cannot be self-employed or freelance unless you have received permission.

  After You Leave Nigeria: Turning the German Student Visa to a Residence Permit

  After you travel from Nigeria to Germany, you have to turn your student visa into a student residence permit. To do that, you first have to:

  • Find accommodation. If you have not already found a place to live during your studies, you have to do so as soon as you get to Germany, because you need a registered address.
  • Register your address with the local registration office and get your Registration Certificate. You need the certificate of residence registration to open a current account and receive the monthly payouts as well as for a residence permit.
  • Open a bank account in Germany. You have to approach a German bank with your identification documents, registration certificate, and visa and open a bank account. You have to link your current and blocked accounts to receive your monthly allowances. Some banks may also ask for your residence permit, so you might need to leave this step for last.
  • Get German student health insurance. Typically, students under 30 need public insurance whereas those over 30 have to get a private insurance plan, such as this one from DR Walter. You can check here to see what type of insurance you need.
  • Apply for a residence permit. Submit your Certificate of Registration, confirmation of the blocked account, health insurance proof, and the letter of acceptance, to the Foreigner’s Office in Germany (Ausländerbehörde) to apply for a residence permit. You need a prior appointment.

  Once you have your residence permit, you can study and work part-time in Germany for the duration of your studies. You can apply for a residence permit extension if you receive one that is shorter than your study program.

  Related Information

  • How to Apply for a German Student Visa in India?
  • How to Apply for a German Student Visa in Pakistan?