Basic information

• Only the visa office of the Embassy in Warsaw is responsible for visa applications. The Consulates General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Krakow, Wroclaw and Gdansk do not issue visas and do not provide information on visa applications.
• Please note that you must come to the embassy in person with all the necessary documents to submit your application. Please make an appointment via our appointment system on the Internet. Please plan that the processing time after application is usually several weeks.
• Your application can only be accepted if the documents are complete. The documents must be submitted in the original with one copy of each. Documents in foreign languages must be submitted with an official German translation.
• A fee of approximately 400 zloty (75,- Euro depending on the exchange rate) is charged for processing a visa application to start an internship. The fee is to be paid in Polish zloty in cash at the time of application. It is a processing fee. There is no right of refund in case of rejection or withdrawal of the application.

General information

Important Notice:

A distinction must be made as to whether the language course is to be taken in preparation for a course of study or whether it is an intensive language course that stands alone and does not serve the immediate purpose of preparing for a course of study.

In the first case, the visa applicant (with the appropriate application) does not have to leave the Federal Republic of Germany again between the language course and the start of studies.

In the second case, the course should be an intensive language course as defined by the Residence Act. As a rule, there must be daily classes with at least 18 hours of instruction per week. Evening and weekend courses are not sufficient. The language course must be aimed at the acquisition of comprehensive German language skills and its duration must be limited in time from the outset.

The applications are sent to the competent German immigration authority for comments. The processing time is usually four (4) weeks, but may increase to several months in individual cases. As soon as a decision has been reached, the applicant will be informed immediately by the Embassy. In order to relieve the visa office, it is urgently requested that applicants refrain from making status inquiries, as these delay the processing of visa applications.

After a positive decision on the application, you will be asked to provide proof of existing travel insurance coverage for the validity period of the visa before the visa can be issued. Please note that you must receive your visa in person.

Please make sure that you submit complete application documents! Incomplete applications may result in rejection of the visa application.

The Embassy reserves the right to request additional documentation.

The following list allows you to check whether your application documents are complete. All documents listed here must be submitted in the form and order requested.

Checklist

• One (1) application form including instructions according to § 54 AufenthG, completely filled out and signed
• One (1) current biometric passport photo (format: see photo sample board)
• Valid passport (signed by hand and with at least two (2) completely free pages)
• One (1) plain copy of the data page of your valid passport
• Proof of habitual and legal residence in Poland by Polish residence permit (e.g. visa/residence card), valid for at least 3 months, with one (1) copy.
  In individual cases, further proof of habitual residence (e.g. bank statements, ZUS statements, rental contracts, etc.) may be necessary.
• Last registration certificate in Poland, with one (1) copy
• Evidence of previous education, including a diploma and, if applicable, a degree. certificate and, if applicable, diploma, as well as proof of professional career, with one (1) copy
• Invitation from the language school with details of the course location, course level and course duration, with one (1) copy
• Self-written letter of motivation in German, in particular on the reasons for taking a language course in Germany and future prospects, with one (1) copy
• Proof of existing language skills (in principle at least A2/B1), with one (1) copy
• If applicable: Proof of payment of the fee for the language course, with one (1) copy
• If you have received a scholarship (DAAD, Erasmus), your scholarship confirmation and scholarship certificate are required as proof of financing, with one (1) copy
• Proof of financing of the stay in the amount of at least 947,- Euro per month; the proof can be provided
  
  - by a scholarship in the amount of 947,- Euro per month (if the scholarship is lower, the difference must be proven according to one of the following alternatives), with one (1) copy
  
  or
  
  - by a formal declaration of commitment in accordance with §§ 66 to 68 of the Residence Act, in which a third person undertakes in writing to bear the costs (foreigners' offices and registration authorities in Germany have appropriate forms available for this purpose), with one (1) copy
  
  or
  
  - by providing proof of a credit balance at a German bank in the form of a blocked account in the amount of at least 11,364.- euros with a maximum monthly disposal amount of 947.- Euro, with one (1) copy
  
  

  Further information on opening a blocked account in Germany and on the various providers of suitable blocked accounts can be found on our website.

  Some blocked account providers require that your signature on the account opening application be notarized by a German mission abroad. If the provider you have selected requires this certification, please make a separate appointment for this. We will then retain the signed documents and send them to the financial institution in Germany by registered mail. Expenses in the amount of 30,- PLN will be charged for this service. In addition, a fee of currently approx. 265,- PLN has to be paid for the certification of signatures. The application to the financial institution must be accompanied by proof of the origin of the money to be deposited (so-called „source of funds“) as well as simple copies of a confirmation from your language school and your passport.