As of December 2012

Requirements for Student Visa

Visa forms are FREE OF CHARGEInformation regarding visa procedures, requirements and individual applications can ONLY be obtained

from the visa officers of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, not from Security Staff or any other third party. Do not employ agents, travel agencies or other middlemen.

The German Embassy in Accra serves nationals and residents of GHANA, LIBERIA and SIERRA LEONE.

PLEASE NOTE: All student visa applications have to be forwarded to the responsible immigration authority in Germany

by post for approval. The entire procedure will therefore take a minimum of 8 weeks. Applicants are encouraged to process their applications well in advance of the enrolment deadline!! Please note that the processing time for student visa for scholarship holders (from DAAD, German universities or other German or European official funds) is 4 workings days.

All applicants have to apply in person at the German Embassy. The visa fee is 60.-- Euro, to be paid in Ghanaian Cedis at the exchange rate set by the German

Embassy’s accounts department. The visa fee is therefore subject to change without prior notice. The visa fee is a processing fee and is to be paid in full when handing in the application. Should the visa

be denied the Embassy will not refund any money. Compliance with the visa conditions does not automatically guarantee that a visa will be issued. In

addition to the standard requirements other supporting documents may be required, depending on the specific nature of your application. Furthermore, after receipt of a visa, the competent authorities may refuse entry into Germany upon arrival. In such cases, the German Government accepts no liability.

The German Embassy does not return forms, photos or any documents in the case of refusal or if the application is withdrawn.

Fake or forged documents will not be returned and may be sent to the relevant authorities. If the visa is granted, it is your duty to verify whether the information printed on the visa sticker is

correct and complete and to report any errors to the Embassy immediately. When picking up the passport, a valid travel health insurance covering the period from the first entry into Germany until enrolment at university has to be presented.

Address: Mailaddress: Telephone: Telefax: E-mail:

No. 6, Ridge StreetNorth RidgeAccra Ghana

P.O.Box GP 1757AccraGhana

(00233-30) 2211-000 to 2211-010(00233-30) 2221-326

(00233-30) 2221347 info@accra.diplo.de

General requirements:

All documents listed below are to be presented in original as well as two legible copies. Only complete applications can be processed, incomplete applications will not be accepted! Additional documents may be required.

• 2 completely filled-in application forms (application forms are free of charge), duly signed by the applicant. The application form of minors under 16 years of age have to be signed by both parents. Minors between 16 and 18 years of age have to submit written consent by both parents and copy of parents’ passports

• 2 recent passport pictures (please do not attach to forms) with white background• valid passport and copies of the pages of the passport showing the particulars of the applicant • birth certificate of the applicant• marriage certificate and birth certificates of children, if applicable• proof of acceptance for enrolment into a German university• proof of adequate financial means to cover the university fees, housing, the cost of living and other

expenses, currently 659.00 Euro for every month of the first academic year (see below for further explanation)

• sponsor’s passport, information/proof on relation to sponsor, motivation of sponsorship• proof of sufficient knowledge of the German language (Goethe-Institut certificate), unless course is

taught in English. Should the course be taught in English, basic knowledge of German is however recommended.

• school report cards, documents showing academic career and academic standing, if applicable: proof of university degrees earned, proof of previous and current employment, internships, practical attachments, national service (CV and documentation)

• reasons for studying in Germany and for choice of university, study plans and plans for the future (preferably in writing)

• visa fee

Additional information on the requirement of pr oof of adequate financial means:

Adequate financial means implies that the applicant is in the position to secure his/her living expenses for the period of studies in Germany. This means that the applicant has to prove (at the time of application for a student visa) that he/she has a monthly allowance of 659.00 Euro, for the first academic year of the studies, at his/her disposal and that the financing of the rest of the programme is secured.

The following proofs of sufficient financial means are accepted:

• formal obligation according to §§ 66 to 68 of the German Residence Act (signed by a person living in Germany at the local immigration office in Germany and confirmed by the immigration office). The formal obligation should specifically state that the sponsorship covers studies and mention the duration of the intended sponsorship.

Address: Mailaddress: Telephone: Telefax: E-mail:

No. 6, Ridge StreetNorth RidgeAccra Ghana

P.O.Box GP 1757AccraGhana

(00233-30) 2211-000 to 2211-010(00233-30) 2221-326

(00233-30) 2221347 info@accra.diplo.de

• scholarships from German public funds or by scholarships financed by an organisation that promotes education and is approved in Germany. Scholarships from the public funds of the applicant’s country of origin are also accepted.

• sponsorship by a person living in Ghana/Liberia/Sierra Leone. In this case, a letter of sponsorship is required, confirming that he/she will sponsor the student with 659.00 Euro per month for the duration of his/her studies.All sponsors resident in Ghana/Liberia/Sierra Leone are kindly requested to accompany the applicant to the interview at the visa section of the German Embassy or come within a week of the interview. The sponsor must present valid identification (passport), motivation of sponsorship and proof of financial viability (current bank statement covering the last 3 months, payslips/company registration documents - ORIGINALS!). If the visa is granted, a restricted account (Sperrkonto) needs to be opened in Germany and the amount of 7,908.00 Euro (= 12 x 659.00 Euro) has to be transferred to this account. Deutsche Bank offers assistance to foreign students from abroad in opening such an account. Send an email to db.student@db.com for further information. Further necessary authentication of signature and passport copy for the bank is available against a fee at the visa section. Do not open the account before the interview at the visa section!

Additional Information:

Applicants for student visa are advised to prepare their application by discussing their study intentions with a representative of the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service):

DAAD-Informationszentrum Accrac/o Goethe Institut, next to NAFTIDr. Heike Edelmann-Okinda30, Kakramadu Road, CantonmentsTelephone: (00233) 30 2 76 03 42 and 78 48 65E-Mail: daadghana@yahoo.comWWW: http://ic.daad.de/accra/ For office hours please check the website or contact the DAAD via email.

The DAAD also offers counselling at the German Embassy, No. 6, Ridge Street, North Ridge onTuesdays between 09.00 a.m. and 12.00 a.m.

Address: Mailaddress: Telephone: Telefax: E-mail:

No. 6, Ridge StreetNorth RidgeAccra Ghana

P.O.Box GP 1757AccraGhana

(00233-30) 2211-000 to 2211-010(00233-30) 2221-326

(00233-30) 2221347 info@accra.diplo.de