Reviewed on March 3, 2026
Apply for a residence permit to attend a language course
Apply for legal residence to take an intensive German course and start your new beginning in Germany.
At a glance
How do you get a residence permit for a language course?
Do you want to learn German in Germany? Then you can apply for a residence permit for a language course. It is valid for a maximum of one year. The authority decides on a case-by-case basis.
With this residence permit, you may work up to 20 hours per week. Self-employment is not permitted with it.
Your language course must be an intensive language course. That means: the course is time-limited from the start. It comprises at least 18 lessons per week, usually daily. The aim is to acquire comprehensive German language skills. Evening, weekend and distance learning courses do not meet these conditions.
You also need sufficient money for your livelihood. You must have at least 1,091.20 euros per month available, that is 13,094.40 euros per year (as of 2026). On top of that, you need health insurance. A statutory or private health insurance is sufficient. For the duration of the language course, a travel health insurance is also enough. You also have to have your main residence in Berlin. A secondary residence is not enough.
You submit the application online. You can submit it at the earliest 4 months before your current residence title expires. Upload all documents, ideally as PDFs. JPG, JPEG and PNG are also permitted. A single file may be a maximum of 7 MB. In total, your files may not exceed 100 MB. Before submitting, you have to pay the processing fee. This is possible by credit card (Visa, Mastercard) or PayPal. Afterwards you receive a confirmation as a PDF. Be sure to save it and, if possible, print it out.
Do you have a national D visa or a residence permit? Then, thanks to the confirmation, this title remains valid beyond its expiry date. Do you only have a Schengen visa (C visa) for a short-term stay? Then this does not apply to you. Are you a national of a state privileged under § 41 Aufenthaltsverordnung who entered the country less than 91 days ago? And are you now applying for a residence permit for the first time? Then the authority treats your stay as permitted until a decision is made. You can already begin the language course. However, you may not yet work during this time.
Note: Do your spouse or your child live with you in Berlin and need a residence permit? Then don''t submit a separate application for them. Enter them directly in your online application. The State Office for Immigration (Landesamt für Einwanderung) will then contact you about their residence permits.
Requirements
Who qualifies?
- You are taking an intensive language course to learn German. The course must be time-limited from the start, comprise at least 18 lessons per week, and be aimed at acquiring comprehensive German language skills. Evening, weekend and distance learning courses do not entitle you.
- You have your main residence in Berlin. A secondary residence is not enough.
Additional requirements
- You need at least 1,091.20 euros per month available (13,094.40 euros per year) and health insurance in Germany — statutory, private, or for the duration of the course also a travel health insurance.
- You need a current email address since the State Office for Immigration (Landesamt für Einwanderung) will contact you that way. Also check your spam folder regularly.
- To submit the application online, you must consent to the electronic payment process. You can pay by credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or PayPal.
How to apply
Book an intensive language course at a language school: the course must comprise at least 3 months and 18 lessons per week — evening, weekend and distance learning courses do not count
Put together all documents: passport copies, proof of health insurance, proof of residence in Berlin, proof of at least 1,091.20 euros per month, as well as a certificate and contract from the language school
Submit your application exclusively online — at the earliest 4 months before your current residence title expires
Pay the processing fee online by credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or PayPal — without payment you cannot submit the application
Save the confirmation as a PDF and, if possible, print it out — it keeps your current residence title valid beyond its expiry date (does not apply to a Schengen/C visa)
Wait for the decision of the State Office for Immigration (Landesamt für Einwanderung) — check your emails and spam folder regularly
Done! The authority decides on a case-by-case basis — if approved, you''ll receive your residence permit for a maximum of one year
Issuance of the residence permit as a sticker
- Issuance of the residence permit as an electronic residence title (eAT)100,00 EUR
- Issuance for Turkish nationals up to age 2427,60 EUR
- Issuance for Turkish nationals aged 24 and over46,00 EUR
- Creation of a digital passport photo at the on-site self-service terminal (additional)6,00 EUR
Good to know
With your residence permit for a language course, you may work up to 20 hours per week. This is secondary employment. Self-employment is prohibited, however.
Die Aufenthaltserlaubnis zum Besuch eines Sprachkurses berechtigt zur Ausübung einer Nebenbeschäftigung von bis zu zwanzig Stunden je Woche.
VAB A.16f, S. 168-171
Since March 2024, you may change your purpose of stay during the language course. The previous restrictions have been lifted. For example, you can switch to a work permit.
Die während eines Aufenthalts zum Besuch eines Sprachkurses bestehenden Beschränkungen für den Wechsel des Aufenthaltszwecks wurden mit dem am 01.03.2024 in Kraft getretenen FEWG aufgehoben.
VAB A.16f, S. 168-171
After a successful language course, you can stay in Germany. You do not have to leave the country first. The authority can grant you a new residence permit for work or training directly.
kann nach erfolgreicher Beendigung von Sprachkursen, die für die Aufnahme einer Beschäftigung oder einer Ausbildung erforderlich sind, die zweckentsprechende Aufenthaltserlaubnis auch weiterhin ohne vorherige Ausreise erteilt werden.
VAB A.16f, S. 168-171
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Apply for a residence permit to attend a language course
If your application is approved, you will receive an appointment. A residence permit as a sticker can be issued on site at the appointment. If issued as an electronic residence title (eAT), it takes 4 to 6 weeks until it can be collected.