German student visas get easier: applications through digital portal from 1 January
Interest among Bangladeshi students in higher education in Germany is growing by the day. Taking into account the long wait for visa appointments, the German Embassy has moved to make the application process simpler, faster and more time-saving.
As part of this, a digital 'Consular Services Portal' (Auslandsportal) will be launched from 1 January 2027 to accept student visa applications from Bangladeshi students. Under the new system, the visa application process for undergraduate and postgraduate students will become simpler and more effective, and the embassy expects waiting times for appointments to fall as well.
Under the new system, students will be able to fill in the application form online and upload the necessary documents before appearing in person. They will also have the opportunity to have their application documents preliminarily checked through VFS.
On the appointed day, biometric data collection, visa fee payment and document verification will be completed quickly. Applicants will be able to easily check the latest status of their application through the digital portal, and where applicable, will be able to submit applications jointly with family members.
The initiative has been taken to modernise the appointment system and make the visa application process more dynamic. As part of the change, applicants on the previous waiting list will also have to apply again through the new digital portal — students who have already registered on the waiting list under the old system will need to open an account on the new portal and submit their applications there.
The change may cause temporary inconvenience for applicants who have been waiting for a long time under the old system. However, the new system will make the application process more dynamic and increase the embassy's processing capacity, so waiting times for visa appointments are expected to come down compared with before.
Students interested in undergraduate and postgraduate study will be able to register on the new Consular Services Portal and submit applications. The application process, required documents and detailed instructions will be available on the digital portal and on the embassy's official website.
