Study in Germany from Pakistan: Visa, Blocked Account and Local Rules

Last verified: 20 October 2026. We checked these study in Germany from Pakistan details against the German Missions in Pakistan website.

If you plan to study in Germany from Pakistan, the general rules are the same as for everyone: an admission letter, proof of money and a national student visa. However, the German Missions in Pakistan add their own local rules. For example, they accept only HEC scholarships as proof of funding, require your blocked account signatures to be attested in Pakistan, and split applicants between Islamabad and Karachi. This guide covers those Pakistan-specific steps.

Study in Germany from Pakistan: key facts

For the general German rules, including the €75 (seventy-five euros) visa fee, see our Germany student visa requirements guide.

Step 1: get admission and plan your costs

First, you need an admission letter from a German university. Many public universities charge no tuition, but there are exceptions. Our guide to studying in Germany for free explains which states and universities charge fees.

If your university does charge fees, the German Missions ask for proof that you can pay them, on top of your living costs.

Step 2: proving funds to study in Germany from Pakistan

Next, you must show €11,904 for one year. The German Missions also say they may ask for up to two years in particular cases.

Option A: blocked account

• The provider must give the Embassy a login code or contact so it can verify your account.
• You must have your signatures on the account documents attested at the Embassy in Islamabad, the Consulate General in Karachi or the Honorary Consul in Lahore.
• Bring your passport and a black-and-white copy including page 2, the signature page.
• Bring the exact attestation fee, because change may not be available. You book this separately from your visa appointment.

Option B: a sponsor in Germany

Alternatively, a sponsor living in Germany can sign a formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung) at their local migration office. They must prove their own income, for example with at least six months of payslips and bank statements.

Option C: an official scholarship

Importantly, the German Missions in Pakistan accept a German or foreign official scholarship, but they say only an HEC scholarship counts from Pakistan. In other words, a scholarship from your Pakistani university will not satisfy the requirement. The Federal Foreign Office also lists DAAD and other German public scholarships as valid proof. If you hold a DAAD award, confirm with the Mission how to present it.

Step 3: Islamabad or Karachi?

According to the Consulate General’s checklist, Karachi only accepts applications from permanent residents of Sindh and Balochistan. So if you live in Islamabad Capital Territory, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan or Azad Jammu and Kashmir, you apply through the Embassy in Islamabad. This split covers visa applications only. For blocked account signatures, you can use Islamabad, Karachi or the Honorary Consul in Lahore. Check the German Missions website for your exact jurisdiction before booking.

Step 4: attest your certificates

German universities and uni-assist check Pakistani documents closely. According to DAAD Pakistan and uni-assist:

• Your university degree and transcripts need HEC attestation.
• Your SSC and HSSC (or Matric and Intermediate) certificates need IBCC attestation.
• Pakistan is not on the APS list. The APS certificate applies to China, Vietnam and India, so Pakistani applicants do not need one.

Also note that HSSC alone does not give direct entry to a German Bachelor’s degree. DAAD Pakistan says you need either one year of university study in Pakistan or a foundation course (Studienkolleg) in Germany first.

Step 5: documents to study in Germany from Pakistan

The Pakistan checklists include these documents, among others:

• A completed national visa application with a biometric photo and the required declarations.
• Passport copies (pages 1 and 2) and copies of previous visas.
• Your admission letter, CV and motivation letter.
• Your O-level and A-level certificates (where applicable) and any university transcripts and degrees.
• IELTS or a similar English test, and/or Goethe certificates.
• Proof of finances, plus proof you can pay tuition if your university charges it.
• Refusal letters from any previous visa applications.

A warning about old checklists: some checklist PDFs on the Missions’ website still show older blocked account amounts, such as €10,236 or €11,208. However, the Missions’ finance page, dated 27 November 2025, gives €11,904 for applications from 1 January 2025. So follow the finance page, and confirm with the Mission if in doubt.

Step 6: book your visa appointment

Student visa applications in Pakistan go through the Federal Foreign Office’s Consular Services Portal at digital.diplo.de/studium. This applies to applicants under both Islamabad and Karachi. Keep these points in mind:

• Upload a complete file. The Embassy says applications are put on hold if degree certificates, transcripts or proof of tuition payment are missing.
• Expect delays. The Embassy reports a backlog and asks applicants not to send follow-up enquiries. It publishes no fixed waiting time.
• Pay the visa fee in rupees. The national visa fee is €75, paid in cash in Pakistani rupees at the counter.
• Get it right first time. Since 1 July 2025, the Missions have suspended the remonstration procedure, so you can no longer ask them to review a refusal.

Step 7: arrange health insurance

For the visa, you need travel health insurance that is valid from the day you travel. After you arrive, health insurance is compulsory for enrolment. According to DAAD, students under 30 can join statutory health insurance at a reduced student rate of about €120 to €130 a month. From age 30, the standard rate usually applies.

Scholarships for Pakistani students in Germany

Funding can replace part or all of your blocked account. These are the main official routes:

• HEC Overseas Scholarships for Germany: mainly for PhD study. DAAD helps select and place scholars, and you need an acceptance letter from a German supervisor. Check HEC for open calls.
• DAAD Research Grants (doctoral programmes): for candidates with 18 years of education (MS or MPhil) and a recent degree, no older than six years.
• University scholarships: many German universities offer their own awards once you are enrolled.

DAAD dates vary by programme, so see our guide to finding your DAAD deadline.

After you arrive: work and staying on

Once you are studying, German law allows you to work up to 140 full days or 280 half days a year. Alternatively, you can work up to 20 hours a week during lecture periods. Student assistant jobs at your university do not count towards this limit.

After graduating, you can apply for a residence permit for up to 18 months to look for a job that matches your degree, as long as you can support yourself. If you find qualified work, you can start straight away.

Worked example: how a Lahore student can study in Germany from Pakistan

To illustrate, imagine Fatima from Lahore has an offer for a tuition-free Master’s in Germany:

1. She opens a blocked account and deposits €11,904.
2. She books a signature attestation with the Honorary Consul in Lahore and brings €25 in rupees, about 5,400 Pakistani rupees, in exact change.
3. Because she lives in Punjab, she books her visa appointment with the Embassy in Islamabad, not Karachi.
4. She gets her degree attested by HEC and her school certificates attested by IBCC.
5. She uploads her application on the Consular Services Portal and arranges her documents in the order the checklist gives and attends the appointment with her original passport and the visa fee.

Frequently asked questions

How much bank balance is required to study in Germany from Pakistan?

The German Missions in Pakistan require €992 a month, which is €11,904 a year, usually paid into a blocked account. In some cases they may ask for up to two years.

Can I use my Pakistani university scholarship as proof of funds?

No. The Missions say only an HEC scholarship is acceptable from Pakistan.

Do I need IELTS to study in Germany from Pakistan?

It depends on your course language. English-taught courses usually ask for IELTS or TOEFL. German-taught courses usually need German at B2 level or above, shown with DSH, TestDaF or Goethe certificates. Always check your university’s exact score.

Do Pakistani students need an APS certificate?

No. The APS certificate applies to applicants from China, Vietnam and India. Pakistani students instead need HEC and IBCC attestation of their documents.

Can I work while I study in Germany?

Yes. You can work 140 full days or 280 half days a year, or up to 20 hours a week during lecture periods.

Official sources

• German Missions in Pakistan – How to finance your stay
• German Missions in Pakistan – Checklist for student and language course visas (PDF)
• German Missions in Pakistan – Student visa leaflet (PDF)
• German Missions in Pakistan – Study visa
• DAAD Pakistan – Getting started
• Make it in Germany – Working as a student
• Residence Act, Section 20

Visa rules change. Always confirm details with the German Missions in Pakistan before you apply. This is general information, not legal advice.