Study in Germany from Nepal: Blocked Account, APS, Visa 2026

To study in Germany from Nepal you need an admission from a German university, proof that you can pay your living costs (the usual benchmark is €992 a month, or €11,904 a year), and a national study visa from the German Embassy in Kathmandu. Most public universities charge no tuition fees, you can work up to 140 full days or 280 half days a year, and after graduating you can usually stay up to 18 months to look for a job.

Last checked: 20 October 2026. Amounts are in euros; we have not converted them to rupees because we did not have an official NRB euro rate for this date.

Study in Germany from Nepal: key facts

Blocked account: how much money you need

Germany wants to see that you can cover your living costs. The figure most students use is the one DAAD (the German Academic Exchange Service) publishes on its official guide for international students: €992 per month or €11,904 per year. DAAD’s finance page says this amount has applied since September 2024. It is tied to the maximum state support (BAföG) that German students receive, so it can change when those rates change.

The usual way to show this money is a blocked account (Sperrkonto). You deposit the full year’s amount into a German account, and you can only withdraw a fixed amount each month. According to the Federal Foreign Office:

• You open it yourself, usually online, with a bank or provider of your choice. The Foreign Office does not recommend any provider.
• It is normally opened for one year, unless your planned stay is shorter.
• Bank fees come on top of the blocked amount.
• Before your visa is used, the German mission abroad is the “beneficiary”. This does not mean the embassy can take your money; it only controls when the block is lifted.
• If your visa is refused, the refusal notice is enough to lift the block.

Is a blocked account compulsory from Nepal? Not strictly. The German Embassy Kathmandu’s study visa page lists other ways to prove funds: a scholarship confirmation, a formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung) from a sponsor living in Germany, or proof of financial status such as an employer letter, tax records and bank statements. It says a blocked account “is not mandatory for applying but may be requested during the visa process.” In practice, a blocked account is the clearest proof for most Nepali families, because a parent’s bank statement in Nepal does not show money available to you in Germany each month.

For a wider comparison of how much each country wants to see, read our guide on how much bank balance you need to study abroad.

Do Nepali students need an APS certificate?

The APS (Akademische Prüfstelle) checks academic documents for applicants from a small number of countries. German universities list these as China, India and Vietnam. Nepal is not on that list, so a student with Nepali school and university certificates does not need an APS certificate.

There is one important catch. The German Embassy in Kathmandu states that “for Chinese and Indian school or university degrees, an APS certificate is mandatory”, except for students with German or European public scholarships. Many Nepali students study in India. If your bachelor’s degree or +2 is from an Indian institution, plan for an APS certificate and check the APS India process before you apply.

Tuition-free universities and real costs

DAAD’s finance page says most German higher education institutions are financed by the state and there are generally no tuition fees at state universities. That is the big reason Germany appears on so many Nepali students’ lists. But “free” has limits:

• Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students €1,500 per semester for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programmes.
• Technical University of Munich (TUM) charges non-EU/EEA students from winter semester 2024/25: €2,000 or €3,000 per semester for bachelor’s and €4,000 or €6,000 for master’s, per DAAD.
• Semester contribution: every student pays €100 to €350 a semester for administration and often a public transport ticket.
• Living costs: DAAD says a German student spends on average €842 a month on rent, food, health insurance and other basics. Big cities cost more.
• Private universities charge tuition; check the fee on the university’s own page.

Language matters too. Many tuition-free bachelor’s programmes are taught in German. English-taught master’s programmes are more common, but entry is competitive and often needs a recognised bachelor’s degree in a closely related subject.

Step by step: German student visa from Kathmandu

1. Get admission. Apply to German universities directly or through their admission portal. Keep your admission letter.
2. Arrange proof of funds. Open a blocked account for €11,904 for the first year, or prepare one of the other accepted proofs.
3. Get language certificates in hand. The Embassy says a German or English certificate, if required, must be submitted with the application and cannot be handed in later. It accepts German certificates from Goethe-Institut (including Goethe Center Kathmandu), ÖSD, telc and ECL.
4. Apply online on the Consular Services Portal. The Embassy checks your documents and tells you if anything is missing, so you can correct it online.
5. Attend your appointment. Bring originals, give fingerprints and a photo, and pay the €75 fee in rupees, in cash.
6. Wait. The Embassy says to allow at least 3 to 4 weeks. It may ask for more documents or an interview.
7. After approval: submit your flight booking and health insurance, which the Embassy asks for only once the visa is approved.

Documents the Embassy lists

• Passport valid for at least 12 months, with copies of the data page and last page (A4)
• One biometric photo, less than six months old
• VIDEX application form and signed declaration on true and complete information
• Citizenship certificate (original and copy) and birth certificate
• Handwritten motivation letter
• University admission letter (and scholarship letter, if any)
• SLC/SEE certificate and mark sheets, +2 certificate and mark sheets, and bachelor’s documents if you have them
• Language certificates, if required
• Proof of financial means

The Embassy asks applicants not to staple documents or use paper clips, because everything is scanned. Documents must be in German or English, or come with a certified translation. Our guide to attestation, notary and translation in Nepal explains how to get this done.

Working while you study

The federal portal Make it in Germany sets out the rules for students from outside the EU on a study residence permit:

• You may work up to 140 full days or 280 half days a year without approval from the Federal Employment Agency. Up to four hours counts as a half day.
• Alternatively, you may work up to 20 hours a week during the lecture period, with no limit during semester breaks.
• Jobs as a student assistant at a university do not count towards these limits.

Part-time work helps, but it should not be your plan for paying rent from month one. Finding a job without German can take time. See how Germany’s rules compare with other countries in our part-time work rules guide.

After graduation: the 18-month job-search permit

Make it in Germany says graduates usually receive a residence permit of up to 18 months to look for work, and can take up qualified employment straight away during that time. The decision is made by your local foreigners authority (Ausländerbehörde) in Germany, so keep your proof of graduation, health insurance and funds ready when you apply.

Nepal-specific tips

• Book the language test early. Since the certificate must go in with the visa application, a late IELTS or Goethe result can delay the whole process.
• Sending money for the blocked account means an outward transfer from Nepal. Talk to your bank about the documents it needs; our NOC for study abroad guide covers the Ministry of Education side.
• Indian degree holders: budget extra time for APS.
• Bring cash for the visa fee. The Embassy accepts the fee only in cash, in rupees.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming “tuition-free” means “cost-free”. You still need around €11,904 for the first year, plus the semester contribution.
• Submitting without the language certificate and hoping to add it later. The Embassy says it cannot be handed in afterwards.
• Choosing a blocked-account provider only on price without checking that it is reputable. The Foreign Office takes no responsibility for providers.
• Forgetting that a refused visa fee is not refunded.
• Paying an agent to “guarantee” a German visa. No one can. Check any agent carefully before paying.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the blocked account for Germany in 2026?
DAAD gives €992 a month, or €11,904 a year. The German Embassy in Kathmandu says a blocked account is not mandatory for applying but may be requested.

Is APS required for Nepali students going to Germany?
Not for Nepali certificates. APS is for applicants from China, India and Vietnam. But the Embassy in Kathmandu says Indian and Chinese school or university degrees need an APS certificate, so a Nepali with an Indian degree should plan for one.

Is study in Germany really free for Nepali students?
Most public universities charge no tuition, but you pay a semester contribution of €100 to €350. Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students €1,500 a semester, and TUM charges its own fees.

How many hours can a Nepali student work in Germany?
Up to 140 full days or 280 half days a year, or up to 20 hours a week during lectures. University student-assistant jobs do not count.

How long does a German student visa take in Nepal?
The Embassy says at least about 3 to 4 weeks, and longer if it asks for more documents or an interview.

Your next step

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Sources

• Study visa – German Embassy Kathmandu
• Blocked account – Federal Foreign Office
• Entry into Germany – DAAD guide for international students
• Finances, tuition and living costs – DAAD
• Students: work and job search after graduation – Make it in Germany

Last checked 20 October 2026. This is general information, not immigration or financial advice. Check the German Embassy Kathmandu before you apply.