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Can I switch from a language-course visa to a student visa in Germany?

By VisaRoom EditorialChecked 29 October 2026For applicants in Lagos, Abuja and Accra

Short answer

The pages we checked do not say whether a language-course residence permit can be changed to a study permit later. For a language course not meant to prepare for university, the German Missions in Nigeria ask for A2 German and EUR 1,091 a month. Ask the foreigners' office (Ausländerbehörde) and the mission before you plan around a switch. 123

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On this page
  1. Short answer
  2. What does a language-course visa ask for in Nigeria?
  3. How much money do you show for a language course?
  4. What does the law say about a language-course permit?
  5. How do you apply for a language course from Ghana?
  6. Can you switch to a student visa after arriving?
  7. People also ask
  8. Related questions
  9. Sources

What does a language-course visa ask for in Nigeria?

The German Missions in Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja) list A2 German as the language level for a language course.

For money, they list EUR 1,091 net a month for language courses that are not meant to prepare you for university. University study is a different line on the same page, at EUR 992 a month, and that line includes a preparatory language course.

Sources for this part12

How much money do you show for a language course?

The Nigeria missions give an example: for a 3-month language course in Germany you show EUR 3,273 (3 x EUR 1,091).

The amount must cover your planned stay, up to a maximum of one year. The missions say this in an example about a 2-year degree: the programme lasts two years, but proof is only needed for one year.

Check the mission page again before you apply. We read it on 29 October 2026.

Sources for this part2

What does the law say about a language-course permit?

Section 16f of the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz, the main German law on foreigners) covers language courses. In our translation, a foreigner may be granted a residence permit to take part in language courses that do not serve study preparation.

The same section says this permit allows work of up to 20 hours a week (our translation).

Section 16f is for courses that are not study preparation. The Nigeria missions put a preparatory language course under university study instead, at EUR 992 a month.

Sources for this part32

How do you apply for a language course from Ghana?

The German Embassy in Accra says that for language courses without studies, all applicants have to apply in person at the embassy. Appointments can only be booked through the embassy's online appointment system.

The embassy's Studies and Language Courses page lists separate information sheets for a visa for university studies and a visa for a language course.

Sources for this part5

Can you switch to a student visa after arriving?

We could not answer this from the sources. The pages cited here do not say whether a language-course permit can be changed to a study permit once you are in Germany. Those pages are the Nigeria language and financial means pages, the Accra Studies and Language Courses page and the text of section 16f.

So we won't say yes or no. Ask the foreigners' office in the city where you will live, and ask the mission where you apply, before you plan around a switch.

DAAD says a tourist visa cannot be converted to a student visa later on. DAAD also describes the Schengen visa as the short-stay visa for holidays, language courses and business trips. Ask the mission which visa type your language course would fall under.

Sources for this part3254

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People also ask

What German level do I need for a language-course visa from Nigeria?

The German Missions in Nigeria list A2 for a language course. For study in German without a prior course they list C1, and with a prior course they list none. 1

Can I work on a language-course residence permit?

Section 16f of the Residence Act, in our translation, says the permit for a language course allows work of up to 20 hours a week. 3

Can I change a tourist visa to a student visa in Germany?

DAAD says a tourist visa cannot be converted to a student visa later on. 4

Do I apply in person for a language-course visa in Accra?

Yes. The German Embassy in Accra says all applicants for language courses without studies apply in person, with appointments booked through its online appointment system. 5

Sources

  1. 1Language skillsOfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 29 Oct 2026
  2. 2Financial meansOfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 29 Oct 2026
  3. 3§ 16f AufenthGOfficialFederal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 29 Oct 2026
  4. 4VisasOfficialDAAD · checked 29 Oct 2026
  5. 5Studies and Language CoursesOfficialGerman Embassy Accra · checked 29 Oct 2026

Official is the embassy or a German government page. Applicant reports are what applicants say happened at their appointment. Secondary is everything else we checked.

General information, not legal advice. VisaRoom isn't connected to any embassy or government, and only the embassy decides on your visa. Something out of date? Tell us.