Can a student change from one German public university to another after their student visa has already been issued for the first one?
Yes, you can switch German public universities after your visa is issued, since it covers your purpose of study, not one school. Stay in the same field, limit the deregistration to enrollment gap to 90 days, and switch within 18 months to avoid a full review.
Yes, you can move from one German public university to another even after your visa has already been issued for the first one. Your German student visa is tied to your purpose of staying to study rather than to one named institution, so you do not need a brand new visa from home to make the switch.
Rules That Keep Your Switch Safe
| Rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Same field of study | Easy transfer; a big subject change triggers manual review |
| Enrolment gap | Must stay under 90 days between the two universities |
| 18 month window | One switch allowed without heavy scrutiny in this period |
Your Step by Step Transition
- Secure a written admission letter from the new university before cutting ties with the old one
- Complete enrolment at the new university and deregister from the old one, keeping both receipts
- Register your new address at the local Citizens' Office and update your health insurer and Blocked Account provider
- Book an appointment at the Foreigners' Office with your full document set to update your residence permit
My Advice
Do not deregister from your current university until your new admission letter is fully confirmed in writing, since a gap beyond 90 days can put your entire visa status at risk. Keep every receipt from both universities and update your address, insurance and Blocked Account records in the same week so your file stays consistent when you visit the Auslanderbehorde.
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