What is the Germany Internship Visa, What Are Its Types? (2026)

The Germany internship visa is a type D national visa required for internships exceeding 90 days; a Schengen visa is sufficient for internships of 90 days or less. Its types, documents, and duration are here.

The Germany internship visa is the type of visa applied for by those who wish to complete an internship related to their field of study in Germany. The internship duration if it does not exceed 90 days a short-term Schengen (Type C) visa, if it exceeds 90 days a long-term national (Type D) visa is required. Since the document set significantly varies depending on the type of internship, determining the correct category is the first step of the application. Marsel Visa provides consultancy support to applicants regarding document preparation and appointment tracking during the internship visa process.

What Are the Types of Germany Internship Visa?

The Germany internship visa is evaluated in four main categories based on the nature of the internship:

• University internship visa: It is obtained for internships approved by the university that are related to the student's own field.
• Erasmus internship visa: It covers exchange internships documented with a Learning Agreement under the Erasmus+ program.
• Scholarship internship visa: It is required for internships supported by an international institution, EU funds, or German public funds.
• BA/ZAV approved internship visa: It is used for voluntary internships that require approval from the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) and are not directly related to a university.

The required supporting documents vary for each category; for example, a Learning Agreement is mandatory for Erasmus internships, while a Federal Employment Agency consent is required for BA/ZAV internships.

📋 Required Documents for the Internship Visa

Regardless of the type of internship, the standard documents required along with category-specific additional documents are as follows:

For applicants under 18, a notarized consent signed by both parents is also required.

General information regarding all processes including those outside of the internship Germany visa can be found on our pillar page.

What is the Duration and Cost of the Germany Internship Visa?

Short-term (C type) internship visa applications usually conclude within 20-30 business days; for long-term (D type) internship visas, this period averages 3 months. can be extended, during busy periods (before holidays, summer months) the duration may increase further. Applications can be made at least 3 months before the planned travel date.

The official visa fee for a standard Schengen visa is generally 90 Euros, while for a national visa it is around 75 Euros; this is in addition to the biometric and intermediary service fees. It is recommended to confirm the current amounts at the time of application.

The minimum wage law in Germany (MiLoG) also covers internships; however, mandatory internships and voluntary internships lasting up to 3 months are exempt from this obligation. In cases not covered by the exemption, it is necessary to document that living expenses are covered by a scholarship, intern salary, blocked account, or sponsor commitment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a Germany internship visa? For type C (under 90 days) applications, the process generally takes 20-30 business days, while for type D (over 90 days) applications, it takes an average of 3 months.

Is the minimum wage paid during internships in Germany? Mandatory internships and voluntary internships lasting up to 3 months are exempt from minimum wage; for other voluntary internships, the employer is obliged to pay the minimum wage.

Is a blocked account mandatory for a Germany internship visa? It is not mandatory; if the scholarship or intern salary does not cover living expenses, a blocked account or sponsor commitment can be presented as an alternative.

Is there a work permit with an internship visa in Germany? Yes, holders of an internship visa have the right to work for up to 20 hours per week during the validity period of the visa.

Conclusion

Germany internship visa is evaluated under type C or D visa depending on the duration and nature of the internship; the correct category and complete document set are crucial for the smooth progress of the process. Marsel Visa provides support to applicants in document preparation and process tracking. Germany visa appointment You can contact Marsel Visa for consultancy during the process: +90 554 017 52 52 or info@marselvisa.com (WhatsApp support is also available).

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