If you want to study in Germany from Colombia, your first step is a national study visa from the German Embassy in Bogota. The embassy asks for a blocked account, private health insurance that is valid across the Schengen area for the first 90 days, and a visa fee of 75 euros that you pay in cash in Colombian pesos.
Short answer: Colombian applicants need a German national visa for study. Bogota asks for a blocked account of at least 992 euros per month, or 11,904 euros for a regular twelve-month period, plus private insurance valid in all Schengen countries with at least 30,000 euros cover for the first 90 days. The visa fee is 75 euros. Figures from the embassy page, last updated in May 2026.
The most important points
- The Bogota embassy names a monthly blocked account of at least 992 euros, or 11,904 euros for a regular twelve-month period.
- Your health insurance must be private, valid in all Schengen countries and cover at least 30,000 euros for the first 90 days.
- The visa fee is 75 euros, paid in cash in Colombian pesos at the embassy’s exchange rate on that day.
- The page does not name a specific language certificate. Your language level must match the level in your admission notice.
- Once enrolled, you need German student health insurance, which is a separate product from the visa cover.
- Check the embassy page again before you book, because fees and rules can change.
Which health insurance does the Bogota embassy require?
The embassy requires private health insurance, called an Incoming-Versicherung in German practice. It must be valid in all Schengen countries, offer at least 30,000 euros of coverage and apply to the first 90 days of your stay. This is an entry requirement for the visa. It is not your long-term German health insurance.
Once you are enrolled at a German university, you normally need German student health insurance under § 5 SGB V. For 2026, the statutory average is 112.18 euros per month for health insurance, plus 35.91 euros for nursing care if you have no children and are 23 or older. The comparison below shows how the two products differ.
| Feature | Visa insurance (Bogota) | German student insurance (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Entry requirement for the visa | Ongoing cover while you study |
| Coverage or premium | At least 30,000 euros, first 90 days | Basic contribution 87.38 euros, average total 112.18 euros per month |
| Validity | All Schengen countries, first 90 days | While you are enrolled and insured under German rules |
| Legal basis | Embassy requirement | § 5 SGB V |
Plan the switch before you arrive. Because the visa cover is tied to the first 90 days, make sure a German policy is in place before that period ends if you stay longer. Check the start date with your university and your insurer, and read our guide to health insurance for international students in Germany for the enrolment steps.
How much money must you show from Bogota?
The Bogota page sets the blocked account at no less than 992 euros per month, which it totals as 11,904 euros for the regular twelve-month validity period. The bank certificate must show both the total amount and the monthly amount available. According to the page, a blocked account is the only way the embassy accepts to prove these resources.
| Item | Figure | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Blocked account per month | 992 euros | Embassy Bogota, page last updated May 2026 |
| Blocked account, twelve months | 11,904 euros | Same page |
| Visa fee | 75 euros, cash in Colombian pesos | Same page |
| Language proof | Level stated in your admission notice, unless the university already checked it | Same page |
Calculation example. Assumption: you study for six months. Then 992 euros multiplied by 6 gives 5,952 euros. Assumption: you need the full year, which gives 11,904 euros. Confirm with the embassy which period applies to your programme, since the page refers to the regular twelve-month validity.
Which admission and language documents should you bring?
Bring your original admission notice and your enrolment or Studienkolleg confirmation. The page says that your language skills must match the level stated in the notice, unless the university already verified them during selection. Because no specific certificate is named, ask your university which test it accepts for your programme, and bring the original and a copy.
How do you pay the fee and prepare for the appointment?
The fee is 75 euros. The page states that you must pay it in cash in Colombian pesos, at the embassy’s exchange rate for that day. Bring the exact amount in cash, check the rate before your appointment, and keep the receipt with your application papers.
Step by step: applying from Colombia
- Buy a private insurance policy that is valid in all Schengen countries, with at least 30,000 euros cover for the first 90 days, and keep the certificate.
- Open a blocked account and request a bank certificate that shows the total of 11,904 euros and the monthly amount of 992 euros.
- Gather your admission notice, language proof and original documents.
- Pay 75 euros in cash in Colombian pesos on the day of your appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay the visa fee by card in Bogota?
The page says the fee must be paid in cash in Colombian pesos, at the embassy’s exchange rate for that day. Check the day’s rate before you come, and bring the exact amount in cash.
Does standard travel insurance count?
The embassy asks for private insurance that is valid in all Schengen countries, with a minimum of 30,000 euros cover for the first 90 days. Read the policy wording against these three points before you buy. If the policy does not state the Schengen validity and the minimum cover, confirm with the embassy first.
Is an admission letter required?
Your admission notice or Studienkolleg confirmation is part of the application, and the language level stated there counts. If the notice does not state a level, ask your university which level you must prove.
How current is the Bogota page?
The page states that it was last updated in May 2026, and the article is dated 10 July 2026. Check the embassy site again before you book an appointment, because embassy pages are updated from time to time.
What to do next
- Compare the blocked account options and confirm the monthly amount of 992 euros with your bank.
- Ask your insurer to confirm in writing that the policy meets the 30,000 euro and 90-day requirement.
- Choose your German student health insurance plan before you arrive, so there is no gap.
Related guides
- Studying in Germany from Kenya: Visa, Blocked Account, Insurance
- Health Insurance for International Students in Germany
- Student Health Insurance in Germany 2026: Key Figures
Sources: German Embassy Bogota, university studies (page last updated May 2026); § 5 SGB V, gesetze-im-internet.de (current text); § 16b AufenthG, gesetze-im-internet.de (current text); GKV-Spitzenverband, Faktenblatt Rechengrößen Beitragsrecht 2026 (status 1 January 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
