Studying in Germany from Bangladesh: Insurance, Blocked Account, Visa

If you want to study in Germany from Bangladesh, the German Embassy in Dhaka publishes one of the most detailed student checklists among the embassy documents reviewed for this series. This guide uses it to explain the blocked account, the travel insurance, the language proof and the timing of your visa, and sets these against the rules that apply once you are enrolled.

Key points at a glance

• Blocked account: 992 euros per month and 11,904 euros for twelve months, held in Germany in your name (status June 2026).
• Alternatives: a scholarship confirmation or a declaration of commitment under Article 68 of the Residence Act.
• Travel insurance: valid on arrival until your matriculation date, with a minimum term of three months.
• Visa timing: issued only up to three months before arrival, with processing of at least about six weeks.
• Documents: your higher secondary certificate with grade transcripts, and proof of earlier study in the relevant field.
• Language: TOEFL or IELTS for English-taught programmes, with an exception for a completed bachelor degree from Australia, the UK or the US. German at B1 is recommended for German-taught programmes.

What does the Dhaka checklist require for your funds?

The checklist asks for a minimum balance of 11,904 euros, which equals 992 euros for twelve months with bank charges included. The account must be in Germany and in the applicant’s name. The account must be opened, the money transferred and credited, and a confirmation of the opening or of the transfer alone is not enough. If you cannot provide this, the checklist accepts a scholarship confirmation or a declaration of commitment under Article 68 of the Residence Act.

The monthly amount of 992 euros is the general German reference figure. Annahme: twelve months from October, which gives 12 × 992 = 11,904 euros.

How does the visa timing work?

The checklist allows a visa to be issued only within three months before arrival, and processing takes at least about six weeks. The timeline below assumes an arrival on 1 October.

The checklist states that missing documents can be submitted after the application. It also says that deadlines are not fixed but can be extended after agreement with the responsible caseworker. Do not plan around that flexibility, because the extension depends on the caseworker.

Which health insurance does the checklist require?

The checklist asks for travel health insurance that is valid on arrival in Germany until your matriculation date, with a minimum term of three months. Statutory cover (KVdS) starts only after you enrol and take up residence, so your travel policy has to bridge that gap. Read the policy for coverage limits, and confirm with the provider that the full period is covered.

Annahme: six months of statutory cover at 142.96 euros per month equals 857.76 euros. That figure is based on the GKV-Spitzenverband fact sheet for 2026, with an assumed average additional contribution of 2.9 percent and an income base of 855 euros. Section 5 SGB V sets the membership rule, and section 8 SGB V sets the exemption rules, including the three-month filing deadline.

Which documents and language proof do you need?

The checklist asks for your higher secondary education certificate with grade transcripts, and for proof of earlier study in the relevant field. For English-taught programmes, you need TOEFL or IELTS, unless you hold a completed bachelor degree from Australia, the UK or the US. For German-taught programmes, the checklist recommends German at B1 with a good result. The checklist does not mention APS, so ask your university whether an APS certificate is needed.

Frequently asked questions

Does a bachelor degree from the UK count for the English test?

According to the checklist, a completed bachelor degree from Australia, the UK or the US is an exception to the TOEFL or IELTS requirement. Check the exact wording with the mission and with your programme before you rely on it.

Is an APS certificate needed?

The Dhaka checklist does not mention APS, so ask your target university directly.

Can I apply before the visa window opens?

No. The checklist says a visa can be issued only up to three months before arrival, so an earlier application would not lead to an earlier visa.

Can someone else sign for the funds?

The checklist mentions a declaration of commitment under Article 68 of the Residence Act as an alternative. Ask the mission what it requires from the person who signs and whether the declaration fits your case.

Why do missions have different rules?

Each mission publishes its own checklist, and the rules can differ on funds, insurance and language requirements. For applicants from Bangladesh, the list of the German Embassy in Dhaka applies. Use the list of the mission that handles your application.

Your next steps

1. Get your admission letter with the start date and the teaching language.
2. Gather your higher secondary certificate with grade transcripts and the proof of earlier study.
3. Choose the funds option that fits you, and open the account in Germany or secure the alternative in time.
4. Buy travel insurance valid on arrival, then plan your statutory enrolment and its timing.

Related articles

• Health insurance for international students in Germany
• Studying outside the EU: health insurance rules
• Student health insurance in Germany 2026: key figures
• Health insurance for students: glossary from A to Z

Sources: German Embassy Dhaka, checklist for student visa applicants (status June 2026); German Embassy Dhaka, student visa information page (checked for this update); GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on contribution figures (status 1 January 2026); Gesetze im Internet, section 5 SGB V; Gesetze im Internet, section 8 SGB V.

Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.