Moving to Germany
Written for applicants living in Tunisia. Family reunification and asylum routes are different processes and are not covered here.
Who this guide is for
Applicants living in Tunisia who have an offer, a place or a live application for study, an apprenticeship or skilled work in Germany. If you do not have one yet, start from the opportunities list instead — most German routes require a specific programme or employer before any permit application exists.
Study and work routes
Three routes matter for most people here: a student visa tied to university admission, a vocational training visa tied to an apprenticeship contract, and a skilled worker route tied to a recognised qualification and a job offer. They have different evidence requirements and different processing times, and you cannot switch between them freely once you have applied.
Qualification recognition
A Tunisian degree or vocational certificate usually needs a recognition decision before a skilled worker application will succeed. This is a separate process from your visa and from university admission, it takes time, and it is the step most applicants discover too late.
Documents from Tunisia
Expect to need certified copies, sworn translations into German, and in some cases legalisation or an apostille. Order these early: the waiting time at the issuing institution is often longer than the visa appointment itself.
Costs and proof of funds
Germany requires evidence that you can support yourself, usually through a blocked account. The amount is set annually. Our budget planner keeps your own figures in their original currency and does not treat an estimate as the official requirement.