AbroadGuideBD🇩🇪 Germany
Germany draws two very different kinds of travellers from Bangladesh, and this guide serves both without blurring them. Short-stay visitors move through the Schengen framework — one sticker opens twenty-nine European states and rules are uniform enough that preparation is a checklist discipline rather than a negotiation. Long-stay applicants chase something bigger: tuition-light public universities, engineering and IT roles under a points-based entry track, or vocational training that ends in recognized certification. The two routes share an application centre in Dhaka but almost nothing else — different forms, fee logic, appointment pools and decision timelines. Our desk files both weekly, so every section below separates them cleanly and stamps what we last verified.
Pathways & visa routes
- Schengen visa application form (VIDEX) with all pages and barcodes — filled out online via VIDEX and printed; completely filled out and signed
- Declaration of Consent (signed) — printed and signed; form published by the Embassy
- Valid passport with at least three months' validity from the date of expiry of the requested visa and at least two free visa pages; previous passport(s) if applicable — none stated by the authority
- One recent biometric passport-sized photograph (35x45mm, white background, 70%-80% face coverage; head coverings accepted only for religious reasons; do not glue or staple to the form) — none stated by the authority
- Overseas medical/travel insurance valid for the entire duration of the requested visa and for all Schengen countries, with minimum coverage EUR 30,000 and repatriation (credit-card medical insurances are not accepted) — must be from an insurer on the Embassy's published list of accepted travel health insurances from Bangladesh
- Proof of accommodation: valid hotel/guest-house reservation for the entire travel with full address, contact information and booking reference; or proof of sponsorship and/or private accommodation from the host — accommodation must be identical with the flight reservation; none stated by the authority
- Flight reservation or travel itinerary — none stated by the authority; fake bookings lead to refusal
- Personal covering letter explaining the purpose of the visit and who will bear the travel cost — none stated by the authority
- Proof of purpose of visit: formal obligation letter by the host in Germany (guaranteeing all costs, in accordance with Sections 66-68 of the Residence Act, ORIGINAL no older than 6 months, plus a copy) and/or a personalised original invitation letter from the host in Germany — ORIGINAL required for the obligation letter (no older than 6 months) plus a copy; translation into English or German where the document is in another language
- Proof of relationship with the host (e.g. matching birth certificates where a sibling invites) — translation into English or German where the document is not in English or German
- Financial / employment evidence: letter from the local employer (name, postal address, telephone number of the sponsor/company, position, start date, salary, leave period and resumption date, purpose of travel); if self-employed, copy of trade licence, certificate of incorporation with memorandum of articles, last personal tax return, company bank statements for the past six months; if retired, pension statements for the last 6 months; if a student, a No Objection Certificate from the school/college/university; original personal bank statements for at least the last 6 months before application plus proof of other financial means and assets (e.g. DPS, FDR, holding-tax payment receipt) — ORIGINAL personal bank statements; none stated by the authority
- Documents relating to civil status (copy of Divorce Certificate/'Talak Nama' if divorced; copy of Death Certificate if widowed; copy of children's Birth Certificates) (optional) — translation into English or German where the document is not in English or German
- Additional photocopies: passport pages containing personal data; copy of valid Bangladeshi residence permit (non-Bangladeshi applicants); copies of previous Schengen, US, Canada or UK visas if applicable — none stated by the authority
- For minor applicants (under 18): application form and both declarations signed by both parents or legal guardian; passport copies (biometric and address page) of the father and mother/legal guardian; proof of custody/legal guardianship or a Power of Attorney (authenticated by a competent authority abroad if the parents/guardian are abroad) — Power of Attorney must be authenticated by a competent authority abroad where the parents/guardian are abroad
- Valid passport (issued within the last 10 years; passports with observations on the front data page cannot be accepted) with at least two empty pages — none stated by the authority
- One biometric passport photograph (35x45mm, white background, 70%-80% face coverage; head coverings only for religious reasons; do not glue or staple), not older than 6 months — none stated by the authority
- National visa application form (VIDEX) and declaration, duly signed, with all pages and barcodes — filled out online via VIDEX; Declaration of Consent signed
- Copy of the passport data page (A4 size) — none stated by the authority
- Proof of admission to the relevant university or institution (Zulassungsbescheid) — none stated by the authority; the Embassy states only Master's admissions are accepted and applying without an admission document leads to immediate rejection
- Scholarship or PhD letter (if applicable) (optional) — none stated by the authority; only German-Government- or EU-funded scholarships are accepted as qualified students
- Proof of knowledge of English (TOEFL, IELTS or any other ALTE-certified language certificate) for English-speaking programmes, unless you have completed a Bachelor's degree in Australia, the UK or the US — none stated by the authority
- Proof of knowledge of German for German-speaking programmes (Zertifikat B1 with a 'good' result or higher is recommended) — none stated by the authority
- Higher Secondary Education Board Certificate and mark-sheets — documents not in English or German must be translated into English or German; the Embassy reserves the right to require verification of certificates (additional fee)
- Proof of previous studies in the relevant area (e.g. Bachelor's/Master's transcripts) — documents not in English or German must be translated into English or German
- Letter of motivation answering the Embassy's listed questions — none stated by the authority
- Curriculum vitae (including employment), with references if possible — none stated by the authority
- Travel health insurance valid on arrival in Germany to the date of enrolment at the university (minimum 3 months) — none stated by the authority
- Proof of financial means - one of: confirmation of scholarship/stipend; formal sponsorship letter from a sponsor living in Germany (Verpflichtungserklarung per Art. 68 AufenthG); or a blocked account (Sperrkonto) in Germany in the applicant's name showing a minimum balance of 11,904 Euro and the remark that the account holder can dispose of 992 Euro per month (992 Euro for 12 months, including the bank's handling fee) — the blocked account must be a German bank account in the applicant's own name with the monthly-disposal remark; sponsorship under Art. 68 AufenthG; no apostille/legalisation named on the checklist
- Visa fee (paid in cash, BDT, at the appointment) — none stated by the authority
- Recognised academic qualification (German degree, or a foreign qualification recognised as comparable/equivalent, at least ISCED/EQF level 6) — equivalence/recognition required (e.g. via the German recognition service/anabin); foreign documents may need official authentication and/or translation
- Specific job offer / employment contract of at least six months matching the qualification — none stated by the authority
- Evidence that the salary meets the applicable threshold (EUR 50,700, or EUR 45,934.20 for shortage occupations or new entrants, as of 2026) — none stated by the authority
- Licence to practise (where the profession is regulated), in place or in prospect at the time of application — recognition of the foreign qualification / professional licence required
- Declaration of Employment (Erklarung zum Beschaftigungsverhaltnis) form submitted by the employer (for the BA assessment of working conditions) — none stated by the authority; form published by the Federal Employment Agency
- Federal Employment Agency (BA) approval, where the lower salary threshold applies — obtained by the competent authorities during the visa procedure, not filed by the applicant directly
- Passport, biometric photograph and the national visa application form — specific documents may require official authentication and/or translation, per the Federal Employment Agency's guidance
Required documents
Issued within the last ten years and valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen area, with two blank pages.
Two recent photos against a light background meeting Schengen dimensions; studios near Gulshan know the spec, but bring the printed requirement sheet anyway.
Coverage valid across all Schengen states for the entire first stay; the certificate must show coverage value, dates and geographical scope exactly.
A hold or refundable booking suffices for filing — a purchased non-refundable ticket before any decision is self-inflicted risk our desk advises against weekly.
Hotel confirmations covering every night, or a formal host declaration if staying privately; mismatched dates here trigger clarifications.
Six months of bank statements showing steady balances, or a sponsor letter plus the sponsor's own proofs; sudden large deposits invite questions.
Employment letter with leave approval, business registration or family circumstances — whatever anchors your return story in verifiable fact.
Attested certificates and transcripts, plus equivalence or recognition paperwork where the route demands it; attestation queues start early.
Embassy & application centre
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dhaka
- 11 Felani Avenue, Baridhara Diplomatic Enclave, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
- Phone: +880 2 55 66 4 100
- Email/contact: Consular contact form: dhaka.diplo.de/bd-en/botschaft/kontakt-konsulat
- Hours: Sun–Thu 08:00–15:30; Consular & Visa section by appointment only; closed Fri/Sat
VFS Global — German Visa Application Centre, Dhaka
- Borak Mehnur (Level 7 & 8), 51/B, Kemal Ataturk Avenue, Banani, Dhaka-1213
- Booking runs on the centre's official reservation system; the button on this page opens a verification panel first so you can confirm the genuine booking domain before entering personal details. Agents charging for 'guaranteed slots' add risk, not speed.
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead should a Bangladeshi applicant book a German Schengen appointment?
Six to eight weeks before intended travel is the comfortable window, because processing itself can take up to forty-five days in peak season and Dhaka appointment pools thin quickly around summer intakes. Filing earlier costs nothing extra and removes the single biggest source of pre-trip panic.
Is the blocked account required for students, and what actually happens to it?
For most self-funded students yes — Germany wants proof you can support yourself during the first year without working illegally. The money stays yours: upon arrival you open a local account and receive monthly releases from your own deposit. Scholarship winners substitute their award letter instead. Current minimum amounts come from official sources only; verify on the portal this guide cites before transferring anything.
Can the Opportunity Card be used without a confirmed job offer?
That is precisely its purpose — a points-based authorization letting qualified professionals enter Germany and search lawfully for a set period. You score on qualifications, language, experience and age factors against published criteria. A part-time job found during the trial period may transition into full skilled-worker sponsorship once an employer commits.
Does a German Schengen visa allow visits to other European countries?
Yes — the grant covers the shared Schengen area under one stay calculation, so Paris or Amsterdam side-trips ride the same approval. Your main destination rule still applies: apply through Germany when it is genuinely where you spend the longest time, not merely the cheapest appointment queue available.
What breaks applications most often at the Dhaka stage?
In our filing experience: attestation gaps on academic papers, funds narratives with unexplained deposits, travel plans whose dates disagree across insurance, hotel holds and the form itself. None are fatal if caught in review — which is why desk-checked packs exist. Consistency wins cases more than wealth does.
How to read this page
Every figure here carries the source it came from and the date it was checked against that source. Where a route could not be confirmed on a readable official page it is labelled Not established rather than filled in with a guess. Visa rules, fees and processing times change without notice — confirm with the authority before you pay anything.
Need it done right the first time?
Free assessment, no obligation. Fees and documents are checked against current official rules before we file anything.
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