Visa

You should first check if your country is included in a visa waiver program or if a visa is required to travel to Germany on your passport.

If needed, IWL participants are advised to apply for a tourist visa, which is ideal for short-term stays. As IWL is a non-credit, month-long program, IWL cannot act as sponsor for your visa. 

Detailed information on visa requirements and how to apply can be found on the Website of the German Foreign Office.

Here's a brief summary of key points:

EU nationals and the nationals of certain other countries are exempt from visa requirements for short stays of up to 90 days in a 180‑day period. A list of all countries and the visa requirements applicable to each can be found here.

Participants who need to obtain a visa will in most cases apply for a Schengen visa (suitable for stays of up to 90 days). Visa applications must be made to the Embassies and Consulates General of the Federal Republic of Germany in the applicant’s country. A list of all German embassies and consulates by country is available here (in German only). See also Information on the visa application process.

The fee for a Schengen visa is 90 EUR though this may be waived for students who undertake trips for the purpose of study or training and researchers who participate in a scientific seminar or a conference. See Information on visa fees.