From Visa to Accommodation: A Step-by-Step Guide for Students Moving to Berlin

Introduction 

Berlin, the capital of Germany, is a renowned city among people who have an interest in world history. Partition of Germany between East Germany and West Germany in 1949 and then reunification of Germany in 1990 are the major incidences in world history. During the partition, Berlin was also divided between the two countries by a wall, and the areas were named East Berlin and West Berlin. 

But, Berlin is not just popular for its history but also for many other aspects. One of the aspects is higher education. Numerous international students visit Berlin every year to get higher education. One of its universities is among the top 100 universities in the world and another one is among the top 130 universities. Freie Universitaet Berlin has been ranked #97 out of 1503 universities in the QS World University Rankings 2025. On the other hand, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin has been ranked #126. 

International students have to go through several phases after enrolling in Berlin, starting from understanding and applying for a visa. Here, we will mention some of the significant phases and will provide a step-by-step guide for students moving to Berlin. 

Understanding the Visa Requirements 

If you are from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you don’t need a visa. But, if you are from a non-EU/EEA country, you will need a visa. Here are the visa requirements that you need to accomplish. 

Planning Your Arrival in Berlin 

After all this, you need to plan your arrival in Berlin. For this, you need to make a list of the things that you have to take with you. These may include clothes, books, important medicines, toiletries, chargers, laptops, and more. Besides, you should also book the ticket for your flight in advance so that you cannot find any hurdles and the time of your journey to Berlin. 

Finding Student Accommodation 

In the next step, you need to find student accommodation in Berlin. This is not a difficult task nowadays. You don’t have a need to visit Berlin, especially for searching for accommodation. You can do it now from your home country from online sources. You can even do a virtual tour which will help you understand more about the accommodation property. 

Besides, there are several other options on the websites of such platforms. Through these options, you can choose student accommodation in Berlin, which is perfect according to your preference and budget. You find a filter option through which you can filter student housing properties according to their amenities, price ranges, and more details. Besides, you can also sort the list according to prices. One more feature that you can find on some websites is the comparison features. This feature allows you to compare multiple properties on a single webpage. You can compare their prices, distances (from universities), amenities, and some more details. 

A perfect example of such a website is Universityliving.com. On this website, you can find all the above-mentioned features. 

Opening a German Bank Account 

The next step is opening a German bank account. It is necessary for you so that you can manage your expenses while living in Germany. Besides, you may also need to show proof of your financial details. There are several banks in Germany where a student account can be opened. Some of the banks include: 

You can also take the help of the online student accommodation service platform. Some platforms like Universityliving.com assist students in opening a bank account also. 

Health Insurance Requirements 

The next step you need to follow is to get health insurance. It is also necessary for applying for a visa. Different health insurance companies help you in this regard. Some online student accommodation service platforms also help you in getting health insurance.  

The major requirement for a public health insurance policy is that you should have is that your age should be under 30. If your age is over 30 in the case of some special programs (like language programs) then also you can get health insurance. In that case, you will have to buy a private health insurance policy. 

Enrolling at Your University 

However, enrollment should be done in the very beginning but if you haven’t done this till the last step, you can do it now. Or, sometimes, the process of enrollment starts online but is completed after reaching your host city. In that case, you will have to complete the process after reaching Berlin. 

Navigating Public Transport in Berlin 

A student in Berlin can use different types of public transport options.  

Some popular types are: 

Understanding German Culture and Student Life

The next thing you need to do is to understand German culture and student life. For this, talk to your fellow local students more and try to understand the German culture. Also, take the help of the internet to understand the German culture. 

Besides, enjoy the student life in Berlin. Visit travel destinations and fun places with friends. You can also join student clubs. 

Conclusion  

Moving to Berlin for education involves several essential steps. These steps are from obtaining a visa to settling in. You should first ensure to fulfill visa requirements. After that, you should secure the necessary. Thereafter, find student accommodation. Then, open a German bank account and get health insurance. Besides, enroll at your university and navigate the public transport system. Finally, try to immerse yourself in German culture and enjoy student life in Germany.