residence of Chinese citizens
Here you will find all important information and special rules for the stay of Chinese nationals in Germany.
Here you learn ...
which entry regulations apply to Chinese in Germany
how to apply for a student visa for Germany as a Chinese
how Chinese people can get a skilled worker visa for Germany
how you can have documents from China recognized in Germany
Author
Attorney
Reading Time
10 Min.
Release Date
12.02.2025
Table of Content
1. Entry requirements for Chinese
2. Study visa China
2.1 China Procedure Study Germany
2.2 TestAS procedure
2.3 Gaokao procedure
3. Work visa from China
3.1 Recognition of qualifications from China
3.2 Certificate evaluation of Chinese qualifications
4. FAQ Visa for Chinese Germany
1. Entry requirements for Chinese
Chinese nationals usually need a visa to enter Germany. The type of visa required depends on the purpose of the trip and the length of stay . For short stays (up to 90 days) for tourist purposes and business trips, a Schengen visa (type C) is usually required. For long-term work or study (i.e. lasting more than 90 days), a D visa is required. The visa must usually be applied for at the German embassy in Beijing (17, Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600, china.diplo.de ). The German embassy in China provides relevant information on applying for a visa from China on its website (see Applying for a Schengen visa in China and Applying for a national visa in China ).
2. Study visa China
There are numerous special requirements for Chinese students in Germany when it comes to admission to university . The Academic Examination Office for the Cultural Department of the German Embassy in Beijing has several requirements for issuing a German university admission. In principle, a distinction is made between the China procedure, the TestAS procedure and the Gaokao procedure for admission to a German university for Chinese citizens.
2.1 China Procedure Study Germany
The China procedure is a special regulation for applicants from the People's Republic of China who want to study in Germany. The Academic Testing Office (APS) of the German Embassy in Beijing or Shanghai is responsible for carrying out the China procedure. It is used to check the authenticity of academic achievements and university entrance qualifications of Chinese applicants. The prerequisite for applying to a German university is the APS certificate, which is issued after successfully passing the examination. Components of the examination include document verification and an interview (for students who have already started studying in China), direct document verification (for DAAD scholarship holders) and participation in the TestAS (if no degree has been completed in China). Without an APS certificate, an application to a German university is not possible in most cases. The Academic Testing Office in Beijing providesa separate information sheet for the China procedure .
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2.2 TestAS procedure
The Test for Foreign Students (TestAS) is a standardized aptitude test for international applicants who want to study in Germany. The test tests cognitive abilities, logical thinking and problem-solving skills . It is optional in many courses, but is sometimes required as a prerequisite for certain admission procedures (e.g. for applicants from non-EU countries). The TestAS procedure consists of a general part (test of basic cognitive ability) and a subject-specific part (e.g. mathematics, natural sciences, engineering, humanities). The test result can improve the chances of admission, but does not replace the regular university entrance requirements. The academic testing center in Beijing providesa separate information sheet for the TestAS procedure .
2.3 Gaokao procedure
The Gaokao procedure refers to the possibility of being admitted directly to German universities with the Chinese Gaokao qualification (university entrance examination in China). The Gaokao is the central university entrance examination in China and is recognized by German universities in certain cases as university entrance qualification. The prerequisite for a direct application to a German university is a high Gaokao result (depending on the province), proof of a certain minimum score (set by the university) and recognition by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). Applicants with Gaokao do not usually have to complete a preparatory college if the score is high enough. The Academic Examination Office in Beijing provides a separate information sheet for the Gaokao procedure .
3. Work visa and skilled worker visa from China
Chinese citizens who wish to stay in Germany for longer than 90 days require a national visa (D visa). Since the introduction of the Skilled Immigration Act, there have been easier conditions for highly qualified Chinese specialists . What is usually required is an employment contract with a German company and the recognition of foreign qualifications by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) and the fulfillment of the general visa requirements.
3.1 Recognition of qualifications from China
The recognition of Chinese qualifications in Germany is often a problem, as documents are sometimes not available (especially from very old educational institutions in China) or do not have the required format . Although Germany and China have concluded an intergovernmental agreement on the mutual recognition of equivalences in the higher education sector , in many cases the individual recognition of university degrees by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) is still necessary. The so-called certificate evaluation is required in order to apply for a skilled worker visa for Germany from China.
3.2 Certificate evaluation of Chinese qualifications
To have Chinese qualifications recognized in Germany, the ZAB requires the following documents:
university degree certificate:
Degree award certificate (申请评估的文凭的学位证书, 原始中文文件的简单复印件, 无需翻译) in Chinese,
Graduation certificate (申请评估的文凭的毕业证书, 原始中文文件的简单复印件, 无需翻译) in Chinese,
Overview of subjects and grades for the entire course of study (申请评估的文凭的总成绩表, 原始中文文件的简单复印件, 无需翻译) in Chinese,
CDGDC Degree Award Certificate / CDGDC Degree Verification Report (中国高等教育学位认证报告, 原始中文文件的简单复印件, 无需翻译) in Chinese ( https://xwrz.chsi.com.cn/ ),
CHSI Verification Report for the China Higher Education Qualification Certificate译) in Chinese language. ( http://www.chsi.com.cn/xlcx/bgys.jsp ),
CHSI certificate of subject and grade overview / CHSI Verification Report for the China Higher Education Student's Academic Transcript无需翻译) in Chinese language ( http://www.chsi.com.cn/xlrz/sample_chesat.jsp ),
Certificate from the university about your thesis (如果您研究生成绩表里没有对毕业论文的说明) in Chinese.
Previous university degrees
school leaving certificate
passport
employment contract
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Further information on certificate evaluation for Chinese qualifications (e.g. costs and duration of the procedure) can be found on the website of the Central Office for Foreign Education .
4. FAQ Visa for Chinese Germany
As a Chinese citizen, do I need a visa for Germany?
Yes, Chinese people need a visa for Germany.
Where do I apply for a visa for Germany?
The visa can be applied for at the relevant visa centers of the German embassy or consulates in China. Currently, processing is carried out via VFS Global in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Shenyang.
Which German diplomatic missions are there in China?
The following foreign representations exist in China:
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Beijing
Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany Chengdu
Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany Guangzhou (Canton)
Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany Shanghai
Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany Shenyang
Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany Hong Kong (hongkong.diplo.de)
Summary of this Page
On this page you have learned about the special visa and entry requirements that apply to Chinese citizens in Germany. Chinese citizens generally have to apply for a visa for both short-term (up to 90 days) and long-term (over 90 days) stays. Study visas (and the corresponding recognition procedures for university admission in Germany) and work visas (and the corresponding recognition procedures for university degrees obtained in China) are particularly relevant for Chinese citizens.
