BAföG for foreigners in Germany: who can get it and how to apply

BAföG (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz) is state support for school pupils and students in Germany if their own funds, their parents’ income, or their spouse’s income is not enough to cover study and living costs. For foreigners, BAföG is not always available: the decisive factors are usually citizenship, residence status, purpose of stay, age, previous studies, income, and assets.

What BAföG is

BAföG helps cover study costs, housing, food, and mandatory insurance. For university students, support usually consists of two parts:

• a grant that does not have to be repaid;
• an interest-free loan that is repaid after graduation according to the rules of the Federal Office of Administration.

At German public universities, studying often does not require a classic tuition fee, but students still pay a semester contribution and bear costs for housing, insurance, food, transport, and study materials. Exceptions and additional charges depend on the federal state and the specific university: for example, in Baden-Württemberg, tuition fees may apply to some students from non-EU countries, and some programs at TUM and other universities may have their own payment rules.

Who can in principle qualify for BAföG

Eligibility for BAföG is checked individually. In typical cases, support may be available to:

• German citizens;
• EU/EEA citizens and their family members if they meet the conditions for freedom of movement or Daueraufenthaltsrecht;
• foreigners with a Niederlassungserlaubnis or Erlaubnis zum Daueraufenthalt-EU;
• recognized refugees and some people with humanitarian status;
• certain applicants who themselves, or through their parents or spouse, have a sufficient connection to the German labor market.

If a person is in Germany only for study purposes, for example with an Aufenthaltserlaubnis zum Studium, BAföG is usually not available. For holders of temporary protection, humanitarian permits, and a Fiktionsbescheinigung, the exact section of the Aufenthaltsgesetz and additional transitional rules matter, so it is better to clarify such cases with the BAföG-Amt or Studierendenwerk in advance.

Main requirements

BAföG does not depend on a single criterion, but on a combination of factors.

Age

To begin a course of study that can be funded, there is usually an age limit of 45. Exceptions are possible, for example if studies start later because of raising children, illness, disability, a second educational path, or other recognized reasons.

Type of study

BAföG most often supports a first vocational or academic education. A bachelor’s degree after school is usually eligible; a master’s degree may be funded as a continuation of the first academic path if the legal conditions are met. After a completed master’s degree, Diplom, Staatsexamen, or comparable qualification, the right to new funding is usually very limited.

Income and assets

The amount of BAföG is calculated based on:

• the student’s own income;
• the student’s assets;
• the parents’ income;
• the income of a spouse or registered partner, if there is one;
• the family situation, children, siblings, and other deductions.

There is no simple universal parental income threshold such as one fixed annual amount: the calculation depends on the family composition, tax deductions, and other circumstances.

For students in 2026, the following rules can be used as a rough guide: personal income during the 12-month Bewilligungszeitraum must not exceed the applicable Freibetrag, and assets up to age 29 are usually counted with a Freibetrag of 15,000 euros; from age 30, a higher Vermögensfreibetrag of 45,000 euros applies. Additional Freibeträge are provided for spouses, registered partners, and children.

How much you can receive

The maximum amount depends on age, whether you live with your parents or separately, and on health and long-term care insurance. After the reform in force since the winter semester 2024/2025, the rough benchmarks for students living away from their parents are:

Student situation	Maximum monthly support
under 25, family insurance	855 euros
25-29, own contributions to statutory health and long-term care insurance	952 euros
30 and over, voluntary statutory health and long-term care insurance	1,088 euros

These are maximum amounts, not guaranteed payments. The actual amount may be lower or zero if income and assets already cover the calculated need.

Which documents are usually required

The exact list depends on the BAföG-Amt and the applicant’s situation, but the following are most often needed:

• proof of enrollment or studies: Immatrikulationsbescheinigung, Schulbescheinigung, or Zulassungsbescheid;
• passport and residence document for Germany;
• Meldebescheinigung or proof of address;
• bank account details;
• information about your own income and assets;
• documents on the parents’ income for the required tax year;
• where relevant, documents for a spouse, children, previous education, a change of subject, or reasons for starting studies late.

For foreign students, it is especially important to attach a copy of the Aufenthaltstitel and, if required, documents proving refugee status, Daueraufenthaltsrecht, or the employment of parents or a spouse in Germany.

How to apply

1. Find the zuständiges Amt für Ausbildungsförderung. Usually this is the Studierendenwerk responsible for your future or current university.
2. Submit the application online through BAföG Digital or through the forms accepted by your authority.
3. Attach documents on your residence status, studies, income, and assets.
4. Reply quickly to requests from the BAföG-Amt: missing certificates often delay payments.
5. Submit a Folgeantrag early if you need support for the next Bewilligungszeitraum.

You can apply for BAföG even before final enrollment if your studies will begin soon, but payments are usually granted only once the conditions are met and the necessary proof is available. Payments are not granted retroactively for months before the application is filed, so delaying the Antrag is usually a bad idea.

Common mistakes

• assuming that every foreign student is entitled to BAföG;
• stating the parents’ income as one rough amount without the required documents;
• forgetting about bank accounts, deposits, securities, and other assets;
• confusing a student visa with humanitarian or permanent status;
• applying only after financial problems have already begun;
• failing to inform the BAföG-Amt about changes in income, address, family status, or residence status.

Short conclusion

BAföG can be real financial support for foreigners in Germany, but only if the residence status and study situation fit the rules of the Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz. Before applying, it is worth checking not only the maximum amount, but also eligibility under § 8 BAföG, age, previous degrees, income, assets, and the parents’ documents. In complicated cases, it is safer to get written advice from the Studierendenwerk or the BAföG-Amt before your studies begin.