The Berlin Visa Trap: Why Indian Students Are Being Asked to Leave Despite Being Enrolled

Germany has long been a top destination for Indian students seeking high-quality education abroad. The allure is clear: public universities with little or no tuition, private institutions promising employable skills, generous post-study work opportunities, and a labor market hungry for talent. However, in 2025, this promise fractured for hundreds of Indian students enrolled at IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) in Berlin, raising serious concerns about hybrid education, visa compliance, and student rights.

Who Are the Affected Students?

The controversy centers on IU, a private German university that has rapidly expanded internationally. According to Euronews, IU has over 130,000 students globally, with roughly 4,500 Indian students, making them one of its largest international cohorts.

Most of the affected Indian students were enrolled in business-oriented programmes, including bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration and master’s programmes in International Management or Business Management. These courses were advertised as on-campus programs, but in reality, they were hybrid programmes, combining online instruction with limited in-person sessions.

Entry into these programmes often came through pathway arrangements. Some students completed part of their degree online from India—sometimes an entire initial semester—before relocating to Germany. Many students report that this structure was presented as fully legitimate and compliant with German visa regulations.

What Changed in 2025?

In early 2025, the Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA), Berlin’s immigration authority, began reassessing hybrid study programmes and their compliance with Germany’s student residence framework.

The reassessment concluded that several of IU’s programmes did not meet the legal threshold of “in-person study” required for a student residence permit. Students who had already arrived in Berlin, paid tuition, and begun attending classes were suddenly informed that their residence permits would not be renewed.

The consequences were devastating:

• Some students were given only a few weeks to leave Germany.
• Others were told they could continue their degrees only from outside Germany.
• A small number managed emergency transfers to other institutions, while many were left mid-degree with no clear academic or financial exit options.

Unofficial reports suggest that around 300 Indian students were directly affected, though the authorities have not published exact numbers.

Legal Basis: Section 16b of Germany’s Residence Act

At the heart of the issue is §16b of Germany’s Residence Act (AufenthG), which governs residence permits for study purposes.

Under §16b:

• Residence permits may only be issued for full-time study at a recognized institution.
• Physical presence in Germany must be integral to the course, not merely incidental.
• The law predates the rise of hybrid and online education, giving immigration authorities broad discretion to decide whether a student’s presence is necessary.

Berlin’s official guidance, published on the Berlin Service Portal, emphasizes this distinction: distance learning does not qualify as a valid reason for a residence permit, even if the student is physically living in Germany.

The Impact on Students

The situation has left many Indian students in a precarious position, both academically and financially. Key challenges include:

1. Disrupted Studies: Students were mid-way through their degrees when visa renewals were denied, forcing them to either continue online from India or abandon their studies.
2. Financial Losses: Tuition fees paid for the semester in Germany cannot easily be recovered, and students may also face additional costs if they must transfer to another institution.
3. Uncertainty About Future Employment: German post-study work opportunities are tied to residence permits, meaning many students could miss out on practical training and employment options in Germany.
4. Emotional and Psychological Stress: Abrupt visa cancellations and forced relocations create significant anxiety and stress for affected students.

Why Hybrid Education Became a Problem

The rise of hybrid education—programmes combining online and limited in-person instruction—has challenged traditional visa frameworks worldwide. In Germany:

• Legally recognized programs must require substantial on-campus presence.
• Hybrid or mostly online courses, even if academically accredited, may not satisfy visa regulations.
• Authorities have broad discretion to determine whether physical presence is essential, leaving students vulnerable if their program structure changes or is reassessed.

For IU, this meant that programs marketed as on-campus but delivered partially online were suddenly deemed non-compliant, even for students who had already relocated.

Responses and Student Options

Some students have been able to:

• Transfer to other institutions that meet in-person study requirements.
• Continue studies online from India while seeking future admission in Germany.

However, these solutions are limited and not ideal, especially for students in the middle of their degrees. Others face the grim alternative of leaving Germany with no immediate academic or financial recourse.

Broader Implications for Indian Students

The IU Berlin case highlights a broader challenge for Indian students seeking higher education abroad:

1. Verify Visa Compliance: Students should ensure that their program’s mode of delivery aligns with local immigration rules before enrolling.
2. Understand Hybrid Program Structures: Pathway programs that begin online may affect eligibility for residence permits or work rights.
3. Monitor Regulatory Changes: Immigration policies can shift suddenly, and universities must communicate clearly with international students about compliance requirements.
4. Financial Preparedness: Students must be aware of potential financial risks if visa rules or program structures change unexpectedly.

The situation also signals that while Germany remains an attractive destination, bureaucratic and legal compliance is increasingly critical for international students.

Conclusion

The 2025 visa crisis at IU Berlin underscores the risks associated with hybrid programs and evolving immigration rules. Hundreds of Indian students, enrolled in academically legitimate programs, now face sudden disruption, financial strain, and uncertainty about their future in Germany.

For aspiring Indian students, the key takeaway is clear: understand the legal framework governing student visas, verify program delivery methods, and maintain contingency plans. Even the most prestigious international universities cannot guarantee residency if the mode of instruction does not meet immigration standards.