My Germany 23F Visa Application Process
- alparslanonder
- Aug 3
- 3 min read
On April 1, 2025, I had an interview for the fully funded PhD position in Germany that I am currently working in, and I was accepted for the position on the same day. While booking my visa appointment via iData on that day, the system directed me to apply for a 23F visa. Later on, I learned that it was also possible to apply through the Blue Card option. You can find a comparison between these two options at this link.
Waiting for the Appointment
The waiting process for the visa appointment was mentally exhausting. To stay in touch with others who also applied for the 23F visa, I found and joined this WhatsApp group. As seen in the table created by members of the group and accessible via this link, the average waiting time for appointments was approximately 60 days until June 2024. Since then, it exceeded 100–110 days and kept increasing over time.
For the appointment I applied for on April 1, 2025, I received an appointment date on June 30, 2025, scheduled for July 8, 2025. Friends whose appointments were two weeks before mine had been waiting since the end of January. These waiting times have now dropped to around 20 days, likely due to changes in bureaucratic processes between Turkey and Germany.
Documents I Prepared
Here are the documents I prepared based on the checklist sent by iData:
2 application forms: Filled out online and printed three copies.
Visa fee: The standard fee was €75. In addition, I paid an iData service fee of approximately 1200–1300 TL.
Valid passport and 2 photocopies of the page showing personal information (photo page).
2 biometric passport photos: Must not be older than 6 months and sized 35 x 45 mm. Be sure to tell the photographer that it is for a German visa.
Acceptance letter and contract: I submitted both the contract (which explicitly stated that it was based on section 18d) and a letter of acceptance written by my supervisor.
Information sheet: Titled “Information pursuant to Section 18 (2) No. 4a of the Residence Act – In case of a specific job offer,” signed and submitted. Document link
University diplomas: Originals, photocopies, and QR-coded diploma verification documents from e-Devlet.
CV: I submitted my detailed and actively used résumé. No specific format was required.
Proof of financial means: I presented my contract as proof. Some applicants were asked to submit an additional letter from Human Resources for this purpose.
Health insurance: If your salary is to be paid by a German institution, you need health insurance valid for 15 days from your entry into Germany. I didn’t want to take any risks, so I purchased a 3-month travel health insurance from Anadolu Hayat Emeklilik via İşbank’s mobile app.
Optional Documents
These additional documents were also accepted by the iData staff member but were not mandatory:
Bachelor’s degree certificate and e-Devlet verified document
Undergraduate and graduate transcripts (originals and photocopies)
Visa Issuance and Travel
On June 18, 2025, near the end of working hours, I received an SMS notification that my passport was ready. I picked up my passport and visa on June 21, 2025.
Before coming to Germany, I activated an international package for my Vodafone Turkey number. Once I arrived, I started using the LEBARA SIM card that was gifted to me at the iData appointment on my second phone.
To withdraw my money in Germany without extra fees, I opened an account at TEB Bank in Turkey and obtained a debit card. This allowed me to withdraw money from my EUR account at Deutsche Bank ATMs without paying any additional charges. I was also able to manage my other Turkish bank accounts using my Turkish phone number.