Understanding Verpflichtungserklärungen (Declaration of Commitment)

Contents
What You Need to Know
A Declaration of Commitment, or "Verpflichtungserklärungen" in German, is a legal document that individuals or organizations in Germany can sign to assume financial responsibility for a foreigner's stay in the country.
This document is often required when applying for a visa or residency permit in Germany, especially for students or individuals with limited financial resources. By signing the declaration, the sponsor agrees to cover the foreigner's living expenses, healthcare costs, and other expenses during their stay in Germany.
The Declaration of Commitment aims to ensure that foreign visitors do not become a burden on the German social welfare system. It also provides a safety net for foreigners, as they have someone legally obligated to support them during their stay in Germany. A Declaration of Commitment for a Schengen visa remains valid for six months, during a national visa remains valid for five years from the date of issuance. If you need to use the document beyond this period, you must obtain a new valid Declaration of Commitment suitable for the type of German visa you are applying for.
It's important to note that signing a Declaration of Commitment is a serious legal commitment and should not be taken lightly. The sponsor must have sufficient financial means to cover the foreigner's expenses and consider the implications before signing the document.
Need help with financing your studies in Germany?
Check out our guide to help you with all the information you need.
This might also be of interest to you

ICEF Berlin 2024: Growing Interest in Germany from Internationals
For the fifth year running, Expatrio was thrilled to attend ICEF Berlin, one of the largest global networking conferences in the education sector. It...

Volunteer with DEGIS: Help Others While Studying in Germany
Are you studying in Germany and looking for a way to make a difference? Volunteering with our partner, DEGIS, gives you a chance to help other...

The DEGIS Buddy Program
Starting your studies in a new country like Germany is an exciting adventure, but it can also come with challenges. Adjusting to a different culture,...

Most international students plan to remain in Germany after graduation
Our 2021 survey showed that the majority of internationals pursuing higher education in Germany wish to stay in the country after finishing their...

The shortage of skilled workers in Germany and the role third countries play in addressing this issue
The German labor market calls for numbers of non-EU workers to continue growing According to the Director of the Institute for Employment Research...

Big News! Expatrio in Southeast Asia
Expatrio is glad to announce that we have been chosen together with six other startups to participate in the acceleration program of German...

Learn German with Chatterbug and Expatrio
We partnered up with Chatterbug to give you that extra push you needed for learning German! We know that moving to Germany without speaking German...

Sino-German Higher Education Cooperation
Bright perspectives for mutual benefit The People’s Republic of China and Germany are strongly connected through close relations in many areas. One...