A National Visa (or Category D visa) lets you move to Germany and start working or studying. It’s valid for 3 to 12 months.1
You apply for a National Visa at the German embassy or consulate in your home country. When you arrive in Germany, you must convert it into a residence permit at the Ausländerbehörde.
How to apply for a National Visa
The Schengen visa is not a National Visa.