What visa do I need to study in Germany?
- International (degree-seeking) student applicants from EU countries
International student applicants from European Union countries do not need a visa to enter Germany for study purposes. You will however, have to register your address with the local authorities (Einwohnermeldeamt) and get a Meldebestätigung. Once you have your place in a degree programme you can apply for a residence permit (Aufenthaltsbewilligung).
- International (degree-seeking) student applicants from visa-waiver countries
International student applicants from complete list of countries do not need a visa to enter Germany for study purposes. You must register your address with the local authorities (Einwohnermeldeamt) within seven days of entering Germany and get a Meldebestätigung.
You will also have to apply for a residence permit (Aufenthaltsbewilligung), once you have your place in a degree programme or at the latest three months after entering the country (whichever happens first). To get this you must provide proof of sufficient funds for your studies (638 Euro/month).
- International (degree-seeking) student applicants from other countries
You will need a visa to enter Germany to study in Hamburg. Please do not enter the country with a tourist visa. A tourist visa cannot be converted into a study visa in Germany. You will need either a student applicant visa [Studienbewerber-Visum] or a visa for study purposes [Visum zu Studienzwecken].
The student applicant visa allows you to enter the country and gather information about universities you are interested in. This visa is restricted to a period of three months but can be turned into a visa for study purposes in Germany if during this time you receive an offer for a place in a degree programme.
The visa for study purposes is issued when you have an offer for a place in a degree programme. To get this you must provide proof of sufficient funds for your studies (638 Euro/month). In some countries you must provide proof of your finances for the first academic year.
You must register your address with the local authorities (Einwohnermeldeamt) within seven days of entering Germany and get a Meldebestätigung.
You will also have to apply for a residence permit (Aufenthaltsbewilligung), once you have your place in a degree programme or at the latest three months after entering the country (whichever happens first). To get this you must provide proof of sufficient funds for your studies (638 Euro/month).
Should you not be offered a place, then it is sometimes possible to have your stay extended for a further six months, so that you can visit a German language course and apply to the university a second time for the next semester.
What do you need to get a Meldebestätigung?
- your passport/photo ID
- registration form (download here)
- your rental contract, if you are staying in a hall of residence
- administration fee of 6 Euros
What do you need to apply for a residence permit?
- an application form (download here)
- your passport
- a biometric photo not older than 6 months
- a Meldebestätigung or a registration form (download here)
- proof of health insurance
- proof of enrolment as a guest student (Immatrikulationsbescheinigung - download from HELIOS)
- proof of finances (bank statement or letter in Euros)
- administration fee of 50 - 200 Euros
Where do I register?
As soon as you arrive in Germany you must register with the local authorities [Ausländerbehörde/ Einwohnermeldeamt]. In order to register you will need your passport and visa as well as a registration form, which you can get at the Einwohnermeldeamt. The last part of this form needs to be filled in by your landlord. If you have a room in hall, you can get this form from the Director of Hall, when you sign your contract.
You will then receive a »Meldebestätigung«, which you should keep in a safe place. If you move house, you need to inform the Einwohnermeldeamt within a week of your new address.
The DiBIS database tells you the office nearest to where you live. [Step 1: Enter the search word »Einwohnermeldeamt«, and step 2: type in the name of the street where you live].
Hamburg Welcome Center
Foreign students can also get their first residence permit and their first registration of residence at the Hamburg Welcome Center. Further information can be found on the Hamburg Welcome Center's website at
www.welcome-center.hamburg.de.