Visa and Residence Permit: Before Departure and After Arrival

Before Departure

Visa

Information about a visa for Germany is available at the Ministry of Foreign Affsirs (Auswärtigen Amt), where you will find information about if you need a visa and how to apply for it.

Information in

Important! You cannot study in Germany with a tourist visa. You cannot convert a tourist visa into a study visa.

After you arrive in Germany, you must change your visa into a residence permit.  See below for more information.

Proof of Sufficient Funding

When you apply for a visa at the German embassy or consulate, you must prove that you have enough money to live on while in Germany. This is currently at least 992 EUR per month or 11904 EUR per year.

There are two options for proof of funding:

  • Declaration of Commitment: A person such as your parent or another relative promises to cover your living costs in Germany for a certain period of time or for your entire studies. You can get the form from the German embassy or consulate.
  • Blocked Bank Account: This is a bank account at a bank in Germany or your home country where you have deposited your funds for at least one year. According to current regulations you cannot withdraw more than 992 EUR per month from this account.

Please be aware that the information about the blocked bank account and living expenses is not set by FH Aachen and is subject to change. Current information is available at the German embassy or consulate.

Some financial institutions (such as Deutsche Bank) permit you to open the blocked bank account in Germany from home. In this case you do not need to transfer your money to Germany and save the fees for this.

You can find further information about blocked accounts on the website https://www.studying-in-germany.org/germany-blocked-account-foreign-students/

After Arrival

City Registration

Before you can convert your entry visa into a residence permit, you must first go to the Residents' Registration Office, sometimes called the citizens' office office.

You must register in your city within 14 days of moving into your new home - even after moving within Germany.

To do this, contact the city administration of your place of residence.

For most FH Aachen students, the following residents' registration offices or city administrations are responsible:

Aachen - Online appointment booking

www.aachen.de/terminvereinbarung

  • BürgerService "Bahnhofplatz" and "Katschhof" are in the centre of Aachen; you may also select the other district offices
  • Click on "Meldeangelegenheiten (residence affairs)","Zuzug aus dem Ausland" (+1), "Weiter".
  • If you have moved within Germany , select "Register/deregister/re-register residence (+1)"

Bring the "Registration and re-registration form" and the "Landlord's confirmation of residence" with you.

Downloads at https://serviceportal.aachen.de/suche/-/vr-bis-detail/dienstleistung/4599/show

Jülich - Appointment booking

https://www.juelich.de/buergerbuero

  • Click on "Registration", "Registration +1", "Continue"

Attention: There are long waiting times! Book your online appointment as soon as you know when you will be signing your rental contract. However, it is sufficient if you book the appointment online within 14 days, even if the actual date is much later.

Please note: Without prior registration at your place of residence, you cannot apply for a student residence permit at the Foreigners' Registration Office.

After your city registration:
Please also inform the FH Aachen about your current address.

 

Apply for a residence permit directly after arrival

Your entry visa is usually valid for 90 days. You should apply for a residence permit 8-12 weeks before your visa expires.

You must do this even if you were allowed to enter Germany without a visa.

Please note: Applying for an appointment after your entry visa has expired can result in considerable legal disadvantages.

Please note:

This information is a service provided by the Department of International Affairs and is intended to give initial guidance. Although it has been compiled with the utmost care, no liability can be accepted for the quality of the information.

Residence permit for students from the EU

Students with EU citizenship and from the EEA (European Economic Area) who plan to stay in Germany for more than 90 days apply for the EU certificate of freedom of movement directly at the Residents' Registration Office or Citizens' Service of the place of residence (at the same time as registration). You do not need an additional appointment at the Foreigners' Registration Office.

Required documents:

  • Passport or identity card
  • Registration certificate from FH Aachen
  • Proofs and certificates of health insurance - (EHIC)
  • Proof of living expenses

Residence permit for students from non-EU countries

You must first be registered at your place of residence (see "Registration at your place of residence" above).

Then book an appointment to apply for your residence permit 8-12 weeks before your visa for Germany expires.

Your place of residence determines which immigration office is responsible for you.

Documents required (applies to Aachen and Düren):

  • Application for a residence permit
  • Biometric photo
  • your passport
  • official FH registration certificate
  • your proofs and certificates of health insurance
  • proof that you have sufficient means of subsistence
  • Fees of approx. 100 euros for the first residence permit

The student residence permit is always limited in time (usually 1-2 years), so you will have to apply for an extension several times during the course of your studies.

It will take several weeks before you can collect your electronic residence permit (eAT), a card in credit card format.

Please note | Be sure to apply for your appointment before your entry visa expires, otherwise your stay in Germany will be considered illegal.

If you still have not been able to book an appointment shortly before your visa expires, be sure to write an email to the relevant immigration authority so that there is written proof that you have made an effort to book an appointment in good time.

Students who live in Aachen or in the StädteRegion Aachen

Foreigners' Office of the StädteRegion Aachen
Hackländerstr. 1
52064 Aachen

Online appointment booking Aachen
https://termine.staedteregion-aachen.de/auslaenderamt/

After moving from abroad: Select "Residence matters", "FH Aachen", "FH students +1", "Continue", "OK"

After moving within Germany and registering in Aachen: Select "Residence matters", "Residence", "Grant/extension of residence - surname (depending on letter of 1st surname) +1", "Continue", "OK"

Students who live in Jülich or the district of Düren

Foreigners' Registration Office of the District of Düren, Jülich office
Düsseldorferstr. 6
52428 Jülich

Email: abhkreis-dueren.de

Make an appointment: https://formular.kreis-dueren.de/frontend-server/form/provide/114/

Select "Foreigners' Registration Office" under "Details of appointment request".