Visa and entry
1. Nationals of EU States, the European Economic Area and Switzerland
You do not usually need a visa if you are an EU national or from the countries Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. You may enter Germany using your national identity card. If you intend to stay in Germany for more than three months you must register with the Resident Registration Office (“Einwohnermeldeamt”) and obtain a Freedom of Movement Certificate (“Freizügigkeitsbescheinigung”) or a residence permit if you are a national of the Swiss Confederation
2. Nationals of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea and the USA
You do not need a visa to enter Germany if you are a national of one of these countries. However you will require a residence permit for visits lasting more than three months. You can apply for this once you have entered Germany.
3. Nationals of all other non-EU States
3.1 Short visits lasting up to three months
3.2 Visits lasting more than three months
If you are planning to stay in Germany for more than three months you must apply for a National Visa for Germany (D Visa) while you are still in your own country or current country of residence. Please note that this applies even if you are already staying in another European Union country. Do not, under any circumstances, enter Germany on a “Visitor or Tourist Visa” (Schengen Visa). This type of visa cannot be extended and only entitles you to stay in Germany for a maximum of three months. You would then have to return to your own country at your own expense and apply for the right visa there. The same applies to family members. Furthermore, the National Visa only entitles you to stay in Germany. If you intend to travel to other Schengen States during the first three months of your stay (e.g. to attend a conference), you should state this in your visa application. In this case you may be issued with a so-called hybrid visa (Category C+D Visa).
National Visas are usually issued for periods of three months. You must present this visa to your local Foreign Nationals Registration Office (“Ausländerbehörde”) once you have entered Germany to apply for a residence permit.
4. National Visa for the Purpose of Research (Scientific Visa)
Special residence entitlements for researchers were introduced with the latest immigration law reform. The new "Scientific Visa" and the "residence permit for the purpose of scientific research" (Section 20 of the Residence Act) allow researchers to be employed working on the research project stated in the hosting agreement, and also to teach.
These new residence entitlements are designed to facilitate entry and stay for researchers from non-EU Countries within Germany and the European Union, to accelerate application procedures, and to ease mobility within the EU.
Tutor Service
Every Tuesday, 8:00am (meeting point by arrangement).
If you need assistance when dealing with the formalities or would like someone to accompany you to the various authorities, you can call on our team of student tutors who will be pleased to help you. The tutor service includes:
- assistance in dealing with the officials at the Foreign Nationals Registration Office
- assistance in opening a German bank account
- assistance in taking out a health insurance policy
For appointments, please contact Ms. Alexandra Redel, counsellor for guest researchers (phone: +49 (0)234 / 32-25408). Please contact us at least 3 days in advance.
Guide for international researchers, chapter 5:
Concerning visa and entry. Read more here (page 84) (2.3 MB)Source: passages taken from EURAXESS, partly translated by: Dr. Lynda Lich-Knight, ResearchComm Ltd.
