Visa & Residence Permit
Foto von mana5280 auf Unsplash Coming with the Visa
You should ask the proper German Consulate if you need a visa to enter Germany and about visa requirements specific for your home country sufficiently in advance of your planned research stay. Please consult the German Federal Foreign Office website to see if you should apply for a visa in order to travel to Germany, and contact the Consulate nearest you for further information about the application process and the required documents.
Normally, the German Consulate will require you to submit the following documents:
- Visa application form
- Letter of invitation from your German host (the supervising professor) with a brief description of the purpose of your research
- If necessary: Hosting agreement from your German host (the supervising professor) - see below
- Proof of how you are financing your research period
- Proof of health insurance
- Birth certificate
- Passport
- Biometric photographs
- Marriage certificate with Apostille and birth certificates for children (if applicable)
If you intend to enter Germany with your family, you and your family members must apply for a visa at the German diplomatic mission several months before your departure.
Please note that you can only enter Germany with a valid visa. If your stay will be longer than the duration of your visa, you must apply for a residence permit at the responsible Foreigners' Office in good time before your visa expires. The residence permit is usually issued for a limited period of time.
Residence Permit
Visas and residence permits are different documents – a visa is only for entering the country, a residence permit is for living here. If you are living in Germany longer than the time period covered by your visa, you must apply for a residence permit.
The Welcome Center can provide you with consultation, application forms and expertise regarding immigration and the residence permit application process.
For a detailed list of all documents needed (since these vary somewhat based on your status), please write to: info.welcome-center(at)ur.de (opens your email program)
Extension of the Residence Permit
Please contact the Welcome Center appr. 3 months before your residence permit expires.
The most important documents for the extension are:
- Proof of research extension
- Proof of health insurance
- Proof of finance
- Hosting Agreement (if applicable)