If you are an EU national or come from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, you usually won’t require a visa and may enter Germany with your national identity card. Since the 29th of January 2013 there is no need for the  “Freizügigkeitsbescheinigung” (Freedom of Movement Certificate) anymore.

If you are a national of one of these states, you do not require a visa to enter Germany. However, for visits lasting longer than three months, you will require a residence permit which can be applied for once you have arrived in Germany.

Short visits lasting up to three months:

If your research stay in Germany is not scheduled to last longer than 90 days within a sixth month period, a Schengen Visa will usually be all you need to enter the country (C-Visa). You should, however, bear in mind that a Schengen Visa cannot be extended beyond the three month period, nor can it be altered for other purposes. You will have to leave Germany by the end of those three months at the latest.

In order to obtain a Schengen Visa, you will have to prove that you will be able to support yourself financially during your stay in Germany. For all Schengen States, you will also be obliged to provide evidence of travel health insurance coverage amounting to a total of at least 30,000 Euros. When filling in the application form for the Schengen Visa, please be sure to state “scientific work” or “research” as the purpose of your stay. The Schengen Visa entitles you to move freely between and stay in any of the so-called “Schengen States”, i.e. the states that have signed the Schengen Agreement.

Visa exemptions for short visits

Nationals of some countries are allowed to enter Germany for visits of up to three months without a visa. You can find a list of these states (table of countries whose citizens require/do not require visas to enter Germany) on the website of the Federal Foreign Office. Please note, however, that you will not be able to apply for a residence title for a longer stay once you have entered Germany, and that you will have to leave the country after three months at the latest. If you are planning a longer stay you must apply for a German visa that will allow you to remain in the country for a longer period of time while you are still in your own country or current country of residence.

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’s 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 is true for members of your family. 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, to attend a conference for example, 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).

Visit the website of the Federal Foreign Office for the addresses of diplomatic missions and information of entry requirements: www.auswaertiges-amt.de

Please note that if you are in receipt of a publicly-funded fellowship from a German funding organisation, such as the Alexander von Humbold Foundation or the DAAD, you are exempt from paying fees both for your visa and your residence permit.

To apply for a D-Visa you will usually require the following documents

• Passport (valid for the entire duration of your stay)
• Proof of your intended activity (e.g. fellowship, employment contract, letter of invitation or hosting agreement from the university)
• Proof that you will be able to support yourself financially if this is not evidenced by the documentation above
• Adequate health insurance cover
• Details of proposed accommodation in Germany
• Marriage and birth certificates of family members
• Application form (available from diplomatic missions)

Depending on the individual Embassy the documents required may differ. Please contact the relevant diplomatic mission at the earliest opportunity in order to ascertain which documents you will need for your visa application. National Visas are usually issued for a period of three months. Once you have entered Germany you must present this visa to your local “Ausländerbehörde” (Immigration or Foreigners’ Office) to apply for a residence permit.

Before your entry visa runs out you must apply for a residence permit at your local “Ausländerbehörde” (Immigration or Foreigners’ Office). If you are a national of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea or the USA and not only entered the country without a visa but intend staying in Germany for a longer period of time you also have to apply for a residence permit within 90 days of entering the country.

We recommend you to submit your application as soon as possible. You will usually have to present the following documents to the Immigration Office:

• Completed application for a residence permit (available at the Immigration Office)
• Valid passport (valid for the entire duration of the proposed stay)
• Biometric passport photo (requirements by the Federal Foreign Office: www.epass.de)
• Fellowship award letter, employment contract or hosting agreement with the university (stating the amount of the monthly fellowship or salary)
• “Meldebescheinigung” (proof of registration) from the Residents' Registration Office
• Fee: 110 Euro
• Proof of health insurance valid in Germany
• For marital partners/children: certified German or English translation of marriage and birth certificate

A settlement permit is an unlimited residence permit which allows the holder to pursue gainful employment. In certain special cases, a foreigner coming to Germany may be issued with a settlement permit if the applicant is highly qualified. As a rule, however, foreigners are only entitled to a settlement permit if they have spent five years in the country. The Immigration Office is the authority responsible. According to German immigration law the following people are defined as “highly qualified”:

• Academics who are especially highly qualified or possess knowledge in a field of particular importance
• Academic teaching staff in leading positions (e.g. chairholders and institute directors)
• Researchers in leading positions (e.g. leaders of scientific projects or independent research groups)

If you fall into any of these categories you can apply for a settlement permit. There are no special forms, but you should submit the same documents you need for a residence permit. In addition, you will require a statement from the university confirming that you are a highly qualified academic, a copy of your tenancy agreement and proof of how much rent you currently pay. If a settlement permit is issued, marital partners are given a residence permit which allows them unrestricted employment opportunities. It is issued without recourse to the Federal Employment Agency which means that it is not necessary to check whether other people should be given priority on the employment market.

 

If you wish to obtain a residence permit please refer to:

Zentrale Ausländerbehörde der Stadt Köln

Abteilung: Arbeitsmigration

Ottmar-Pohl-Platz 1

51103 Köln-Kalk (Tram 9/Tram 1; 'Kalk Post')

Tel. 0221 221 93381


In case of further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Welcome Centre staff - we shall be pleased to help you!