SRH University

Visa and residence permit

Welcome to Germany! Have you received your letter of admission? Then it's time to start planning your study abroad programme at SRH University. An important milestone is your visa and residence permit. We have summarised the most important questions for you!

Welcome to Germany

Have you received your letter of admission? Then it's time to start planning your study abroad programme at SRH University. An important milestone is your visa.

Submit your application as early as possible, as it can take several weeks or months before you receive an appointment for your application, which varies considerably depending on the embassy. The processing time for your application can also take several months. The sooner you can take care of it, the better.

Who needs a visa?

Actually, anyone who wants to stay in Germany for longer than three months. However, there are a few exceptions, which you can find on the right.

If you are not quite sure whether you need a visa or not, check with the German embassy in your home country or in the country where you live whether you need an entry visa or not.

If you are from an EU or EEA country (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) – then you do not need a visa. If you want to live in Germany for longer than three months, you only need to register as a resident of the city where you will be living (see the information on registration). German students also have to register, either with their parents or in their new flat.

If you are from Andorra, Australia, Brazil, El Salvador, Great Britain, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Canada, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, South Korea, Switzerland, the USA or Switzerland – you do not need to apply for a visa either, but you will get a stamp in your passport when you enter Germany, which is a visa.

You also have to register in your new flat and apply for a residence permit within three months of entering the country.

 

Even if you are already studying in an EU country and entered there at the beginning of your studies, you will probably need a visa to continue your studies in Germany. If you have been living in the EU country for a longer period of time, you probably do not. Please check the website of the German Embassy or ask there. Ask as early as possible or, if necessary, apply for the visa as early as possible due to long waiting times.

Which visa do I need to apply for?

Please apply for a national visa for study purposes (D visa) if you would like to study at SRH University for at least one semester (6 months). There is also a visa for study application or a visa for language acquisition; if you have been admitted to us, please apply for the visa for study purposes.

You cannot apply for a Schengen visa to enter Germany to start your studies; this is only possible for tourism purposes or short courses (summer schools and the like). A Schengen visa will never be converted into a residence permit. If you have applied for a Schengen visa, you can enter the country but must leave within 90 days and then wait 90 days before you can apply for a new one. There are situations where this is a temporary solution, but you would still have to apply for a visa for study purposes.

What documents do I need for my visa?

The documents you need for the visa for study purposes are almost the same everywhere; depending on the country, the documents may be slightly different or you may need additional papers. Therefore, visit the website of the German embassy where you will apply for the visa to make sure you have all the information you need.

The typical documents are the following:

  • Letter of admission from the SRH
  • A valid passport with at least two blank pages
  • A recent passport photo (note whether there are any special requirements for the photo, e.g. light-coloured background or the like)
  • Proof of your funding, preferably a blocked account, scholarship certificate or the like
  • As well as some other application documents, e.g. travel insurance or German health insurance.

Questions & Answers

Yes, please make sure that you have a valid entry visa or residence permit. If you have a visa, apply for a residence permit six to four weeks before your visa expires; our Residence Permit Service will be happy to advise you.

Unfortunately, there is hardly any information available on the websites of German embassies for students who want to take their family with them. It is best to enquire there directly, as the requirements can vary from country to country.
Sometimes you can also enter family members travelling with you on the application for a study visa for yourself.

In any case, you will need various documents from your family members, e.g. passports, passport photos, possibly birth certificates of your children, marriage certificates and the like. In most cases you will need the original, a certified copy and an official translation into German; sometimes an English translation is sufficient, please enquire about this.

It is important that you can prove that you have enough money for each person travelling with you to ensure that you are financially secure. The easiest way to do this is to pay an appropriate amount into the blocked account.

If you later apply for a residence permit to study in Germany, you will need to apply for a residence permit for your family members at the same time. Again, you will need a German translation of all the documents for each family member. These are usually the same documents that you submitted for the visa. You will also need new documents, see our information on residence permits.

It is usually 90 or 180 days, so three to six months. This depends, for example, on what kind of health insurance you bring with you when you apply for the visa. If you already have health insurance from Germany, you will usually be granted a visa for six months, sometimes even for a year.

Regardless of how long your visa is valid for, you will then apply for a residence permit around six to four weeks before your entry visa for study purposes expires.

Some students, especially exchange/study abroad students, often receive a visa for study purposes for up to 12 months. If you leave within this period, you do not need to apply for a residence permit. If you want to stay longer than originally planned, i.e. two semesters instead of one, you will unfortunately have to apply for a residence permit.

If you do not need an entry visa for Germany, e.g. because you have South Korean or British citizenship, apply for a residence permit within the first 90 days of your arrival in Germany. Please check the stamp in your passport to see when your visa expires and make a note in your diary to submit the relevant documents to the relevant office six to four weeks before your entry visa expires. Via the following link you can find information on applying for a residence permit.

All students who apply for a visa for study purposes must prove that they can finance their life and studies in Germany. Unfortunately, a letter from a sponsor, e.g. your parents, is not sufficient. You can find the details on the website of the German embassy to which you are applying.

Typically, the following documents are usually accepted without any problems:

  • Proof of income or assets from your parents (=> this is not the case everywhere, please note the information provided by the embassy)
  • Guarantor with permanent residence in Germany
  • Security payment to a blocked account
  • Bank guarantee
  • Scholarship certificate from a recognised scholarship provider, e.g. DAAD, Fulbright

As already mentioned, visa regulations of the German embassies can differ from country to country when it comes to financial proof. In many countries, a blocked account is often the only financial proof permitted. Please contact the German embassy in your home country or country of study as early as possible if you have any questions.

We explain this here in more detail. This is an account into which you pay money, but which you cannot dispose of freely; for example, you can only have a certain amount of money transferred to a current account once a month. It therefore serves as security for third parties, for example for the German embassy when you apply for a visa, or for the foreigners authority in Germany where you later apply for a residence permit.

So before you can apply for a visa or a residence permit for the first time, you transfer a certain amount to the blocked account to show that you can finance your life and studies in Germany. The German state wants to prevent students from getting into financial difficulties and having to apply for state support.

This is why you pay the full amount for one year when you apply for a visa for study purposes, or less if you already know that you will be staying in Germany for less than twelve months.

If you later apply for a residence permit, you should top up the blocked account so that it covers at least one year, i.e. contains at least XY euros. Currently, this is at least 11,208 euros for one year; you may then withdraw or debit a maximum of 934 euros per month. If you pay more than the minimum amount into the blocked account, you can dispose of it freely. If you leave Germany earlier and you still have money in the blocked account, you will receive the remaining balance back.

There are many banks that offer this service in Germany and certainly also in your current home country. Not all banks are accepted by the German authorities, but you will certainly find a list of accepted banks on the website of the German embassies. Important: these lists are not a recommendation from the German embassy as to which bank is the best, but an alphabetical list.

Important: be sure to check whether the blocked account is offered in a package with other services, e.g. travel health insurance or health insurance. If you do not want this in the package, then make sure to unselect these services.

Yes, the state office should be informed when the time comes. If you changed your degree programme in the 1st or 2nd semester, then it is relatively easy to explain it to the LEA. However, if you decide to change your degree programme in the higher semesters, then it becomes more complicated to justify the change. The change of university should be made as soon as you are enrolled at your new university. However, the change of degree programme does not have to be reported until your residence document expires.

Residence permit

Have you received your letter of admission? Then it's time to start planning your study abroad programme at SRH University. An important milestone is your residence permit.

Your residence permit is only valid in conjunction with your passport. If your passport expires before your residence permit, your residence permit is also no longer valid. If you leave Germany for more than 6 months, your residence permit will automatically expire.

  • Start looking for accommodation and find a flat (room in a shared flat, flat, etc.). You will need a correct address in order to finalise your registration.
  • Once you have moved into your new flat/room, make an appointment at the Bürgeramt to register your address. Please note that this must be done within 2 weeks of your moving date.
  • Don't forget to get German health insurance. You cannot start your studies without proper health insurance.
  • You have a national visa (D): Remember that you must convert your current visa to a residence permit within 90 or 180 days of your arrival in Germany (please check the entry stamp and visa conditions). This must be done at the immigration office in your city.
  • You do not need an entry visa: Please apply for your residence permit within the first 90 days after arrival in Germany (please check the stamp in your passport).
  • Some students, e.g. exchange students who are staying in Germany for less than a year, can obtain a national (D) visa valid for up to 12 months instead of a national entry visa for 90 days. These students do not need to apply for a residence permit after their arrival in Germany.
  • Swiss nationals: Please apply for a "Residence Permit-Switzerland" within 90 days of your arrival in Germany.

Further information can be found in the "Student Welcome Guide", which you will receive together with your admission documents.

How & where do I get my residence permit?

At the time you need to apply for or extend your residence permit, we recommend that you live in the city where you are studying. If you do not live in the city, the Immigration Office can probably only give you a fictional certificate of 3 months.

  • Where do I have to go?

Option 1: State Office for Immigration(LEA)

Keplerstraße 2, 10589 Berlin

Please book your personal appointment at the Immigration Office well in advance (8 weeks before your visa expires). You can also book your appointment online. Spontaneous appointments on Thursdays are available every Wednesday.

Option 2: At SRH Berlin we offer a residence permit service. The university will submit your documents to the authorities. Please make an appointment (8 weeks before your visa expires) with the Residence Permit Service to use this service.

  1. First residence permit for studying: You will need the following documents and evidence for your application. Complete the application form and bring the relevant documents and evidence with you. (How do I complete the application?)
  2. Residence permit extension: You will need the following documents and evidence for the application, also complete the study forecast.
  3. Residence permit for job search: You will need the following documents and evidence for the application, also complete the certificate of completion of studies
  • Where do I have to go?
    Ausländerbehörde Dresden
    Theaterstraße 13, 01067 Dresden.

Please book your personal appointment early (6 weeks before your visa expires). You can book your appointment via email: [email protected]

  1. First residence permit for studying: You will need the following documents for your application. Fill out the application form and bring the relevant documents and evidence with you (How do I fill out the application?).
  2. Residence permit extension: You will need the following documents for the application, also complete the study forecast.
  3. Residence permit for job search: You will need the following documents for the application, also complete the certificate of completion of studies

 

  • Where do I have to go?
    Either to one of the immigration authorities in your district or to the
    Hamburg Welcome Centre 
    Adolphsplatz 1, 20457 Hamburg.

Please book your personal appointment well in advance (6 weeks before your visa expires). You can also book your appointment online: Foreigners' affairs for skilled workers - Hamburg Welcome Portal - hamburg.de

  1. First residence permit for studying: You will need the following documents for your application. Fill out the application form and bring the relevant documents and evidence with you. (How do I fill out the application?)
  2. Residence permit extension: You will need the following documents for the application, also complete the study forecast.
  3. Residence permit for job search: You will need the following documents for the application, also fill in the certificate of completion of studies

 

Questions & Answers

Please go directly to the nearest federal police office and report it. They will give you a loss report. If you have lost your passport, you must go to the embassy to apply for a new one. You can then apply for your visa/residence permit. If you have only lost your residence permit, then bring a copy of this loss report, your passport and a biometric photo of yourself to the SRH University Residence Permit Service.

You may work up to 120 full days (full day = 8 hours per day) or 240 half days (half day = 4 hours) during the calendar year. Self-employed work is not permitted.

For a total stay of up to 90 days within a period of 180 days. This regulation only applies to visits for tourism purposes. Please note: In order to study or complete an internship in another country of the European Union, you may have to apply for a study or internship visa. Please enquire at the respective embassy about the requirements.

This may be relevant if you would like to complete an exchange semester or an internship abroad.

You are welcome to bring your family with you. We advise you to apply for a family visa directly and enter the country together. You can find more information about this on the website of your embassy. Family reunification is also possible, but the process is more complicated. You can find more information on the website of the state office in your city.

You are allowed to change your degree programme, but it is recommended that you do this in the 1st or 2nd semester. You should also be able to prove that credits can be recognised for the new degree programme. You must also be able to show that you have been exmatriculated from the old degree programme and enrolled on the new programme. The exception is that you are not allowed to change from a Master's to a Bachelor's programme.

In Berlin it is not so easy to get an appointment for registration, but you can search on the website or call directly to 030-115. It's best to call in the late afternoon, as there are often appointments for the next day.

In general, you may only take one semester off or extension. For the second semester of leave or extension, you must apply for it and then your situation will be analysed by the State Office to see whether you have been studying properly and making adequate progress.

Yes, the state office should be informed when the time comes. If you changed your degree programme in the 1st or 2nd semester, then it is relatively easy to explain it to the LEA. However, if you decide to change your degree programme in the higher semesters, then it becomes more complicated to justify the change. The change of university should be made as soon as you are enrolled at your new university. However, the change of degree programme does not have to be reported until your residence document expires.

Should I present my old registration or wait until my new one arrives and then apply for my residence permit? Always apply 6 weeks before your document expires. If you do not yet have the new registration, then present the old one and submit the new one later by e-mail or bring it with you to the appointment at the State Office. It is important that the state office has the current registration by the appointment, as this is where your new document will be sent.

If you are not a citizen of the EU or an EEA state (Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway), you have applied for a study visa at the German embassy in your home country. You must now apply for a residence permit in Germany (this is not an extension of your visa).

If you come from Andorra, Australia, Brazil, El Salvador, the United Kingdom, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Canada, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, South Korea, Switzerland or the USA, you do not need to apply for a student visa, but you will receive a stamp in your passport when you enter Germany – this is your German entry visa.

The foreigners authority will inform you of the reasons and you can try again to apply for a residence permit or a new visa (be better prepared).

We recommend that you submit the application as soon as you have all the necessary application documents, but no later than 6-8 years before your residence permit expires.

You must carry your passport and residence permit with you wherever you travel. However, you can also take a copy of your passport with you.

You can either go there yourself, get an appointment online, or you can hand in your documents to the Residence Permit Service and we may be able to apply for an accelerated procedure (approx. 2 weeks).

In various drugstores (dm), at photo booths or in professional photo studios.

You should submit a certificate of a blocked account at a German bank with EUR 11,208 (submit the document even if your amount is less) OR the submission of a declaration of commitment from a third party in Germany on an official form OR a scholarship OR a notarised declaration from your parents for the duration of your studies with their last six months' bank statements and their colour passport copies. The documents must be in German or English.

You should provide bank statements for the last 6 months, ideally with a monthly income of EUR 934. A lower income is also acceptable.

Yes.

A blocked account is an account that is subject to foreign exchange controls in a country that restricts the amount of its currency that can be transferred to other countries or exchanged for other currencies. In short, it is an account that the account holder cannot freely dispose of and a blocked account is often required to prove adequate funds.

To apply for your residence permit, you should "top up" your blocked account for the period you are spending in Germany.

Yes, but a letter of confirmation from your health insurance company (not older than three months) can also be helpful.

Yes, 120 full days and 240 half days in a calendar year. In addition, foreign students have the opportunity to take up part-time student employment at the university or at another academic institution without any time limit. Part-time student employment also includes employment that is limited to university-related activities in connection with studies in university-related institutions (e.g. tutors in student residences, activities in the counselling work of the university communities, the Asten and the World University Service). The university must be consulted in the event of difficulties in delimitation (16b.3.1.2. Secondary student employment).

With your residence permit, you may stay outside Germany for up to six months (180 days) without losing the status of your residence permit. In addition, you must enquire at the embassy of your host country whether you need to apply for an additional work visa.

If it is a compulsory internship, this is not a problem. If it is a voluntary internship, you are only allowed to work 20 hours for 240 days or 40 A: If it is a compulsory internship, this is not a problem. If it is a voluntary internship, you are only allowed to work 20 hours for 240 days or 40 hours for 120 days.

You need a permit to look for work or a work permit/blue card.

No, but it can be helpful. Attach proof of a job interview, etc.

The work permit for jobseekers is valid for 18 months, and you have 18 months to find a job in your field.

As soon as you have a job offer that matches your qualifications, you can choose whether you want to apply for a German residence permit or an EU Blue Card for the next part of your stay. There are various conditions attached to both residence permits. Depending on what you plan to do in the future, either the German residence permit or the EU Blue Card may be advantageous for you. If you intend to live and work in another EU country later on, the EU Blue Card may be more favourable for you than the German residence permit. As the choice of residence permit depends heavily on your personal situation, seek advice from your local immigration office when applying.

You have six months to arrange a transfer. During this time, you should always carry both passports with you if you want to identify yourself. It is important that you remain in possession of the "old" passport because the current residence title is noted in it. The procedure is similar everywhere in Germany, but to be on the safe side, you should check how it is handled in the city where you are registered. In Berlin, re-registration can be handled by the city administration or as an application via the university service. This means that if you are registered in Berlin, you can submit your documents to our Residence Permit Service at the Berlin campus. You can find information from the Berlin Immigration Office here:

www.berlin.de/einwanderung/

At the Dresden Campus you will receive counselling, but you will have to submit the documents to the State Office yourself. Here you can find more information from the Landesamt Dresden:

www.dresden.de/index_de.php

At the Hamburg campus, you will also receive counselling, but you will have to submit the documents to the State Office yourself. Here you can find more information from the Landesamt Hamburg:

welcome.hamburg.de/auslaenderbehoerden-kundenzentren/

In general, you have to leave Germany if you cannot find work, but this will change following the amendments to the Immigration Act in Germany from November 2023.

You can change your degree programme, but it is recommended that you do so in the first or second semester. You should also be able to prove that you can have academic achievements recognised for the new degree programme. You must also be able to prove that you have exmatriculated from the old degree programme and enrolled on the new degree programme. However, it is not possible to change from a Master's to a Bachelor's degree programme. You must inform the Immigration Office as soon as you change university or degree programme.

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