Residence permit - Study
You are not from an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland and would like to study in Munich? Then you need a residence permit.
Description
A residence permit for the purpose of studying requires that you have been admitted to a full-time course at a state university, a state-recognised university or a comparable educational institution.
If you wish to study at a private higher education institution, please check with the institution to see whether it – or your degree programme – is state-recognised.
A residence permit for the purpose of studying also covers preparatory measures such as attending a preparatory language course or a preparatory college, as well as completing a compulsory work placement. However, a prerequisite for preparatory measures is that you have a guaranteed place on a full-time degree programme at the relevant educational institution. Information on doctoral studies.
Please note that in other cases of preparatory study, conditional admission to a degree programme or part-time study, the granting of a residence permit for the purpose of study is at the discretion of the Service Centre for Immigration and Naturalisation.
Before entering the country
You will generally need a visa to enter Germany. You can find all the information on the visa application process on our website.
Nationals of Andorra, Australia, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Canada, Monaco, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, San Marino, the United Kingdom or the USA may enter Germany without a visa and apply for a residence permit before the start of their studies.
After arrival
You must first register your address at the Citizens’ Office.
Application for a residence permit
Before your national D visa or current residence permit expires, you must apply for a residence permit. Please use the same online application form for renewing your residence permit as you did for your initial application.
You can submit your application and the required documents online:
- Please upload your documents as PDF files where possible.
- Once you have submitted your application, a confirmation will be displayed. You can save this as a PDF file for your records.
- This confirmation states that your current residence permit remains valid in Germany beyond its previous expiry date and that you may continue to work to the same extent as before (legal fiction).
- You can present this confirmation as proof to the authorities or at your place of work.
- Once your application has been assessed, you will be given an appointment.
Period of validity
The residence permit for study is usually granted for three years and can be extended. If the course of study lasts for less than three years, the residence permit will only be granted for the duration of the course.
Employment opportunities
With a residence permit for study, you may take up employment that must not exceed a total of 140 days or 280 half-days per year. This also applies to part-time student jobs. Further information on ‘Working whilst studying’.
Important note
Please submit the application form and the required documents online or by post. After submitting your online application, you can download a completed document as a PDF for your records. We will confirm your application in this document.
Requirements
- You have a school-leaving certificate with university entrance qualification or a recognised university degree (general university entrance qualification).
- You have been admitted to study at a university or higher education institution (conditional university admission or certificate of enrolment) or to a preparatory college in Germany.
- Your livelihood is secured for the duration of your studies.
Required documents
- A fully completed application form
- Valid passport or passport substitute
- A recent biometric passport photograph, submitted digitally by a certified photography studio or chemist’s. Alternatively, you may use one of the photo kiosks at the Immigration and Naturalisation Service Centre for a fee.
- A valid visa for entry for the purpose of study, where required
- For minors only: Consent from the persons authorised to exercise parental responsibility (informal)
- Proof of health insurance (insurance card) from a statutory health insurance provider. Those with private health insurance must ensure that the type and scope of their cover are adequate. The insurance must be valid for at least one year. Travel health insurance is not sufficient.
- Proof of sufficient means of support:
- A blocked account with a German bank containing at least 11,904 euros (for first-time applications) or
- a declaration of financial support or
- a scholarship certificate or
- a notarised declaration from the parents undertaking to cover living expenses for the duration of the studies, together with evidence of the parents’ income for the last three months
- For renewal from the 4th semester onwards: Transcripts of examination results achieved to date
- For renewal where the standard period of study has been exceeded: a certificate from the higher education institution confirming that the student is studying in good standing, their prospects of success and the expected duration until graduation
- For a change of study programme and/or university: a certificate of de-registration from the previous programme and a certificate of enrolment in the new programme . Further information on ‘Changing university or field of study’.
The documents submitted (such as proof of identity and language certificates) will be checked for authenticity. In individual cases, further documents may be required.
Please note
- The documents submitted (such as proof of identity and language certificates) will be checked for authenticity. We consistently report any forgeries to the police.
- Should we require any further documents, we will write to you.
Questions & Answers
You can obtain information from your university, from the university in the other EU member state, from the diplomatic mission of the country you wish to travel to or online from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.
If your stay abroad does not fall under the mobility regulations of the REST Directive, you must remember to come to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service Office in good time to apply for a longer period of temporary departure from Germany (re-entry certificate).
Then you can also benefit from the advantages of the REST Directive. To do so, you need a European residence permit for studying under the REST Directive and must be taking part in a Union or multilateral programme with mobility measures in Munich, or in an exchange programme for which an agreement between two or more higher education institutions applies.
For more information, please contact your university, one of the universities in Munich or the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.
If you already have a European residence permit to study under the REST Directive (up to 360 days), you do not need to go to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service Office. It is sufficient to register your place of residence at the Citizens Office. You will receive proof (mobility certificate) that you are authorised to stay in Germany with the European residence permit from your university abroad.
Legal basis
- § Section 16b (1) AufenthG
- § Section 16b (3) AufenthG
- Art. 31 REST Directive
Contact
Servicestelle für Zuwanderung und Einbürgerung
Website
Telephone
Postal address
Servicestelle für Zuwanderung und Einbürgerung
Ruppertstraße 19
80466 München
Address
Ruppertstraße 19
80337 München
Lagehinweis: Eingang C
Only with appointment