Entrance and residence regulations

Address registration and residence permit

German Citizens as well as foreign citizens
Please register your new address at the Foreigners' Registration Authority (Ausländerbehörde/Kreisverwaltungsreferat) or the concerned Citizens Advise Bureau as soon as you have moved into your new accommodation in Munich. For this you will need your personal identification card, your rental agreement and the filled out form.
Depending on your country of origin (see below), please apply for a residence permit at the Foreigners' Registration Authority (here for their contact addresses). Should you have questions regarding your individual case, please contact the authority directly. The website of the Deutsches Mobilitätszentrums also offers general information regarding the residence permit.

• As a citizen of one of the member states of the European Union (EU) or the European Free Trade Association (EFTA - Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, excepting Switzerland) you will be given a declaration form to fill out as soon as you register your address. This form is called „Selbstauskunft zur Freizügigkeit von Unionsbürgern“ (personal data to assess the right of freedom of movement of citizens of EU and EFTA member states) . On receipt of this declaration, the Foreigners' Registration Authority will issue you with a residence permit if needed.

• If you are a citizen of any other country other than those mentioned, please go to the Foreigners' Registration Authority upon your arrival in Germany (the latest 3 months after arrival but before expiry of your visa, if a visa applies) and apply for a residence permit. For this you will need the documents listed underneath (in original and copy):

  1. the filled out form
  2. proof of your address registration in Munich
  3. a valid passport
  4. proof of a health insurance valid in Germany
  5. proof of purpose of your residence (statement signed by your Professor giving details regarding your research topic, the probable duration of your doctorate, the language in which the doctoral thesis will be written, plus other means of evidence in some cases)
  6. 2 recent passport photos
  7. a processing fee of about 60€ for issuing the first permit (about 30€ for renewals)
  8. proof of your financial means for at least 1 year. Accepted means of proof are:
     - a scholarship acceptance letter from your home country or a German institution (should your grant amount to less than 643€ per month, please attach a declaration from your parents or a guarantor to cover the difference in funds)
     - a savings account with restricted access to withdrawal of amounts of 7,716€ or over (for questions, contact Signe Tuborgh)
     - a statement of parents income and financial situation (verified by the Embassy)
     - a letter of undertaking signed by a third party (according to § 68 of the Residence Law - AufenthG)
     - a bank guarantee issued by a German bank

Important note Even if you do not have all documents needed for the residence permit when your visa expires, please take the documents you have to the Foreigners' Registration Authority. They can issue a temporary certificate to prove that a residence permit has been applied for The residence permit can only be issued or extended for 2 years at the most (if the purpose of residence has not yet been achieved but could be reached within a reasonable period of time; § 16 Para.1 of the Residence Law -AufenthG). Please apply for an extension in good time before your residence permit expires is tied to a specific purpose (doctorate in your case). The permit expires when this goal has been achieved or interrupted once you have entered Germany, the purpose of residence may not be changed under normal circumstances (§ 16 Para. 2 of the Residence Law - AufenthG). This means that, if you decide to discontinue your doctorate prematurely and get a job, your right to reside in Germany will generally be withdrawn. Whether a new visa application from your home country is approved depends on your particular circumstances, and cannot be guaranteed in advance

Disclaimer: All the information is carefully monitored. However, we cannot assume any responsibility for contents as they do not conclusively deal with every individual case. They are not necessarily complete, comprehensive or completely up to date. They neither constitute legal advice nor legally-binding information and cannot be a substitute for expert advice.

 

contact: tuborgh@zv.tum.de