Entry and visas

Source: https://www.fau.eu/studying/international-students/everything-you-need-to-know-about-coming-to-fau/entry-and-visas/ Parent: https://www.fau.eu/

There are different entry and visa requirements for anyone coming to FAU to study, complete a research stay, or an internship, depending on their country of origin and the purpose of their stay.

Requirements dependent on the target group

The following information applies to entry and residence regulations that differ depending on the particular group of people.

Students

• As a student from the EU, you can enter Germany without a visa and you do not require a residence permit. All that you need is ID from your home country. However, you must register with the authorities in your place of residence at the latest 7 days after arriving in Germany. For this, you require a permanent address. Youth hostels or boarding houses are not accepted.\ Please refer to the websites for the local and regional authorities for details of their addresses and opening hours (www.erlangen.de, www.nuernberg.de, www.fuerth.de, www.erlangen-hoechstadt.de etc.).
• If you are a citizen of a non-EU state, you must apply for a visa from the German consulate or embassy in your home country before traveling to Germany. Please note that it may 6 to 8 weeks to process your application. Further information on the application process is available directly from the embassy responsible for you.

The website of the Federal Foreign Office lists all the important information about German authorities abroad. There are some states whose citizens can only apply for a residence permit after entry. A list of these states and further information on the application procedure is available on the website of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Visiting Students

As a student coming to FAU within the context of a university partnership, you will be at FAU for an extended period of time (longer than 4 weeks). If you come from a state where a visa is required, you are not entitled to stay in Germany for more than 90 days. If you would like to stay longer, you must enroll at FAU and apply for a residence permit.

Interns

As interns come to FAU to gain practical experience and do not attend lectures or seminars, as a rule it is not possible for them to enroll at FAU, and therefore they are not eligible for student status.

Interns from non-EU countries

Citizens from countries outside the European Union require a visa in order to enter Germany. Please apply to the German consulate or embassy in your home country for a visa before traveling to Germany. Please note that it may 6 to 8 weeks to process your application. Further information on the application process is available directly from the embassy responsible for you.

Please note that different visas can be applied for when doing an internship (“national” or “Schengen” visa). You should check with the German embassy or consulate which is the correct visa for you. The decision depends, among other things, on how long your internship in Germany will last and whether you may want to extend it later. Do not start your internship on a tourist visa! There are some states whose citizens can only apply for a residence permit after entering Germany. A list of these states and further information on the application process is available on the website of the German Academic Exchange Service. As interns are particularly prone to encountering difficulties when applying for a residence permit or visa, please be sure to contact the Germany embassy or consulate before traveling to Germany to clarify which documents you require in order to apply for an internship visa for Germany.

Regulations for non-EU citizens

The following gives a breakdown of the entry requirements, visa procedure and the documents required by students from non-EU states.

Application for entry, visa

Generally, the following documents are required when applying for a visa:

• Proof of financing (how you intend to finance your studies in Germany)
• Letter of admission to degree program – if your knowledge of German is sufficient to take the DSH examination immediately or if you already have an equivalent language certificate (see under “German language skills”). The referral to the Studienkolleg in Munich is likewise sufficient as confirmation if you have to take an assessment examination before starting your studies.
• If your German proficiency is not advanced enough to start a degree program immediately, you can apply for a German course. Information on the formal requirements for applying to a German course is available on the page on German language requirements and language certificates. If you meet the formal requirements for starting your degree program, you will receive confirmation from the University that you have been allocated a place on a German course.

Being allocated a place on a German course is not the same as being accepted on to your desired degree program. You must apply again within the deadline for a place on the degree program that you intend studying.

• You should apply for a visa that is valid at least three to four months, from the date you enroll at the University until at least the end of the coming semester; in the summer semester that is three months, and in the winter semester four. The visa must be extended in good time before it becomes invalid, in other words the provisional visa has to be converted into a residence permit for study purposes. As a rule, a residence permit is valid for one to two years. Since it is issued to students for study purposes, it will not be extended if you discontinue your studies. Please also note that changing your subject is only possible without any difficulties in your first three semesters.
• Do not enter Germany on a tourist visa, as this cannot be converted into a visa for study purposes! Otherwise, you will have to leave the country again and apply for a new visa in your home country.

Proof of funding

When you apply for a student visa, the German embassy/consulate will inquire whether you can finance your studies in Germany. You must provide proof that this is the case. Likewise, after your arrival in Germany, the immigration authorities will ask you for proof of financing in order for your visa to be converted into a residence permit for study purposes. The proof of financing demonstrates that you have sufficient financial means to cover your expenses above all for your first year of studies and that you will not need any social benefits offered by the German state. The amount students and prospective students from third countries are expected to have at their disposal changes regularly. The latest figures can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.

In general, proof of financing can be given by:

• Parents: statement of commitment and disclosure of income and assets
• Statement of commitment: statement of commitment to the immigration authorities or the embassy that somebody will provide the necessary funding to cover the costs of living
• Savings account: transfer of a certain sum of money (deposit) to a blocked account.
• Scholarship: if you receive a scholarship funded by the German state, a sponsorship organization that is officially recognized in Germany, your own state, the Federal Foreign Office, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) or any other scholarship organization that offers scholarships for studying at German universities, you have to submit a confirmation with details of the amount and the duration of the scholarship.

Please note that not all of the options listed above are accepted in all German federal states.

Proof of health insurance

Without confirmation from your health insurance company you will not be able to enroll at university. Ask your health insurance company for a confirmation of your membership when signing the contract. You will need this confirmation when enrolling at the university. More details are available on the page on insurance.

Formalities on arrival

Several official steps have to be taken once you arrive in Germany. The following gives a brief overview of the most important formalities.

Registering with local authorities

All students must register with the local authorities at their new place of residence no later than 14 days after their arrival in Germany and before enrollment:

Registration office in Erlangen

Registration office in Nuremberg

Usually, you will require:

• a registration form – available from the registration office
• confirmation of accommodation from your landlord/student accommodation – also available from the registration office or here: Confirmation of accommodation
• Passport

You can only register with a permanent address, a hostel or boarding house is not accepted.

German bank account

It is recommended that you open a German bank account. You will need it again and again, for example for transferring your tuition fees, your rent, or the health insurance fees. You can open an account at any German commercial bank. Please check whether the bank charges fees for opening an account, for administration and for issuing an EC card (electronic cash card). You will usually require:

• Passport
• Fees for opening an account

Extending your visa

As international students enter Germany on a student visa they have to arrange for it to be converted into a residence permit after their arrival. In order to do so, please contact the immigration authorities of your place of residence:

Immigration authorities in Erlangen

Immigration authorities in Erlangen-Höchstadt (Erlangen-Land)

Immigration authorities in Nuremberg

Usually, you will require:

• A form to apply for the residence permit
• ID card or passport (with visa if applicable)
• Certificate of enrollment from the university
• Proof of health insurance or exemption, if applicable
• Proof of funding
• Biometric passport photos
• Money for fees

Please note that you must apply for an extension of your visa or residence permit approximately three months before your visa or residence permit expires.

Enrolling at university

Please enroll at FAU’s Student Records Office. you can find all the information you need in the “Studying” section under “Application and enrollment” and in your admissions letter .