Applying for your residence permit is basically the extension of your student visa. Your residence permit is your legal basis to study and live in Germany. Always keep the expiration date in mind so you can start the extension process early enough.

Three important rules

1) Please contact the International Office and we will do the application together with you. 2) It is not possible to enter the immigration offices without an appointment and they are only reachable by e-mail 3) Please do not send out e-mails to the Immigration Offices on a frequent basis! This may only lead to a further delay of your case. They will get in touch with you when needed.

How to apply

You need to apply for an appointment: https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/305244/en/, then scroll down and click on Make an appointment.

<aside> 💡 We are also happy to offer a special service, through which you hand in all required documents at the International Office and we hand them over to the Immigration Office, which will then approach you regarding a personal appointment. In this case you don’t need to apply to for an appointment yourself. As this is a handover of collective applications, certain deadlines apply - the International Office will inform you about these. If in doubt, please contact your local International Office contact person.

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If you don’t live in Berlin, you will need to apply at the city that you are living in. Also in this case, the International Office is happy to help!

What documents do you need to hand in?

• Certificate of city registration (Meldebescheinigung)
• Application form: https://www.berlin.de/einwanderung/service/downloads/artikel.875129.php
• Proof of health insurance coverage (not older than three months)
• Proof of financial resources (EUR 11,904 for a one-year permit; double for a two-year permit). The following proofs are accepted:
  • Scholarship
  • Letter of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) by a third person living in Germany. This letter will officially be stamped and signed by the authorities after a credit check
  • Blocked Account (Sperrkonto)
  • Statement of financing (Finanzierungserklärung): informal (but notarized) declaration by parents residing abroad, including colored passport copies of parents, information about income during the last six months
• Proof of enrolment (Studienbescheinigung) → Ask Student Services for one
• Overview of tuition fees for your study program → Ask International Office for one
• Colored copy of your passport
• Colored copy of entry stamp to Germany in your passport
• Colored copy of your visa
• One biometric passport photo, reverse side with name and date of birth (35mm x 45mm, frontal view, light background, neutral facial expression, lips closed)

<aside> 💡 All documents (except the photograph) can be handed in digitally

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