Students with EU nationality or students who are citizens of Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, or Switzerland only need to register as residents. They do not need a visa and/or residence permit.
Good to know: In Germany, the term "visa" only refers to the entry document issued by a German embassy abroad. While in Germany, you will receive a residence permit (or residence title) after your visa expires.
To enter and stay in Germany for studies, non-EU students need a visa and/or a residence permit. The German Federal Government offers an overview of how to obtain a study visa.
Make sure to check the specific regulations in your case with your nearest German embassy or consulate.
Please note:
- The University of Stuttgart is not involved in the visa process and is not in a position to speed up the procedure or influence the requirements.
- Please do not enter Germany with a visa for purposes other than studies, e.g. on a tourist visa (so-called Schengen visa). You will not be able to change it into a visa for studying after your arrival!
- Visas for studying in other EU countries are not valid for studying in Germany. Please apply for a student visa for Germany in the German Embassy of your current country of residence.
- Possible exceptions for incoming exchange students (e.g. Erasmus students) with a study residence permit in another EU country (cf. FAQ)
Unfortunately, students sometimes arrive late due to slow visa processing. If you are concerned about arriving on time, inform your study program coordinator and check the information for late arrivals.
Are you arriving for PhD studies or research? Please refer to the International Office's Welcome Center for international researchers.
German law requires all residents staying in Germany for more than 90 days to register at the Einwohnermeldeamt (Residents' Registration Office). The registration must be done within 14 days after moving in. After the registration, you will receive a confirmation (Meldebestätigung).
Proof of residence registration is required for opening a bank account, applying for a residence permit, and other formalities!
You need to register in the municipality or city in which your flat is located. If your flat is located in Stuttgart, you can register at any Bürgerbüro (Citizens' Service Centers) throughout the city.
It is mandatory to provide the following documents:
- Your passport or European Union ID card
- A registration form (Anmeldung), filled out and signed, available at the International Office or at any Bürgerbüro (or online on the respective website)
- A form called Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (a confirmation that you have moved in, signed by your landlord/landlady). If you live in a student dormitory, please use your moving-in letter from the Studierendenwerk or VSSW.
Your flat is not located in Stuttgart? Your landlord or landlady can inform you where to register. While registering, you can ask where exactly to apply for your residence permit.
Please note: If you move houses during your studies, do not forget to register your new flat within two weeks after you move. A separate de-registration of your former flat is not required in that case.
Non-EU citizens who stay in Germany longer than the duration of their visa should apply for a residence permit soon after arrival or at least a few weeks before their visa expires.
You must apply for a residence permit in the same municipality / town as your residence registration. If you are unsure, look for the Ausländerbehörde (Foreigners' Registration Office) on the homepage of your city administration.
It is mandatory to provide the following documents:
- A completed and signed application form for a residence permit
- Your passport (the page with your personal information)
- Your visa (if applicable)
- A biometrical photo (cf. FAQ)
- Confirmation of residence registration (Meldebestätigung)
- Letter of admission (Zulassungsbescheid) and if possible, enrollment certificate (Einschreibung/Immatrikulationsbescheinigung) from the University of Stuttgart
- Health insurance confirmation (Versicherungsbescheinigung) from a German health insurance provider (more information on insurance)
- Proof of sufficient funds (minimum EUR 934 per month), e.g. a bank statement from a German account or a scholarship letter
- If a personal appointment takes place, you will need to pay a processing fee of around 100 EUR.
The residence permit is called eAT (elektronischer Aufenthaltstitel; electronic residence permit) and is in credit card format. The chip on the card contains the details of your residence permit. You will also receive a supplementary sheet with additional information. Please carry it with you at all times.
The residence permit for students includes a restricted working permit. Find out more about residence permits.
Information on residence permits by the city of Stuttgart (not specific to students).
Please apply for an extension of your residence permit, preferably 1-2 months before it expires (see below).
Due to staff shortage, there is a considerable delay in all Foreigners' Registration Office processes. Please follow the guidelines below to avoid further delays.
- Send your complete application documents only once via e-mail to the Ausländerbehörde (Foreigners' Registration Office):
Family names starting with the letter A - E: auslaenderrecht.ae@stuttgart.de
Family names starting with the letter F - M: auslaenderrecht.fm@stuttgart.de
Family names starting with the letter N - Z: auslaenderrecht.nz@stuttgart.de
Clearly state in the e-mail that you are applying for a residence permit for your studies and attach all the relevant documents listed above.
- Be patient and wait. Please do not resend your request or send reminders!
- About a week before your visa expires (or the visa-free period of 90 days ends), you will receive one of the following replies by post:
- A temporary document called Fiktionsbescheinigung. It is equivalent to an eAT and is often issued due to a shortage of appointments. Pay attention to the information and possible restrictions given with this certificate. A handling fee is usually not charged.
- An invitation to an appointment to apply for a residence permit in person.
- If you are invited to one of the rare appointments:
- It is very important to arrive on time and bring all relevant documents.
- Be prepared to pay a handling charge of approx. 100 EUR. You will be issued an eAT card, which will arrive via postal mail after 8 weeks. A paper confirmation is given to you for the time being until your eAT card arrives. Pay attention to the information sent with the card!
- If you need to cancel your appointment due to objectively understandable reasons (e.g. hospitalization), ask for another date as soon as possible!
Your visa is expiring soon, and you have not heard from the Ausländerbehörde (Foreigners' Registration Office)? Do you have questions regarding the eAT/Fiktionsbescheinigung you received? Please contact the International Office!
Please apply for an extension of your residence permit, preferably 1-2 months before it expires. You will need to submit a current proof of enrollment, a transcript of records (usually not required if you are an exchange student), and a current proof of funding.
In Stuttgart, the process is similar to applying for your first residence permit, i.e., you send your application by e-mail and only receive an answer shortly before your previous residence permit expires.
Please note: In case you move during your studies, the Foreigners' Registration Office at the new place of residence is responsible for you from the day you move. Your documents will be sent to them automatically after you have registered your new residence. Unfortunately, this might take several weeks or even months. If possible, try not to move AND extend your residence permit at the same time.
If the Ausländerbehörde (Foreigners' Registration Office) approaches you during your studies with questions, feel free to contact the International Office for guidance.
FAQs
Visa regulations depend on your citizenship and the purpose of your stay in Germany. You can find additional information on the Federal Foreign Office's website.
The Schengen Visa is only valid for short stays up to 90 days within any 180-day period. For longer stays and stays for studies, training, or work purposes, you need a long-term visa, the so-called national visa.
The International Office is not in a position to speed up the visa process. Depending on the country and the number of visa applications, it can take several months to get an appointment at the embassy, so it is important to plan in advance.
Please do not enter Germany on a tourist visa (so-called Schengen visa) since you will not be able to change it into a visa for study purposes after your arrival.
A visa and a residence permit are both documents that entitle you to stay in Germany. The German diplomatic mission abroad (embassy, consulate general, etc.) issues a visa. It entitles you to enter Germany but usually does not cover the duration of your stay.
After entering the country or, at the latest a few weeks before your visa ends, you must apply for a residence permit in Germany with the Foreigners' Registration Office at the place of your residence in Germany.
Citizens of some countries may enter Germany without a visa but must still apply for a residence permit in Germany.
The eAT (elektronischer Aufenthaltstitel; electronic residence permit) usually consists of a chip card and a supplementary sheet. Due to the high workload, the Foreigners' Registration Office might not be able to check your application documents thoroughly. In the meantime, a fictitious certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung) will be issued to prove that your stay in Germany is legal. The Fiktionsbescheinigung consists of a supplementary sheet.
In case you move, the Foreigners' Registration Office at your new place of residence is responsible for you from the day you register your new address with the Residents' Registration Office.
Unfortunately, the document transfer from one authority to the other can take a few days to several weeks.
If the application for the residence permit coincides with the move, we recommend that you arrange the extension of the residence permit in good time at your former place of residence.
Yes, you may study abroad for a semester. Make sure that your residence permit covers the entire stay abroad. Only then can you re-enter Germany.
If you leave Germany for more than six months, make sure to get a so-called Nichterlöschensbescheinigung (certificate of non-expiry; see below).
If you wish to leave Germany temporarily, make sure that your passport and residence permit are valid for the entire duration of your stay abroad and allow you to re-enter the country.
Re-entry is not possible if your stay abroad lasts longer than six months. In that case, you need to apply for a certificate of non-expiry (Bescheinigung über das Nichterlöschen eines Aufenthaltstitels) before leaving Germany. In Stuttgart, you can do so at the service point of the Foreigners' Registration Office (Ausländerbehörde) without an appointment.
For further questions, please send an e-mail to the International Office.
If you drop out of your program or if you want to change your study program, please send an e-mail to the Foreigners' Registration Office and inform them about the change of your program.
For individual advice or further questions, please contact the International Office, e.g. by e-mail.
No, after the 90-day period in Germany/Europe expires, you will not be allowed to travel outside Germany/Europe and re-enter Germany again (within 180 days). This regulation applies to citizens from e.g., Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and the USA. They may enter Germany without a visa but must apply for a residence permit upon arrival in order to leave and re-enter Germany after 90 days.
No, if your visa covers the whole period of your stay you do not need to apply for a residence permit.
In general, visas for studying in other EU countries are not valid for studying in Germany.
Due to an EU guideline (2016/801), students with non-EU citizenship who are studying in an EU country and are part of an exchange program (e.g. Erasmus exchange) at a German university can apply directly for a residence permit for Germany via the International Office. Conditions: you have a student residence permit from the country where you are currently studying and you are staying in Germany for less than 360 days. With this procedure, you will not need to apply for a visa at the German embassy. If this case applies to you, please contact us.
Biometrical photos are special photos that are required for passports and the Foreigners' Registration Office. You can have biometrical photos taken at every photo studio in Stuttgart or in certain drugstores. Many German embassies provide sample photos, e.g. on this website. Remember that biometrical photos have special requirements:
- The picture has to be sharp, of high contrast, and evenly illuminated.
- The picture has to be of good quality and must display the natural complexion.
- The background has to be plain, bright, and without any pattern.
- The head must be held straight in the middle of the picture.
- The eyes must be open, facing the camera.
- You should have a neutral facial expression and a closed mouth.
- Headdress is permitted for religious reasons only.
Contact
International Office
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- +49 711 685 68566
- Write e-mail
- Office hours (online): Mon & Wed 10 a.m. to noon; Office hours (on site): Mon & Wed, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. , Tue & Thur, 10 a.m. to noon