What is a residence permit?
With a residence title you can prove that you are officially allowed to enter and stay in Germany. The residence title is not to be confused with the residence permit, because the residence permit is only one type of several different residence titles:
- Visa
- Residence permit
- EU Blue Card
- ICT card
- Mobile ICT Card
- Permit for permanent residence - EU
- Settlement permit
- Opportunity Card
For you as a student, only the visa and the residence permit are important.
Visa and residence permit for studying in Germany
Do you need a visa or a residence permit for your studies in Germany? Or even both? That depends on which country you come from. There are basically three groups of countries:
1. No visa or residence permit required
If you are from one of the following countries, or more precisely, if you are a citizen of one of them, you do not need a visa to enter the country or a residence permit to study:
- Countries of the European Union
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Norway
- Switzerland
After entering Germany, you only have to register at the nearest Residents' Registration Office (Einwohnermeldeamt). This has to be done by everyone who wants to stay in Germany for more than 90 days. Find out if your country is part of the European Union here.
2. No visa, but residence permit
As a citizen of the following countries, a residence permit is sufficient. You must apply for this at the Foreigners' Registration Office within 90 days of your entry.
- Andorra
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Argentinia
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Brazil
- Brunei Dar es Salaam
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Israel
- Japan
- Croatia
- Macedonia
- Malaysia
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Rumania
- Saint Kitts & Nevis
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- South Korea
- USA
- Uruguay
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
- Cyprus
3. Both: visa and residence permit
If you are not a citizen of one of the countries listed above, you need both a visa and a residence permit for entry and study. With the visa you may enter Germany and stay here for a maximum of 90 days. Within these 90 days you must apply for a residence permit at the Foreigners' Registration Office.
(As of June 2022)
