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Registration and Residence Permit

 

General Information

All international, non-EU/EAA/Swiss, students are required to have a valid residence permit at all times during their studies. If you fail to show a valid residence permit, we will take steps to restrict your student status. Under related content, you can find how to apply or extend your residence permit.

German and EU/EAA/Swiss students do not require residence or work permit, just address registration (Anmeldung).

 

Online Form

This form will help you with answering questions related to registration and residence permit in Germany. If the question is not answered after navigating through the form, you will have the option to formulate a question and we will see that it‘s answered in a timely manner.German and EU/EAA/Swiss citizens do not need a residence or work permit in the EU or Schengen. All international, non-EU/EAA/Swiss, students are required to have a valid residence permit at all times during their studies. If you fail to show a valid residence permit, we will take steps to restrict your student status. Under related content, you can find how to apply or extend your residence permit.The residence permit gives you many rights, among others: to work 120 full or 240 half days in Germany, but also to travel and stay within the Schengen Area (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, and Romania are not part of the Schengen Area) for up to 3 months. Special travel conditions apply for non-Schengen countries. Please check whether you can travel with your German residence permit to these.If you remain outside of Germany for longer than 6 months, your permit will become invalid with immediate effect, irrespective of its day of validity. If you intend to stay outside of Germany for longer than 6 months and wish to keep your residence permit valid, please inform us.The German residence permit does not give you the right to work in other Schengen countries.Please select one of the following topics.
 
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Registration of address (Anmeldung)
All students are required to register their address within 14 days after moving in. If you fail to do so, you might be fined (1000 €) by the authorities. If you have multiple nationalities, please register with the one that waives visa or residence permit requirement, f.e. if you hold German and US nationality, please register with the German passport or ID.

The address registration is an important document and you should keep it safe in your files. You will require it for any type of contract (f.e. opening a bank account, signing a phone contract, etc.) or for the extension of your residence permit!

Students with on-Campus housing
If you arrive during O-Week or as part of new class, the procedure is as follows. Upon signing your housing contract, you will be issued the following documents:

Once you complete and sign the form, you need to return to housing the two documents together with a color copy of both sides of your ID (German and EU / EAA / Swiss students only) or passport (all nationalities).

After two-three weeks, you will receive an e-mail to collect your address registration (Meldebestätigung).

If you arrive late (i.e. after O-Week or after the deadline set by housing), please proceed with the instructions for registration for students with off-Campus housing (below).

Students with off-Campus housing
To do the registration, visit or schedule an appointment with the closest Ortsamt/Stadtamt around your new residence. Bring with you:

Every time you move to a new place, you need to repeat the procedure above within 14 days of the move-in date.

De-registration of Address (Abmeldung)
If you move away from Germany, you have to do the formal deregistration of your address. You can send the signed form “Abmeldung” together with a scan of your passport in a single pdf file to visa [at] jacobs-university.de  

If you move within Germany and register a different address, or if you currently have non-university housing that you wish to retain, you won’t need to do an “Abmeldung”.

Please note that if you have university housing, we will inform the authorities that you no longer live with us, effective the end of the semester in which you will be removed from the register of students (August 31 for Spring, January 31 for Fall). You still need to also formally deregister your address.

If you fail to do the “Abmeldung” or to register your new German address within 2 weeks, the German authorities may fine you.

Report a Change of Address
If you live off-campus and you change your address, do not forget to inform us as well. Please e-mail registrar [at] jacobs-university.de your new address. The address will be then updated with all student-related departments.

Application for Residence Permit
International, non-EU / EAA / Swiss, students must apply for a residence permit within 90 days of entry into Schengen area, but before their visa expires. This information is related to freshman who have not applied for residency. In order to apply you need the following list of documents:

  • Application form
  • Your registration and a copy of your registration (i.e. Meldebestätigung/Anmeldung). A registration at the Foreigner’s office is not possible.
  • One passport-size, biometric photo (please click for the regulations here)
  • Enrollment confirmation
  • Proof of financial support
  • Proof of health insurance (public or private)
  • Passport, copy of the front page and the visa page (if applicable) of your passport

For your convenience, we have assembled a guide to your application.

As proof of sufficient funding, you should provide the following:

  • Foundation and Undergraduate Students – please provide the confirmation from your VIP page (Proof of Sufficient Funding).
  • Master Students and PhD students – please provide the same document you have used for your visa application

Procedure
Please print out the forms, hand sign them and scan them! Assemble all documents, except for the picture, in one single pdf file and send it to visa [at] jacobs-university.de! An appointment will be confirmed for you to submit your bio-metrical data (fingerprints and picture). The appointment is generally a few days after the submission of the complete documents but depends on the workload of the Migration office.

Collection / Delivery of the Permit
By default, the permit will be sent to your registered address (official address on your Meldebestätigung). If you would like to have it sent to us and for us to deliver it to you or pick it up from our offices, please submit in the application file also the Authorization (printed, filled-out, hand-signed and scanned).

We can deliver it by snail mail (free of charge), or send it to your mailbox on campus (free of charge), or deliver it by registered mail with UPS or DHL (you need to pre-pay and organize the delivery).

Cost and Payment
The application of residence permit costs 100€. You will pay upon submission of your biometrical data. You can pay in cash or through debit card (NO CREDIT CARD PAYMENT POSSIBLE).

Important Additional Information:
The residence permit will generally be issued for 3 years, but cannot be issued beyond the validity of your passport or health insurance (private insurances only). If you have private insurance make sure it’s valid for the duration of your studies. Make sure your passport is also valid throughout your studies.

Any residence permit will become invalid if you stay outside of Germany for longer than 6 months. If you plan to stay outside of Germany longer than that, please let us know.

Extension of Residence Permit

General
Please make sure to extend your residence permit before your current one expires.

List of Required Documents

  • Extension application form
  • Your registration and a copy of your registration (i.e. Meldebestätigung/Anmeldung)
  • Copy of your passport’s first page
  • Enrollment confirmation from current semester or admission letter (for continuing students)
  • Proof of sufficient funding:
    • For students residing on campus: Proof of paid semester/year contribution issued by Student Financial Services in German.
    • For students residing off campus: bank statements (Kontoauszug; blocked or normal account) with sufficient amount to afford living expenses from the past 3 month.
    • For holders of stipends, which cover the living expenses: Stipend letters (full scholarship holders)
  • Proof of health insurance:
    • For insured with a public insurance: copy of the card
    • For insured with a private insurance: copy and duration of the policy

Procedure
Please print out the form, hand sign it and scan it! When filling out the application, note that the address on the form cannot be different than your registered address. Assemble all documents in one single pdf file and send it to visa [at] jacobs-university.de! An appointment will be confirmed for you to submit your bio-metrical data (fingerprints and passport-sized, biometrical picture). The appointment is generally few days after the submission of the complete documents, but depends on the workload of the Migration office.

Collection / Delivery of the Permit
By default the permit will be sent to your registered address (official address on your Meldebestätigung). If you would like to have it sent to us and for us to deliver it to you or pick it up from our offices, please submit in the application file also the Authorization (printed, filled-out, hand-signed and scanned).

We can deliver it by snail mail (free of charge), or send it to your mailbox on campus (free of charge), or deliver it by registered mail with UPS or DHL (you need to pre-pay and organize the delivery).

Cost and Payment
The regular extension of residence permit costs 93€ (permit extended for longer than 6 months); shorter permits (Fiktionsbescheinigung; 1 Semester extension may be cheaper). You will pay upon submission of your biometrical data. You can pay in cash or through debit card (NO CREDIT CARD).

Important Additional Information:
The extension of the residence permit will generally be issued for the duration of your extended purpose of stay, but cannot be issued beyond the validity of your passport or health insurance (private insurances only). If you have a private insurance make sure it’s valid for the duration of your extension. Make sure your passport is also valid throughout your studies.

Any residence permit will become invalid if you stay outside of Germany longer than 6 months. If you plan to stay outside of Germany longer than that, please let us know.

Residence Permit after Graduation

General
After graduation, all international students are entitled to receive a residence permit to either work or look for a job. We recommend to apply for the residence permit to look for a job because it is not limited to just one job, hence it gives you more flexibility (f.e. to change or switch jobs).

List of Required Documents

  • Extension application form
  • Your registration and a copy of your registration (i.e. Meldebestätigung/Anmeldung)
  • Copy of your passport’s first page
  • Proof of sufficient funding:
    • Bank statements (blocked or normal account) of past 3 months showing regular money inflow into your account or sufficient amount to afford living expenses
    • Working contracts
  • Proof of health insurance (public: copy of the card – or private: copy of the policy)

In addition:

  • Copy of Diploma (for the 18 month job search permit) and (if applicable)
  • Employment contract and Job Form (filled out and signed by your employer) (for a residence permit with a job offer, please see above our recommendation in the general section)

Please note that your campus address and hence registration (Meldebestätigung) becomes invalid with the end of your last day of semester (i.e. August 31st for Spring semester). If you use Meldebestätigung where post can no longer be delivered to you, please submit along the Authorization form (see delivery).

Procedure
Please print out the form, hand sign it and scan it! When filling out the application, note that the address on the form cannot be different than your registered address. Assemble all documents in one single pdf file and send it to visa [at] jacobs-university.de! An appointment will be confirmed for you to submit your bio-metrical data (fingerprints and passport-sized, biometrical picture). The appointment is generally few days after the submission of the complete documents, but depends on the workload of the Migration office.
Collection / Delivery of the Permit
By default the permit will be sent to your registered address (official address on your Meldebestätigung). If you would like to have it sent to us and for us to deliver it to you or pick it up from our offices, please submit in the application file also the Authorization (printed, filled-out, hand-signed and scanned).
We can deliver it by snail mail (free of charge), or send it to your mailbox on campus (free of charge), or deliver it by registered mail with UPS or DHL (you need to pre-pay and organize the delivery).

Cost and Payment
The regular extension of residence permit costs 93€. You can pay in cash or through debit card (NO CREDIT CARD).

Important Additional Information:
The extension of the residence permit will generally be issued for 1.5 years beginning the day of graduation shown on your diploma, but cannot be issued beyond the validity of your passport or health insurance (private insurances only). If you have a private insurance make sure it’s valid for the duration of your extension. Make sure your passport is also valid for the entire period.
Any residence permit will become invalid if you stay outside of Germany longer than 6 months. If you plan to stay outside of Germany longer than that, please let us know.

Questions?
Check out our FAQ

Termination of Studies
If you terminate your studies or leave the university before graduation, your student residence permit will become invalid. It is possible to stay in Germany for up to 9 months afterward if you are looking for a new place of study. In order to get the permission to remain in Germany, please e-mail an explanation of your intent of stay in a formless declaration, signed by you, along with supporting documents (proof of application, internship, etc.) in a single pdf file to visa [at] jacobs-university.de

If you already have admission to another university, you can extend your residence permit (see Extension)!

Residence permit during long internship or study abroad
Please consider the following:

  • If you stay outside of Germany for longer than 6 months, any residence permit you have will become invalid!
  • You need to have a valid address registration in order to extend or apply for a residence permit in Germany
  • If you do your internship in Germany, please don’t forget that you need a valid residence permit at all times, so make sure you extend it in due time.

If you do your study abroad or internship in the Schengen area, it will be best to have your German residence permit valid at all times. However, this is not necessary if you hold a residence permit for the host country in the Schengen area.

If you do your study abroad or internship outside of the Schengen area, you will have three options:

  • To extend your residence permit before you leave in the summer. This is the best option!
  • To return to Germany before it expires to extend it. Please note that you will need a valid address registration in order to do that.
  • To apply for a re-entry visa when you are about to return.

If you will be doing your internship outside of the Schengen area, we strongly advise you to extend your residence permit (if it expires before the study abroad / internship ends) before you leave in the summer! The best time would be at the beginning of May!

If you who have a valid residence permit (or will extend it before you leave for the summer) and will stay longer than 6 months outside of Germany/Schengen, we can arrange for a paper that keeps your residence permit valid.  In order to arrange for this paper, we will require the following:

  • Contract or Letter for internship in German or English / Enrollment confirmation from host University

Loss of the Residence Permit
If your residence permit is lost or stolen, you need to get a new one. To do so, you will require the following documents:

  • your passport
  • 60 €
  • a picture

Please e-mail the reason for the loss (stolen, lost), the date of loss, along with a copy of your passport’s data page to visa [at] jacobs-university.de.

Major Change
If you change your major, you will be required to also change the green paper that is issued with your residence permit card. Please inform us (visa [at] jacobs-university.de) about the major change. We will arrange that the new green paper is delivered to your mailbox.

Self-Employment

General
Your student residence permit does not allow you to be self-employed or to start your own company. Students, who wish to execute paid self-employed activities or start their own company, must apply for permission.

List of Required Documents

  • Students, who do it as part of their 5. Semester Start-Up track should provide a confirmation from the Career Services Center that the self-employment is approved and part of the university studies (Start-Up track)
  • Students, who do it outside of their studies should provide the following statements in German:
    • Explanation of the Business Idea and how it will align with the studies
    • Support Letter from a Professor stating that the idea is in line with the studies and no extension of the studies is expected through this activity.  

Procedure
Submit the confirmation(s) in one single pdf file to visa [at] jacobs-university.de! If approved, you will be issued a new green paper, which will be delivered to your address of registration or mailbox on campus.

Cost and Payment
There is no cost associated with this service.

Invitation for Visitor’s Visa
Verpflichtungserklärung is the official document, with which you can invite and secure visitor’s visa to the Federal Republic of Germany for a relative or a family member.

The procedure:
You must visit the Bürger Service Center-Nord in Bremen-Vegesack, or any other Bürger Service Center near you. Please check the address and the opening hours of the Bürger Service Center -Nord here.

To make an appointment in advance please call the Bürger Service Center on +49 (0) 421 361-88672.

Proof of Funding:
Foreign students without a permanent residence permit in Germany need to open a blocked account for their guests. The funds on this account are frozen until the guest leaves the country. For every started month of the guest’s stay, the amount of €300 (or €200 for children) is required for each guest. Students must, therefore, prove that they have €300 monthly for themselves, as well as €300 for each guest.

In addition, the amount of 1000€ needs to be deposited into the blocked account. This money will be unblocked once the guest leaves the country.

Please note that the proof of funding regulation is handled very strictly.

People with permanent residence permits and employment in Germany can also have their solvency evaluated. To this end, income documentation for the last three months is required (salary slips, bank account statistics, …). Costs for rent and additional costs are also evaluated. The necessary solvency is different in each case.

Cost of the service:

  • 25€ for each Verpflichtungserklärung
  • 5€ for the blocked account

After the Verpflichtungserklärung is issued, it has to be sent to the guest so they can apply for their visa.

Required documents:

From the Student:

  • Passport
  • Proof of funding (for the last 3 months)
  • Student ID
  • Anmeldung (registration with local authorities)

From the Guest:

  • Full Name
  • Birthday and Birth place
  • Nationality
  • Passport Number
  • Permanent address
  • What is the relation to the inviting party
  • Any accompanying people (wife/husband/children)
  • Duration of the stay in Germany
  • Where will the guest stay in Germany

Welcome Money
The City of Bremen is quite generous with its new residents, paying out 150 € of welcome money to incoming students. Please find the information on how to apply for the money below.

As a new resident of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen you are entitled to receive Welcome Money (150 €) from the city of Bremen. To qualify, you need:

  • to be a new resident (registered with the authorities in Bremen) of the city as of/after 01.01.08 and
  • to have not had a permanent residence in Bremen during the last 12 months and
  • to have a residence permit that is valid at least for 12 months and one day (!) (does not apply for EU/EAA/Swiss students)

Please note that incoming students from Bremenhaven are not considered new residents, since Bremenhaven is a part of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen. There is even more to that: you must retain your residence in Bremen for at least 12 months. Unfortunately, this automatically excludes visiting and exchange students.

You can apply for the “Begrüßungsgeld” only online.

The instructions are as follows:

After clicking on “Absenden”, the following content will appear:

The form could be filled out only once!!! Please check very carefully the information before clicking “Absenden” (Send).

After you fill it out, you will receive the application form as a pdf attachment to the provided email address. Please print it out and sign it.
Scan the following documents in a single pdf file in the following order:

  • the hand-signed application form
  • current enrollment confirmation (the small blue paper that states you are enrolled, received with the semester ticket). Make sure it’s from the current semester
  • your passport (non-EU students) or national ID or Passport (EU/EAA/Swiss students)
  • your residence permit (non-EU students only)

Send the scanned pdf file to visa [at] jacobs-university.de.
If approved you will receive a confirmation with expected duration of the transfer.
If not approved, we will inform you of the course of action.

Please click here >> APPLY<< to apply for the welcome money.