Visa and residence permit

Before entry: Visa

Most international students need a visa to enter Germany. Please make sure to apply for the visa for the stay for study purposes at the competent German mission abroad in your home country before entering Germany. Otherwise you will not be able to enter Germany! You can find an overview of the German missions abroad here.

An important note for you: Please do not enter Germany with a tourist visa under any circumstances, even if you can get one more quickly! You cannot have this visa converted into a visa for study purposes.

The issuing of a visa can take several weeks or months. Therefore, it is best to apply for the visa as soon as you have received admission from Fulda University of Applied Sciences.

The most important documents for applying for a visa are:

  • Valid passport
  • Letter of admission from Fulda University of Applied Sciences
  • Proof of sufficient financial means for living expenses in the first year (proof of financial means)
  • Health insurance

Please only take out health insurance for the period up to your enrolment. After that, join a statutory health insurance for the time of your studies in Germany. Information on health insurance.

Before applying for a visa, please also contact the relevant German mission abroad to find out exactly which documents are required.

Exceptions

You do not need a visa if

  • You come from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. You can enter the country with a valid passport and then apply for a residence title for study purposes together with the tenancy agreement at the competent foreigners authority.
  • You come from one of the following countries: Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea or the United States of America. You can enter Germany from these countries with a valid passport. If your stay exceeds three months, please apply for a residence permit at the competent foreigners authority

After entry: Residence permit

Important: The visa issued is an entry visa that is valid for between 3 and 12 months. Therefore, after your arrival in Fulda, you must report to the Foreigners' Registration Office to apply for a residence permit. Don't worry, we will support you with the application process during the orientation week.

You will receive the residence permit if you:

  • have a valid passport
  • have entered Germany with the correct visa (e.g. student visa)
  • you can support yourself with at least 853€ per month. You can prove this, for example, by means of a declaration of commitment or a blocked account. Further information can be found on the website of the German Foreign Office.
  • have been admitted to university, are attending a preparatory language course or a preparatory course for university studies

Residence permits are issued for different periods of time: Please remember to extend your residence permit in good time during the course of your studies. You should submit the application at least two months before it expires. You can extend your residence permit if you can prove that you have completed your studies properly and that you will not exceed the standard period of study by more than three semesters.

There are costs for applying for and extending the residence permit:

  • Period of validity less than 1 year: €100
  • Period of validity between 1 and 2 years: 110 €
  • Extension: 80 €

Leaflet of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees:

The electronic residence permit (eAT)
The electronic residence permit (eAT)
Le titre de séjour électronique (eAT)
El permiso de residencia electrónico (eAT)
O título de residência electrónico (eAT)
Electronic oturma izni (eAT)

Ansprechpartnerin:

Gesa Pusch-Thomas

Study advisor and support for international students

Advice on visas, jobs and grants • Student tutor programme • International Night • DAAD award • Buddy programme

Building 10 , Room 201
Gesa Pusch-Thomas+49 661 9640-1454
+49 170 3311045
Consultation hours
Fri: 10.00 - 12.00 (online); Mon: 10.00 - 12.00, Thu: 13.00 - 15.00
Office hours
Mon, Wed, Thu; Tue + Fri: Home Office