If you enter Germany with a visa, you will also have to obtain a residence permit for a longer stay in Germany. This must be applied for at the relevant immigration authority in your place of residence.
Students from the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland do not need such a permit. But they also have to prove that they have health insurance and can finance their studies.
If you are not a citizen of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, you will need the following documents to apply for a residence permit:
- Biometric photo
- Identity document (e.g. passport)
- Certificate of matriculation from the university
- Proof of permanent residence (tenancy agreement)
- Proof that sufficient means of subsistence are available (guarantee, scholarships, BAföG or assets)
- Health insurance certificate
Like the visa, the residence permit is restricted to a specific purpose. The purpose of your stay determines the extent to which you are allowed to work! Students in preparatory language courses or at the preparatory college may, for example, only work during holidays.
A residence permit for study purposes is issued for two years at a time and must always be extended before the expiry of this period. The extension depends on the proper course of studies, i.e. on whether you take examinations and acquire certificates. In this way, it is checked whether you can complete your studies within a reasonable period of time.