Get help with your visa application or application for a residence permit as well as extension at https://platform.visaflow.app/auth with Code KIT25.

Students from countries requiring a visa

Students from countries requiring visa (indicated by a “Yes”/”No” without an additional number next to your nationality) have to apply for a student visa in their country of origin, or the country of their home institution, before entering Germany.

• Please be aware that you cannot study in Germany on a tourist visa.
• To apply for a student visa, you will need your official admission letter from KIT. Contact the German embassy or consulate in your home country immediately after receiving your admission letter.
• After arriving in Germany, please register your residence at the town hall
• If your student visa expires before you leave, you need to apply for a residence permit. If it is only a short time before you leave, please contact overseas-in ∂does-not-exist.intl kit edu and we will try to find a short-time solution for you.

Contact person for your visa application at KIT (exchange students):
https://www.intl.kit.edu/ia/3760_9095.php

More information about visa application: Federal Foreign Office

Please note that if your visa is not valid for the entire duration of your exchange stay, you need to apply for a residence permit. Please read more about the residence permit application below. 

Students who can enter Germany without visa

• Students from countries allowing visa-free entry (e.g., USA, Australia, Brazil, Israel, Japan, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, UK, Northern Ireland) must apply for a residence permit within 90 days of entry at the local Foreigners’ Office (Ausländerbehörde).

• Even if your country allows visa-free entry, applying for a student visa before arrival is recommended due to processing times in Karlsruhe.

Important Information About Your Residence Permit

• Apply as soon as you have registered your address, and at least 6 weeks before your visa or current permit expires.
• After submitting your application, you can stay in Germany while waiting for your appointment, even if your visa expires. This is called “Fiktionswirkung.” Proof: your visa/previous permit + confirmation from the Foreigners’ Office.
• You can travel within the Schengen Area during the first 90 days. 
• Do not leave Germany after the initial 90 days unless you already have a residence permit.

Applying for a student visa before arrival is the safest option and helps avoid delays and travel restrictions.

Residence Permit Application – Required Documents

You can apply for a residence permit via an online system of the office of foreign affairs. Please have the following documents ready to upload during the application process for your residence permit: 

• Completed application form (from the Foreigners’ Office website)
• Passport copy and entry visa (if applicable)
• Proof of accommodation (rental contract)
• KIT enrollment certificate
• Proof of health insurance
• Proof of financial resources (€992/month). For different options of proof of financial resources see tab "Applying for A Residence Permit for Purposes of Study (“Aufenthaltstitel (AT) zu Studienzwecken”)"

Residence permit fee: €93–€100

EU/EFTA citizens

EU/EFTA citizens (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) need neither a visa nor a residence permit. After enrollment, register your address at the Residents’ Registration Office.

Having entered Germany or another country in the Schengen area, you normally have three months’ time to apply for a residence permit. In any case, you have to apply for a residence permit for purposes of study with the local Aliens Registration Office before your entrance visa expires.
The waiting time until issuance of the eAT (elektronischer Aufenthaltstitel – electronic residence permit) usually is about three months.

You need:

1. Biometric passport photo
2. Registration certificate
3. Health insurance certificate
4. Enrollment certificate (by KIT, upon enrollment)
5. Appointment with the responsible Aliens Registration Office (waiting time for an appointment up to five weeks).
   • The Aliens Registration Office responsible for you depends on your place of residence: Ausländerbehörde Stadt Karlsruhe, Ausländerbehörde Landratsamt Karlsruhe (in German)
   • In general: The service phone number of authorities in Karlsruhe is 115 in the fixed network of Karlsruhe.
6. Money in cash: EUR 75.00 to EUR 110.00 depending on the duration of the residence permit.
7. Personal documents
8. Proof of financial resources: You must prove that you have at least EUR 992 per month (EUR 11904 per year or EUR 5952 for exchange students staying only 6 months). The following forms of proof are possible:
   • A scholarship award notification from a German foundation / university or from your home country. If the scholarship amount is below EUR 992 per month, you have to prove that you have the remaining financial resources.
   • Blocked account with a bank in Germany: For a residence permit of one year, you have to deposit EUR 11904 (EUR 5952 for exchange students) on the bank account. Each month, you are allowed to withdraw EUR 992 only. Not all banks offer blocked accounts. From abroad, you can apply for a blocked account. Note: After entering Germany, you will have no access to the money on the blocked account. You will be able to withdraw money from this blocked account after having received your residence permit only. Granting of the residence permit may take several weeks! Please bring along sufficient cash or have sufficient money on another account in order to pay for your living in the first three months! Please see here for more information: https://www.study-in-germany.de/en/germany/arrival/residence-permit/
     https://www.study-in-germany.de/en/plan-your-studies/requirements/proof-of-financing/
   • Declaration of financial support in writing by your parents, stating that all expenses during your stay for studies in Germany will be covered by your parents. This document must be submitted in original form and in German (or as a certified translation). As a rule, the signature must be certified by a notary or the German Consulate and carry and official seal. In addition, certified proofs of your parents income have to be presented (to confirm that financial resources are sufficient to fund your studies in Germany).
   • Declaration of commitment (Article 68 AufenthG, German Residence Act) by relatives or persons knowing you: The commitment is to be declared to the Aliens Registration Office or the German representation abroad. It can be made for the entire study period. The persons have to prove to the authority that they are in a position to comply with this commitment (certified proofs of income).

Please note: Not all types of proof of financial resources from all countries are accepted by all German embassies. Please ask your German embassy in good time which proof of financial resources from your home country will be accepted by them.  

You already have a residence permit for studies in another EU member state?

This residence permit for the purposes of study is valid for the issuing EU member state only, not for Germany.
With this residence permit, you are allowed to travel as a tourist to all Schengen states, including Germany.

You have been in Germany for a longer time already and you possess a residence permit for preparing your studies / for study?

Look for your residence permit in the following list and read the information provided there.
Please note: Enrollment with the wrong residence permit is not permitted!

Residence Permit for Study Preparation (Article 16.1 AufenthG, German Residence Act)

The residence permit for study preparation consists of two documents: eAT (electronic residence title / permit with a photo in the size of a credit card) and a supplementary sheet (containing the exact details of your residence permit). The residence permit for study preparation may be granted for a maximum period of two years. You have to be enrolled in a degree program within two years upon the date of your arrival!
The residence permit for the purposes of study will be granted, if you attend a German course or the Studienkolleg (preparatory college) to prepare for your studies.
⇨ With the residence permit for study preparation, you can be enrolled in a degree program at KIT. The supplementary sheet may be updated after enrollment only.
► For enrollment, you have to present the valid eAT (residence title / permit) and the supplementary sheet!

Residence Permit for Studying at Another University in Germany (Article 16.1, AufenthG, German Residence Act)

The residence permit for studying at another university in Germany consists of two documents: eAT (electronic residence title / permit with a photo in the size of a credit card) and a supplementary sheet (giving the exact details on admission: Usually, the name of the university and subject studied).
You already have the residence permit for studying, if you have studied at a German university before and now want to move to KIT and enroll here.
⇨ Present the admission letter of KIT to your Aliens Registration Office and have the supplementary sheet updated before you move to Karlsruhe and enroll at KIT.
► For enrollment, you have to present the valid eAT and the supplementary sheet (updated for KIT)!

Please note: Information on changing the subject or changing the university:

Upon the start of your studies, a change of university or of the subject studied generally is possible within 18 months. After this period, a change will be permitted under certain conditions only. In any case, it is advisable to inform the Aliens Registration Office after admission and to have the supplementary sheet updated. If you change the subject or university without prior approval by the Aliens Registration Office, this change might not be permitted and you will have to leave the country without a degree.

Residence Permit for Studying at KIT (Article 16.1, AufenthG, German Residence Act)

The residence permit for studying at KIT consists of two documents: eAT (electronic residence title / permit with a photo in the size of a credit card) and a supplementary sheet (giving the exact details on admission: Usually, KIT and subject studied).
You already have the residence permit for studying, if you are studying at KIT and now have applied for another subject in which you would like to enroll. 
⇨ Present the corresponding letter of admission of KIT to your Aliens Registration Office and have the supplementary sheet updated for your new subject before you come to enroll at KIT.  
► For enrollment, you have to present the valid eAT and the supplementary sheet (updated for the new subject at KIT)!

Please note: Information on changing the subject or changing the university:

Upon the start of your studies, a change of university or of the subject studied generally is possible within 18 months. After this period, a change will be permitted under certain conditions only. In any case, it is advisable to inform the Aliens Registration Office after admission and to have the supplementary sheet updated. If you change the subject or university without prior approval by the Aliens Registration Office, this change might not be permitted and you will have to leave the country without a degree.

Residence Permit for Seeking Work upon Graduation in Germany (Article 16.4, AufenthG, German Residence Act)

Enrollment for studies at KIT is possible. Please note, however, that it is not always possible to convert the residence permit for seeking work into a residence permit for study (e.g. when studying for a second master’s degree in Germany)! In this case, you are allowed to study, but have to leave the country upon expiry of your residence permit for seeking work (18 months), if you have not found a job.
► For enrollment, you have to present the valid eAT!

Residence Permit for Family or Spouse Reunification and for Family Members of an EU Citizen, Settlement Permit

• Usually, the activity or education / training is not subject to any restrictions, enrollment for studies is possible.
• Present the valid eAT for enrollment.

Other Residence Permits for Au-pairs, for Passing a Voluntary Year for Social Services (FSJ), for an Internship, for Trainees, or for Attending Schools, etc.

Contact your Aliens Registration Office in due time to find out whether you are allowed to directly start studies and whether the purpose of your stay can be changed (e.g. from au-pair to study) in Germany. If the change of purpose is not possible and you have to apply for a new entry visa for the purposes of study with the German embassy in your home country, time for your departure, visa application, and return journey should be sufficient. If it is possible to change the purpose of your stay in Germany, apply for the change of the eAT and the update of the supplementary sheet with your Aliens Registration Office prior to enrollment by presenting the admission letter of KIT.
► For enrollment, you have to present the valid eAT for study purposes and the supplementary sheet (updated for KIT)!

There are some residence regulations you must observe. The list below is not complete, but contains the most important rules. Violations of these regulations may be punished with fines or with the order of your immediate departure from Germany.
When your residence permit expires, apply for an extension in due time.

Changes of your living conditions:

You are obliged to immediately inform the Aliens Registration Office about any changes of your living conditions, such as a change of address due to relocation, termination of studies, planned change of the subject studied or of the university.

Purpose:

Your residence permit for the purposes of study is bound to enrollment. As soon as you are no longer enrolled, your residence permit will expire.

Duration of your stay for studies:

Total duration of your studies (preparation for studies, bachelor’s and master’s programs) must not exceed ten years. Upon expiry of these ten years, the residence permit may be withdrawn, even if you have not yet finished your studies.

Studies and work:

As a student, you are allowed to work 120 full days (i.e. up to 8 hours per day) or 240 half days (i.e. up to 4 hours per day) every year. Activities at the university (as a student assistant or scientific assistant) can be pursued in addition to the 120 full or 240 half days. A mandatory internship also is not included in this permissible duration of work. If, however, the internship takes longer than required, every additional day is part of the 120/240 days!

Longer leave:

If you leave Germany for a period longer than 6 months during the term of validity of your residence permit, you will no longer be allowed to enter Germany, as your residence permit becomes invalid after 6 months outside of Germany (this also applies to the settlement permit). If you have to leave Germany for a longer period (e.g. for an internship or for exchange studies), inform the responsible Aliens Registration Office and have the return period extended. If you leave Germany for more than 6 months without informing the Aliens Registration Office, you will have to apply for a visa for re-entry. This also applies, if you stay within the EU.

This residence permit is also valid for tourist travels of up to 90 days to other Schengen states.