After your arrival

Health Insurance

Health insurance is mandatory to enroll and study at a German university.

You must either obtain statutory health insurance in Germany or provide adequate private health insurance coverage from your home country.

Useful information on the German healthcare system and health insurances can be found on the website of DAAD.

German statutory health insurance (Recommended)

It is provided by public health insurance companies – like AOK and TK. The cost for student insurance is approximately 140–150 EUR per month. Please contact the health insurance provider of your choice before your arrival and inform them that you need a health insurance for studies at KIT.

• Non-EU students under 29 are eligible for German statutory health insurance and are strongly encouraged to choose this option.
• It offers comprehensive coverage, including doctor and dentist visits, prescription medication (with small co-payments), hospital treatment, and certain therapies.

👉 Enrollment can only be completed after the university receives confirmation of your insurance status from the insurance provider.

Students Aged 29 and Above

Students over 29 years old are not eligible for statutory health insurance and must take out private health insurance.

Private Insurance

If you bring your private health insurance from your home country or get one in Germany, please check in advance whether it is accepted in Germany for enrollment as a student. Only a few non-European private insurance policies are recognized, and they must offer unlimited coverage.

If you wish to use private health insurance from your home country, you must request a waiver from a German statutory insurance provider like AOK or TK.

Please check whether your home university’s insurance can be used for your exchange stay in Germany.
👉 Please contact the insurance provider while still abroad, as enrollment can only be finalized after the insurance status is confirmed.

Optional: additional insurance coverage

Important: Travel Insurance

German statutory health insurance starts only from the date of enrollment (never before April 1st / October 1st).
Therefore, we strongly recommend taking out additional travel insurance for your journey to Germany and the period between arrival and enrollment.

Please note that during your pre-semester German course in March or September, you will not be covered by statutory or student health insurance.

Student Insurance Coverage at KIT

At KIT, enrolled students are covered by student insurance starting at the beginning of the semester through the social contribution.

This coverage includes the following types of insurance:

• Liability Insurance
  Covers all study-related activities on campus and during curriculum-related events, including games and trips.
• Statutory Accident Insurance
  Covers accidents that occur at the university, on the direct way to and from the university, and during university sports events.
  Please note: only personal injuries are covered.
• Recreational Accident Insurance
  Provides additional coverage for accidents that occur outside the university and outside the direct way to and from the university.

More detailed information about your student insurance coverage can be found here

Information about private liability insurance in Germany

We recommend that you take out private liability insurance for your stay in Germany. If, for example, you damage a piece of furniture in your rented apartment or cause an accident as a pedestrian, you must pay for the damage incurred. Liability insurance covers the costs of justified claims and protects you from unjustified claims at the same time.

Where can you take out private liability insurance?

In your home country

• Are you already insured for liability in your home country? Ask your provider whether the insurance is also valid in Germany.
• If not: Ask your local insurance company whether you can take out insurance cover for Germany there.

In Germany

• Some companies offer insurances for short stays, which you can take out online.
• Note: Taking out liability insurance is recommended but optional. You choose the provider.

Registration with the City of Karlsruhe

You need to register with the city of Karlsruhe (Bürgerbüro/Einwohnermeldeamt) within two weeks after having moved to your apartment. Please note that you also have to notify the Bürgerbüro/Einwohnermeldeamt each time you change your place of residence in Germany.

All students who move within Germany can register online. You can find all the information you need at Citizens' services: Register residence in Karlsruhe. You can use the Universalassistent Meldewesen (universal registration assistant, 2nd page) to register your place of residence. Under "Ihr Anliegen“ (your request) please enter: „Anmeldung des Einzugs in eine neue Wohnung nach §23 Absatz 1 Bundesmeldegesetz“ (Registration of moving into a new apartment according to §23 paragraph 1 of the Federal Registration Act).

If you would like to make an appointment with the authorities, you can do so on this page: https://www.karlsruhe.de/stadt-rathaus/service-buergerinformation/terminvereinbarung.

All students who come to Karlsruhe or the surrounding area from abroad must go to a citizens' office in person. Please register via the link: https://karlsruhe.de/stadt-rathaus/service-buergerinformation/terminvereinbarung.

You will need the following items for registration: Wohnungsgeberbescheinigung (the landlord must fill this out), Meldeschein (registration form: you must fill this out), passport and the electronic residence permit or your visa. You will get some help to fill in the Meldeschein on the page https://web1.karlsruhe.de/service/Formulare/ordnungsamt/Meldeschein_EN_Ausfuellhilfe.pdf

If you do not live in Karlsruhe or the surrounding area, please check the Internet to find out how to register at your new place of residence.

In many places you can call 115 and get help from the office.

Where should I do this?

Citizen offices in Karlsruhe

Other places: If you do not live in Karlsruhe or the surrounding area, please check the Internet to find out how to register at your new place of residence.

Residence Permit and Visa

All non-EU exchange students should either have a valid residence permit for studying purposes or a visa that covers the whole exchange period. This means that if your visa expires before the end of your exchange stay, you will need to apply for a residence permit for studying purposes before the expiry date of your visa.

For registration with the aliens department (Ausländerbehörde), please compile the following documents (copies):

• Filled-in form available here (choose Formulare, then Antrag auf Erteilung einer Aufenthaltserlaubnis)
• Biometric picture
• Copy of your passport including your current visa for Germany, if applicable
• Confirmation of your registration as a resident of the city of Karlsruhe
• Copy of your rental application form/rental contract
• Proof of sufficient funds to cover all expenses during your stay in Germany (at least 992 € monthly). Such proof includes: bank statement, official statement of your scholarship or a “Verpflichtungserklärung”
• "Zulassungsbescheid" (Letter of Admission)
• Rental contract
• Proof of health insurance including a copy of your health insurance policy

To book an appointment, please:

- Go to this site
- Click "Beantragung Aufenthaltserlaubnis" 
- Personenzahl "1"
- Click "Termin vereinbaren"
- Choose one of the green boxes in the calendar (“Termin frei”= slot available)
- Write down your personal details (first name, surname, date of birth and e-mail address)
- Click "Terminanfrage senden".
- A confirmation will be sent to you by email

  - Please be on time for the appointment and bring along your documents 

Please contact us if you are facing any difficulties preventing you from making an appointment or applying for a residence permit. It is very important to contact the aliens department before the expiry date of your visa.

Ausländerbehörde Karlsruhe

Kaiserallee 8

76124 Karlsruhe

Telefon: 115

E-Mail:abh∂oa.karlsruhe.de,

Telefon 115

Opening a Bank Account

Once you have arrived in Germany, we recommend to open a bank account to transfer the semester contribution necessary for your rent, accommodation, the contribution for the health insurance and/or the language course fee.

To open a bank account in Germany, you will need (original and copy):

- Your Passport/ID Card

- A permanent address in Germany

- Your student ID or enrollment certificate (if already available)

- A copy of your residence permit (if already available)

- Your tax ID (“Steuer-Identifikationsnummer”) sent to you by post after registration with the city of Karlsruhe.

If you need any help regarding this matter, please write an email to ophase∂esn-karlsruhe.de.