Depending on your nationality, you may need a visa and/or residence permit to study in Germany. In addition, all residents in Germany must register with the local registration office.
In principle, all non-EU students require a visa to enter Germany for study purposes. Exceptions are
- Students from the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.
- Students who already have a residence permit for study purposes in another EU country (REST permit)
- Students from countries that do not require a visa
current overview from the Federal Foreign Office
We recommend that you contact the German diplomatic mission abroad in good time before your departure to find out about visa requirements and use the Visa Navigator.
VisaFlow: Your Partner in Navigating Your Journey to Germany
VisaFlow is a web app designed to ease the transition of international students to Germany. Their app provides detailed, step-by-step guidance throughout your entire relocation process, ensuring no deadlines are missed and helping you through the sometimes complex bureaucratic procedures involved. Activate your free access with the code “UNIFREIBURG25” and start your smooth journey.
Resident Registration
After arrival in Freiburg within two weeks, you have to register your place of residence at the Resident Registration Office of the City of Freiburg (Bürgeramt). You will then receive a registration paper (Meldebescheinigung).
This important document should be kept in a safe place, as it is required for applying for a residence permit at the immigration office, among other things.
Further information can be found at the Studierendenwerk Freiburg (SWFR).
Applying for a residence permit
All international students who are not from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland must apply for a residence permit at the relevant immigration office. Processing usually takes several weeks, so it is important to make an appointment as soon as possible. Further information on this topic can be found at the Studierendenwerk Freiburg (SWFR).
You can also find information on extending your residence permit there.
A piece of advice from us:
Please do not enter Germany with a tourist visa or a Schengen visa for the start of your studies!