Visa and residence permit for international students

Here you will find important information about your visa, your residence permit and your first steps in Germany before you enter the country.

Visa Residence permit Registration Residence

Visa requirements

Nahaufnahme eines Reise- und Impfpasses.

Important administrative steps for international students

You can find detailed information on the individual steps further down the page!

Applying for a visa (students from third countries)

Apply for a visa for study purposes in your home country at the relevant diplomatic mission abroad.

You should apply for the visa as early as possible!

Register apartment

Apply for a residence permit (all international students)

Before your visa expires, apply for a residence permit at the relevant immigration office in your country of residence.

Write ONE e-mail three months before your visa expires!

Visa requirements during your studies

Observe the most important regulations during your studies (e.g. you should achieve at least 20 credit points per semester, etc.)

Visas for study purposes

International students require a visa for study purposes.

International students require a visa for study purposes. This does not apply to citizens of an EU country or a country for which the visa requirement has been lifted. Information on visa and entry requirements can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.

Visa requirement for international students from a country outside the EU

Students from countries for which a visa is required must apply for a visa for study purposes before traveling to Germany. A tourist or Schengen visa is not sufficient!

Visa application

The visa application and all necessary documents should be submitted to the German Embassy or German Consulate in your home country as early as possible.

A letter of admission and proof of funding are required for the visa application.
Students who are aiming for a degree at the University of Siegen must generally submit proof of funding for one year, exchange and short-term students must submit proof of funding for the duration of their studies in Germany.

Application for a residence permit in Germany:

The visa is often issued for twelve months.

Three months before the visa expires, you must apply for a residence permit in Germany at the immigration office in your place of residence (see below for more information).

Visa exemption for international students from a country outside the EU

The European Community has waived the visa requirement for some countries. Students from these countries can stay in Germany as visitors for up to 90 days without a visa.

Applying for a residence permit in Germany

Within these 90 days, however, students must apply for a residence permit at the relevant immigration office in their place of residence in Germany in order to be able to study at the University of Siegen.

Please note that you will also need various documents and proof of funding (usually a blocked account) to apply for a residence permit (see below for more information)!

International students from an EU country

Citizens of an EU country do not need a visa to travel to Germany and study at a university in Germany.

Exchange students from non-EU countries: REST Directive

Exchange students who come from a non-EU country but are already enrolled at a university in the EU (third-country nationals) do not require a visa.
The University of Siegen will report your stay to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees as part of the REST Directive.
the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees and submits the necessary documentsthere.
there. Please note that the residence permit in another EU country must be valid for the duration of your stay in Germany!

Further links

You can find more information on countries with visa requirements and visa applications on the website of the Federal Foreign Office:
Federal Foreign Office: Entry and residence
Federal Foreign Office: German missions abroad
Overview of visa requirements/exemptions

Please note: Universities are not involved in visa procedures and therefore have no influence on the issuing of visas.

Residence - registration with the city

Before you can apply for your residence permit, you must register your new place of residence at the Citizens' Office. You must register your place of residence within two weeks of your arrival (or after moving into your permanent accommodation).

The citizens' office is usually located in the town hall. If you live in a district of Siegen, you can register either in Siegen Zentrum or in Weidenau.

Please make an appointment beforehand. Help for making an appointment can be found here.

If you live outside of Siegen, please contact the town hall or office in your place of residence.

If you register your main residence in Siegen, the city of Siegen will reimburse you once for the cost of the semester ticket (so-called welcome money).

Documents to register your place of residence

passport
landlord's confirmation of residence (signed by the landlord)

More information about accommodation in Siegen can be found here!

Please remember to deregister your place of residence either one week before or up to two weeks after your departure from Germany. If you are only moving within Germany, you do not need to deregister in Siegen. More information here!

Residence permit - application or extension

International students usually enter Germany with a visa, which is usually valid for 3, 6 or 12 months.

International students from countries without visa restrictions must apply for a residence permit within 90 days. Please note the application documents listed below (including proof of funding!).

Regardless of whether you are from a country with or without a visa requirement: Please make an appointment with the immigration office responsible for your place of residence three months before your residence permit expires!

Documents for the residence permit

Application form (application form for students residing in Siegen, Weidenau, Geisweid, Eiserfeld)
passport
Proof of health insurance
Biometric passport photo
Proof of financial means (often via

blocked account)
Study certificate
110 EUR

Please also note the requirements of the Immigration Office.

Please note: Do NOT send more than one or two e-mails to request an appointment at the immigration office. This will not speed up the process! In urgent cases, please contact the ISA department

Do you already have your full surname on your letterbox? This is the only way important mail, for example from the immigration office, will reach you!

Further information

Proof of financing and blocked account

Authorities and contacts

Resident in Siegen (Siegen, Weidenau, Geisweid, Eiserfeld)

Foreigners' Registration Office of the City of Siegen
Siegen Town Hall
Markt 2, 57072 Siegen

Tel. 0271/ 404-1219
E-Mail: abh@siegen.de

Resident outside Siegen (Kreuztal, Netphen, etc.) Foreigners' Registration Office of the District of Siegen-Wittgenstein District Administration Koblenzer Straße 73, 57072 Siegen)

Ausländerbehörde Kreis Siegen-Wittgenstein
Kreisverwaltung
Koblenzer Straße 73, 57072 Siegen

Tel. 0271/ 333-1262
E-Mail: auslaenderamt@kreissiwi.de

Visa requirements for international students

International students who have received their visa/residence permit for a degree program must regularly provide proof that they are studying properly. If you have any questions or problems, please contact the International Student Affairs (ISA) department.

Credit points per semester

The immigration authorities expect you to earn at least 20 credit points per semester. Please take this seriously, otherwise your residence permit may be jeopardized.

If you have important reasons for not being able to achieve the 20 points in a semester, please inform the immigration authorities in good time.

Change of subject

If you would like to change your subject, you may only do so within the first 3 semesters. If you are planning to change your subject, you should definitely talk to the immigration office first.