Entry and visa
For stays longer than three months or for stays leading to gainful employment, most foreign citizens are required to obtain a visa. Please verify whether or not you need a visa to enter Germany on the webpage of the Federal Foreign Office.
Entry without visa
EU-citizens
Citizens of the European Union as well as the European Economic Area and Switzerland can enter Germany without a visa and do not need a permit for a longer stay. This is also the case for family members of EU, EEA and Swiss citizens. A valid ID or passport is required for entering Germany (§ 2 Abs. 5 FreizügG). After entering Germany, you need to register your place of residence with the Residents' Registration Office (Einwohnermeldeamt) of the city in which you live within three months.
NON-EU citizens without visa requirement
Citizens from non-EU-countries are generally required to obtain a visa for their stay in Germany. However, the EU has lifted this requirement for some countries in the case of visiting stays (withouth gainful employment) that do not exceed 90 days.
Entry with visa
Citizens from non-EU-countries are required to obtain a visa for their stay in Germany. The visa can be applied for at the responsible German embassy in your home country or in the country of your permanent place of residence. This flyer of the German Rectors' Conference gives a good overview of the various residence titles for scholars from non-EU-countries.
After your arrival in Germany, your visa can be converted into a residence title at the Foreign Citizens Registration Office (Amt für Ausländerangelegenheiten). There are different resident permits which include differing rights in terms of both stay and gainful employment in Germany.
Further information about the entry conditions and visa types is available on the website of Euraxess.
Family members
Spouses
In the case where you want to bring your spouse to Germany, they will usually receive the same residence title as yours. The residence permit for the spouse is generally granted if the livelihood of both spouses is secured without recourse to social assistance, if sufficient living space is available and if there is sufficient health insurance coverage.
Children
According to current law, a legal entitlement to a residence permit for children only exists if both parents have a residence permit, if the child has not yet reached the age of 16 and if their accommodation and financial needs are secured. In other cases, the Immigration Office decides at its discretion.
