EU citizens and EEA citizens (European Economic Area; EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) do not need to complete any special formalities when moving to Germany. Like all Germans, they register with the registration office at their place of residence (in Halle: Bürgerservice der Stadt) when moving into a new home.

Like EU and EEA citizens, Swiss nationals are not obliged to register their residence in Germany with the Foreigners Registration Office. However, for practical reasons, they often need to prove their right of residence, their right to work in Germany or their address, or they would like to use the functions of the electronic residence permit to communicate online with authorities and private bodies and identify themselves electronically. Therefore, if they are staying in Germany for longer than three months, they can apply to the foreigners authority in their place of residence for a card certifying their right of residence. The same fee must be paid for this card as for a German identity card. You can find more information from the federal government here.

Foreigners who do not come from EU or EEA countries must first apply for a study or research visa at the relevant German diplomatic mission before entering Germany. The Federal Foreign Office has set up an online platform, the Auslandsportal, from which you can start the application process for your visa.

Citizens of Australia, Great Britain, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States of America as well as Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco and San Marino can enter Germany without a visa and obtain the required residence permit even after entering the country within the first three months of their stay in Germany. However, it is important to note that no gainful employment may be taken up during these 90 days. (You can find more information on this here.) The foreigners authority of the place where the foreigner will take up residence is responsible.

Detailed information on visa requirements can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office. You can find out about the various visa options in the Visa Navigator.

On the website “Make it in Germany” of the Federal Government you will find more detailed information, also on the visa for studying and the visa for research. The EURAXESS network has compiled an overview (in German) of the requirements and options for the various types of visa.

To apply for a residence permit for the purpose of training please use the online service of the Foreigners' Authority of the City of Halle (Saale):

https://halle.de/serviceportal/online-dienste/aufenthaltserlaubnis-zum-zweck-der-ausbildung#/#bueOverview   

Please note that the application can only be processed once you have you have registered with the Residents' Registration Office (Citizens' Service of the City of Halle).

It is no longer necessary to appear in person at the Foreigners' Authority to submit your application.

If  your application is approved, you will receive an appointment from the Foreigners' Authority to record the biometric data and arrange another appointment to collect the electronic residence permit.

Further information on residence permits for students can be found on the homepage of the city of Halle.

For absolutely necessary matters that cannot be postponed, emergency consultations are possible every Tuesday from 8 am to 3.30 pm at the Foreigners' Authority in Halle (Saale). 

The following are considered emergency matters:

1. expired residence permit
2. intended change of employer/change of additional sheet
3. transfer of residence titles
4. loss of documents
5. issuance of passport replacement documents in case of short-term, urgent travel abroad

In justified individual cases, other urgent matters may be admitted within the existing capacities.

The selection of the people who will be admitted to a consultation at the Foreigerns' Authority, as well as a pre-filtering according to the above-mentioned concerns, will be carried out by the security.

The address for visitors at the Foreigners' Authority is:

Abteilung Einreise und Aufenthalt
Am Stadion 5
06122 Halle (Saale)

You can find more information on the homepage of the city of Halle - department of entry and residency

Contact

Dr. Heike Link
Referentin Internationale Studierende

Phone: +49 345 55 21 535
Telefax: +49 345 55 27 427

heike.link(at)international.uni-halle.de

Homepage International Office

Address

Uni Halle

International Office
Universitätsring 19/20
06108 Halle (Saale)