DE
Aktuell: EN

Visa application

Support with visa applications

Our service partner VisaFlow can help you simplify your path to studying in Germany and the associated administrative procedures:

VisaFlow (free when coming to MLU) supports international students by guiding them through the visa and immigration process. They provide step-by-step help with required documents, legal requirements, and communication with authorities. It’s especially helpful if you're unsure about the bureaucracy or need help understanding what to do before and after your arrival.

As a Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg student, you can access VisaFlow free of charge using the code "UNIHALLEWITT25".

EU and EEA citizens

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.

Entry from non-EU/EEA countries

Non-EU/EEA citizens 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 Consular Services Portal, 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.

Information for international doctoral candidates and researchers

If you seek to apply for a visa for researchers, according to §18d of the German Residence Act, it is necessary that you conclude a hosting agreement with the receiving research institution - in this case Martin Luther University (MLU). This applies regardless of whether you will be employed at MLU with a work contract, receive a scholarship, or finance your research project yourself. Please note that the conclusion of a hosting agreement may take at least 14 days. It is therefore advisable to take care of it early. Depending on the funding, the modalities of how you obtain a hosting agreement vary and are briefly explained below.

a) Hosting agreement with employment contract

If you are to receive an employment contract at MLU, the conclusion of the hosting agreement falls under the responsibility of Department 3 - Human Resources. Please make sure that the hosting agreement is signed and stamped by the University of Halle, because some German embassies abroad only accept the agreement with a stamp.

b) Hosting agreement with scholarship or self-financing

If you receive a scholarship or self-finance your research project, the International Office or the dean of your faculty can issue the hosting agreement. If you would like the International Office to issue it, your supervisor should send the following documents to welcome@uni-halle.de:

Completed Hosting Agreement form with the information of the supervisor, the researcher's data, the topic of the research project and the duration of the project.

Proof of funding (scholarship holders: Scholarship contract, in case of self-financing: bank statements)

Copies of all university degrees obtained abroad, e.g. Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, diploma. Please submit a copy in the original language and a certified translation in German or English (Documents in German or English do not require a translation).

Copies of your academic achievements in the original language and a certified translation in German or English (i.e. a transcript of records).

In case of self-funding, please submit additionally:

Signed confirmation of own funds

After reviewing the documents and if the requirements are met, you will receive the signed hosting agreement.

Registration with the City of Halle

Every person who moves to reside in Halle and lives here for longer than 3 months is legally obliged to register his/her residence at the Citizens' Service Office of the City of Halle within 14 days of arrival. (This also applies if you move within Halle.)
To do this, you must book an appointment for registration directly on the website of the City of Halle. If the next possible date is not within the 14-day period, you do not have to worry about any consequences. In this case, select the next possible date for your registration. You will then receive a waiting number for your appointment.
You should bring your landlord's confirmation of residence, passport and, if applicable, a marriage certificate or the birth certificates of your children with you to the appointment. When registering families, all persons subject to registration (parents and children) must appear in person.
All documents must be written in German or translated into German.

Here are some links to sworn and officially recognized translators in Halle:

https://www.sprachenservice.de/uebersetzungsbuero-halle-merseburg.html

https://www.kosko.de/

https://www.intertext.de/index.php/de/leistungen/preise/uebersetzen

An appointment with the Foreigners' Authority is only possible after registration with the city.

Applying for (or extending) a residence permit

Non-citizens of an EU or EEA member state who wish to stay in Germany for longer than 90 days and do not have a valid visa for the entire duration of their stay require an electronic residence permit (eAT) in addition to registering with the Citizens' Registration Office (Amt für Bürgerservice / Einwohnermeldeamt). You should submit the application to the local immigration office around 6-8 weeks before your visa expires. The same applies to extending your residence permit.

Application process for international students

To apply for a residence permit for study purposes, please use the online service of the Foreigners' Authority of the City of Halle (Saale).

Application process for international doctoral candidates and researchers

Before you receive an appointment at the Foreigners' Registration Office, you must submit all the necessary documents to the Foreigners' Registration Office. Once this has been done, you will be given an appointment by the Foreigners' Registration Office. After this appointment, the final preparation and printing of the residence permit will take 4 to 6 weeks.

For doctoral candidates and researchers, individual appointments are made at the Foreigners' Registration Office. We can help you arrange such an appointment. If you would like us to do so, please send an email to welcome@uni-halle.de. Information on the application process can be found on the website of the Foreigners' Registration Office.

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.

Further information on the application

Informationen_zur_Antragsstellung_Aufenthaltstitel_fuer_Studienzwecke_engl.pdf

Appointment-free consultation with the Foreigners' Authority

For absolutely necessary matters that cannot be postponed, you can use the appointment-free consultation times of the Foreigners' Authority.

Monday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The address is:

Ausländerbehörde Halle - Kulturtreff
Am Stadion 6
06122 Halle (Saale)

External support with blocked accounts and insurance

Expatrio offers an all-in-one digital platform for international students moving to Germany. Their services include help with setting up a blocked account, getting health insurance, and organizing your residence permit. Everything is online and tailored to students’ needs.