Visa and Residence Permits

A visa is valid for entering Germany. You can apply for a visa at the embassy or consulate in your home country.

For a longer stay in Germany, you require a residence permit. You can apply for a residence permit at the competent foreigners’ office in Germany. 
 

Most students require a visa for entry. Students from the following countries do not require visa:

• EU member states 
• EEA member states
• Andorra
• Australia
• Brazil
• El Salvador
• Honduras
• Israel
• Japan
• Canada
• Monaco
• New Zealand
• San Marino
• South Korea
• UK
• USA
   

If your country is not included in the above list, you need a visa for entry!

Please apply for a visa as soon as the university has confirmed the receipt of your application documents.

You will need one of the following documents for enrollment:

• Visa for the purpose of studying or university application
• Settlement permit
• Permanent residence permit EU – Germany
• Refugee status
• Subsequent entry of family members
• Passport or ID of an EU or EEA member state
• Passport of one of the following countries, if you have entered the EU less then 90 days ago:  
• Andorra
• Australia
• Brazil
• El Salvador
• Honduras
• Israel
• Japan
• Canada
• Monaco
• New Zealand
• San Marino
• South Korea
• UK
• USA
   

You need to register at the responsible residents’ registration office within two weeks after your arrival.

• If you did not need a visa to enter Germany, you should hand in an application for a residence permit shortly after registering at the responsible residents’ registration office.
• If you needed a visa to enter Germany, we recommend handing in the online application 4–6 weeks prior the expiration of your visa – you will receive an appointment once your application has been reviewed.

Who is my contact?

The responsible immigration office is alwasy that of the municipality you are registered in.

Mannheim:

The foreigner's office is situated in the same building as the residents' registration office (K 7, 2nd floor).

Address:  K 7, 68159 Mannheim

Telephone: 0621 / 293-3221

E-mail: auslaenderbehoerde[at]mannheim.de

We recommend handing in the online application  4–6 weeks prior the expiration of your visa/current residence permit – you will receive an appointment once your application has been reviewed.

You need the following documents to apply for a residence permit:

• Passport
• If a digital application is not available: a completed application form (available at the foreigner’s office)
• German short-term/student visa (only if you require visa) 
• Enrollment certificate by the University of Mannheim (you will receive the enrollment certificate automatically on the day of enrollment)
• Proof of financial resources for studying. Please read the information sheet issued by the city of Mannheim and the formal declaration of commitment regarding the reimbursement of public funds spent to cover a foreigner's living expenses (Verpflichtungserklärung) for the foreigner’s office.
• Proof of health insurance
• A current biometric passport picture 
• Fees: EUR 100 (status as of February 2023)
• Rental agreement

How long does it take to get the residence permit?

The residence permit is issued as a separate document in credit card format. The electronic residence permit (eAT) contains a chip on which the personal data, photograph, and two fingerprints, as well as data on the right of residence are stored.

Since the electronic residence permit is produced centrally at the Federal Printing Office (Bundesdruckerei) in Berlin, it may take about 4–6 weeks for the permit to be issued.

If you hold a German residence permit for the purpose of studying, you may work for 140 days per calendar year (or 280 half-days per calendar year). For longer employment terms you always have to request approval from the foreigners’ office beforehand and in due time. 
Academic positions at the university or research institutions associated with the university are excluded from these regulations and do not count towards the 140 days.
 

If you are in Germany with a student visa, you are allowed to work 140 full or 280 half days per year. Internships that are required by your study program are not counted towards this working day limit. A confirmation that your study program includes a mandatory internship can be obtained from Student Services.

Relevant voluntary internships that are important for the successful completion of your studies are permitted by default and therefore not counted towards the working day limit, either.

Voluntary internships that are not relevant to your studies and exceed the 140 day/280 half day limit per year require the approval of the foreigner's office.

If you hold a residence permit for the purpose of studying, an academic leave of absence requires the approval of the foreigners’ office. The Foreigner's Office in Mannheim does in most cases not permit an academic leave of absence due to an internship or semester abroad. If you are registered outside of Mannheim you must request approval from the foreigners’ office beforehand and in due time.

If you stay abroad for more than six months, your residence permit will automatically become invalid. This will also be the case if you return before the expiration date of your residence permit. If the duration of your exchange is more than six months, you have to request approval from the foreigners’ office in advance and stating a reason. Otherwise you will have to apply for a German visa again from inside your host country!

You are welcome to study abroad. However, please be aware that you will need an additional visa for you host country, even if it is a country within the EU!
Please note: If you stay abroad for more than six months, your residence permit will automatically become invalid. This will also be the case if you return before the expiration date of your residence permit. If the duration of your exchange is more than six months, you have to request approval from the foreigners’ office in advance. Otherwise you will have to apply for a German visa again from inside your host country!

For further information please see special requirements for international students in Mannheim.

You can only change your program of study upon approval of the foreigners’ office. Please keep in mind that you can only hold the student residence permit for a maximum of ten years, regardless of the number of programs you were enrolled in or have completed.

When completing or dropping out of your program of study, you have to apply for a new residence permit as soon as possible. Regardless of the expiration date on your card, your student residence permit will automatically become invalid two weeks after your disenrollment. 

Shortly after completing your program of study, you have to apply for a new residence permit. Please note that your program of study is deemed completed, as soon as the grade of your last examination is displayed on the portal, and not upon the reception of your degree certificate. Please keep in mind: regardless of the expiration date on the card, your student residence permit will automatically become invalid two weeks after your disenrollment. 
As a graduate, you can apply for a residence permit for the purpose of finding employment, valid for 18 months. It allows you to work without restrictions. The application requirements are similar to those for the student residence permit. The only difference is that you can indicate a salary as proof of financial resources.