Contact the Foreigners Office Early. Contact the Foreigners Office in writing at least three months before your visa or residence permit expires. This will give you enough time to arrange everything.

Important: You could face negative legal consequences and risk having to leave the country if you

• • enter the country with a visa and do not contact the Foreigners Office before your visa expires or
  • enter the country as a tourist and do not contact the Foreigners Office within 90 days of entering the country or
  • receive an appointment letter from the Foreigners Office before your residence permit/visa expires and do not contact the Foreigners Office in writing to apply for an extension before it expires (an appointment notice does not replace the need to send a written application!).

Please remember to document your contact so that you can refer back to it later. For example, do not delete any e-mails that you have sent to the authorities.

To ensure a smooth and efficient application process, it is crucial to prepare and submit the necessary documents.

Document Checklist (opens in new tab)

Proof of Financial Means Information Sheet (opens in new tab)

Important Notice: Without the complete set of documents, the Foreigners Office will not be able to process your application, which could cause delays in receiving your permit.

In Germany, each district has its own designated Foreigners Office responsible for handling all matters related to your legal stay.

• For Residents of Darmstadt: If you are residing in Darmstadt, you should contact the local Foreigners Office via e-mail. Upon submitting your inquiry, you will receive an automated confirmation. It’s important to save this confirmation as proof of your submission for any future reference.

• For Students in Other Districts: If you live outside of Darmstadt (in Frankfurt or Darmstadt-Dieburg, for example), make sure to identify the correct Foreigners Office for your district. You can usually find this information on the local government’s website or by inquiring at the City Hall where you registered.

Please note: If you moved within Germany, it is important that you contact your previous Foreigners Office as soon as you register your new address. You can then request them to send your file to the newly responsible Foreigners Office to speed up the process.

This information is for students who will study abroad for two semesters and plan to return to TU Darmstadt to finish their studies/degree.

• Visa Duration: If your current visa for Germany does not cover the entire period of your time abroad, you will need to apply for a German residence permit before you leave the country.

• Residence Permit Extension: To avoid the hassle of reapplying for a visa to return to Germany, make sure to renew your existing permit before leaving the country. Consider applying for a 2-year residence permit to cover the entire duration of your programme.

Applying for a Residence Permit or Extension:

• City Registration: You must remain registered at the city hall in Darmstadt, as your residence permit depends on maintaining a local address. This also means you will need to continue paying the Rundfunkbeitrag or GEZ (broadcasting license fees) each month.

• Health Insurance: You will need to stay enrolled at TU Darmstadt, and therefore continue to pay for your German health insurance.

• Financial Proof: You will need to show proof of financial means. For more details, refer to the Required documents section above.

• Study-Abroad Confirmation Letter: Before leaving Germany, you will need to send an e-mail to the Foreigners Office explaining that you will be abroad for 6 months or longer. Please provide proof by sending your letter of agreement between both universities. You will need to receive a confirmation letter from them directly before you can leave the country. Failure to provide this information could lead to complications at border control.

This information is for students who plan to study in Germany for one or two semesters and already hold a residence permit from another EU country.

Important Information on Entry and Stay in Germany:

If you enter Germany with a valid residence permit from another EU country, you are legally allowed to stay in Germany for up to 90 days under a tourist status. However, this status is not valid for completing your studies.

EU Mobility “EU-REST” Arrangement:

If you hold a valid residence permit from another EU country you may be eligible for the EU Mobility arrangement under the “EU-REST Directive.” This arrangement allows you to stay in Germany for up to 360 days, subject to the following conditions:

Your current residence permit from another EU country must be valid for the entire duration of your stay in Germany. If you need to extend your EU residence permit, while you are in Germany, you will have to apply for a visa prior to entering Germany instead.

We do not apply for EU-REST extensions.

If you would like to apply for an EU REST Certificate, please contact ISS by e-mail.

If you intend to or have already received an admission letter from the Studienkolleg at TU Darmstadt, you will need to apply for a D-Visa (German national visa) for the purpose of study preparation. This visa category is intended for international students who need to complete a preparatory language course (Studienkolleg) before starting a degree program at a German university.

It is a bridge-program for international students to acquire the academic and language skills in German needed to qualify for university admission.

Why is it different from a regular German-study visa?

Some embassies require prospective students to go through a different department in order to apply for this specific visa. Please make sure to inform yourself directly via their website or by phone.

For more detailed information about the Studienkolleg program, please visit the official TU Darmstadt Studienkolleg website.