Visa and residence permit

Before travelling to Germany, refer to the web pages of the German Federal Foreign Office to determine whether you require a student visa. To apply for a visa, contact the German embassy or German consulate (foreign representation) in your home country. The documents needed to apply for a visa can differ from country to country.

As a rule, you need the following documents to apply for a visa:

• Valid passport. Ideally, apply for a passport that will be valid over the entire duration of your studies.
• Letter of admission from the Augsburg University of Applied Sciences.
• Proof of financing. The German foreign representation in your country will specify the form in which you need to provide proof of financing.
• Health insurance certificate. For entering Germany and your first few weeks after arrival, obtain travel health insurance in your home country that is valid for Germany. Once you have arrived in Augsburg, you should obtain German health insurance that is valid for the duration of your studies.
• Proof of German language skills, for a study program in German, or English language skills, for a study program in English.
• 2 biometrical passport photos

Caution: Processing of your visa application can take several weeks or even months. Submit your application in good time!

Do not enter Germany on a tourist visa. A tourist visa cannot be converted to a student visa!

If you already hold a residence title issued by another EU Member State for study purposes, you do not require a German residence title. Your residence title must be valid for the entire duration of your stay in Germany.

Please find more information on the website of Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF).

For the certificate of your mobility, please submit the following documents to the International Office:

• a residence title issued by the first EU State (issued for study purposes and in accordance with the REST Directive)
• a recognised, valid passport/replacement passport (copy only)
• an admission of the receiving university
• proof of financing
• proof of a valid health insurance

If you come from a country outside of Europe, you apply for a residence permit at the Immigration Office Service Center. In Augsburg, the Immigration Office Service Center is responsible for all legal matters relating to foreign nationals.

Make sure to apply for the residence permit before your visa expires. If you do not do this, you will have to leave Germany. Ideally, you should apply for your residence permit 4 weeks before your visa expires.

To apply for a residence permit, you require the following documents:

• Passport or ID
• Enrollment certificate from the Augsburg University of Applied Sciences
• Health insurance certificate
• Proof of ability to cover living expenses (e.g. an account containing €11,208 or declaration of commitment)
• 1 recent biometrical passport photo
• €100 (payment in the Immigration Office Service Center is only possible by EC card)

If you come from an EU country: You do not need a residence permit (EU freedom of movement). In Germany, there is an obligation to register. You can find out more about this on the page Registering with the town.

Your residence permit is always valid for only a specific time and must be extended before validity expires.

Please make sure that you submit an application for extension to the responsible immigration authority in good time (approx. 4-6 weeks before the previous residence permit expires).

If you are dissatisfied with your choice of study program and are thinking of changing your subject or your program, you need to consider all conceivable effects (residence permit, technical, formal, financial, personal) of the change on your study progress. To avoid problems, get in contact with the International Office in good time. We will inform you of important steps and certain rules that you need to observe.

We have summarized the most significant consequences for you:

1. Residence permit consequences for students from non-EU/EEC countries

In principle, you are granted a residence permit for a specific purpose, e.g. studying, at a specific institute and in a specific discipline. The originally approved purpose changes when you change the institution or course of study. Changing to a different institution in order to study the same subject there also represents a change in purpose.

Please note: Every intended change to the study discipline/institute must be approved by the responsible immigration authority in advance! If you are resident in Augsburg, please contact the Immigration Office Service Center.

It is usually possible to change within the first 18 months after starting your studies. If you make a change later, it will be checked whether you have completed the required coursework and that the average study duration for your subject will not be exceeded by more than 18 months. The maximum length of stay for study purposes, including the time for attending language courses or the preparatory college, is 10 years.

For this reason, we recommend that you switch to a subject in which as many credits as possible can be awarded for the previous coursework so that the total study duration is only extended slightly. 

2. Technical effects

To clarify the technical aspects associated with your change of study course, please use the consulting offerings of the Student Counseling Service and of the subject advisors of the relevant faculty.

In the Academic Counseling of the new study program, clarify whether credits that have already been achieved can be recognized and whether you can be placed in a higher semester.

3. Formal effects

You can only change study program after successful application for a new study program. Pay attention to the deadlines for application and registration in the new study program and the deadline for deregistration in the old study program.

Please note: For students with a residence permit, the purpose of residence ceases with deregistration. If you have already deregistered from the old study program and did not apply for a place in the new study program beforehand, you permanently lose your opportunity to change your residence permit for study purposes (and must leave the country).

4. Financial effects

Changing to another subject can have effects on your Bafög payments. Before an intended subject change, consult with the Bafög office and clarify your BaföG entitlements.

5. Personal stress

If you feel overwhelmed by the entire situation caused by the change, please avail of the counseling services offered by the Student Counseling Service or the Psychological Counselling of the Augsburg Student Union.

You can find general information from the Student Office on the web page on change of program.

Many international students complete a compulsory or optional semester abroad in the scope of their studies at the Augsburg University of Applied Sciences. A period abroad must always be reported to the relevant immigration authority in advance.

Please note: Stays outside of Germany that last longer than 6 months automatically void your residence permit, if a longer period has not been agreed with the immigration authority. Submit an application in good time to avoid problems when re-entering Germany!

If you intend to complete a Master program after successfully completing your Bachelor degree, you need approval from the relevant immigration authority. In principle, the total study duration cannot exceed the limit of 10 years. 

After successful completion of a study program, you should present your degree certificate to the responsible immigration authority without delay. Your residence permit can be extended for up to 18 months to allow you to search for a job (depending on your academic qualification). In this time, the residence permit entitles the holder to pursue gainful employment.