Residence permit

Please note: The information on this website is not legally binding.

All foreign students who do not come from the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland and who wish to study in Germany for longer than 90 days require a residence permit. This must be applied for at the relevant Immigration Office after entry and before the expiry of the visa or within 90 days if you are travelling without a visa (§ 16b Aufenthaltsgesetz (in German)).

Information session: Residence permits made simple - What international students need to know

Each semester an information session on the topic of residence permit will be held. You will receive helpful input and have the opportunity to ask experts your questions in person. 

The information session for the winter semester 2026/27 will take place on November 17th at 6:00 p.m. on Zoom:

https://h-da-de.zoom.us/j/69560316098
Meeting ID: 695 6031 6098 / Identification code: 032692

Important: Processing time and application

  • The processing time at many Immigration Offices is very long. Consequently, there may be delays in booking appointments.
  • You have to submit a written application before your visa/residence permit expires, e.g. via e-mail (for Darmstadt to auslaenderbehoerde@darmstadt.de).
  • It is essential to save this e-mail and the automatic reply from the Immigration Office as proof of your timely application (§ 81 AufenthG).
  • It is best to apply for a residence permit three months before your current residence permit expires.
  • It is not enough to inform the h_da that your residence permit expires, you must contact the Immigation Office yourself.

Travelling abroad

  • Do not book any trips outside of Germany if your residence status is unclear!
  • Please note that you may generally not leave Germany for longer than six months at a time. A residence permit becomes invalid six months after leaving the country.

Which Immigration Office is responsible for me?

Icon Collage: Bundesadler im rechten Vordergrund mit Zertifikat und der Deutschlandkontur im Hintergrund

The Immigration Office responsible for you depends on your registered place of residence. If you move your residence to another city, the responsible Immigration Office will also change.

 

Apply for a residence permit

The residence permit for the purpose of study is issued for a maximum of 2 years and can be extended afterwards, with a maximum duration of stay of 10 years.

The application must be submitted before the expiry of the visa or residence permit. In this case, the previous residence permit is considered valid until the decision of the Immigration Office is made (§81, 4 AufhG). 

Immigration Office of Darmstadt

You can find the application for issuance/extension of a residence permit at the Immigration Office of Darmstadt on the website (in German) by clicking "Formulare".

"Fiktionsbescheinigung"

Read through this document to find out what a certificate of fiction (Fiktionsbescheinigung) is and what a fictitious effect (Fiktionswirkung) is. You can share this with your employer if necessary.

Required documents

  • Completed application for issuance or application for renewal of residence permit
  • Valid passport including valid visa or previous residence permit/ certificate of fiction
  • 1 recent biometric photo
  • Certificate of enrollment (available on the university portal my.h-da)
  • Current transcript of records (available on the university portal my.h-da)
  • Rental contract 
  • Proof of secure living expenses (for further information see below)
  • Health insurance certificate (for further information see below)
  • Confirmation from the educational institution (for further information see below)

To obtain a residence permit, you must prove that you can finance your living expenses. Currently, the amount is 992 € per month, or 11.904 € for one year. A German (blocked) account with this amount, a declaration of commitment or a scholarship can usually be presented as proof, sometimes also an enployment contract. Please note that the fiancial proof is a case-by-case decision by the Immigration Office and that you must provide the financial proof for each renewal of your residence permit.

  • If you have statutory health insurance: a current confirmation of insurance coverage from your health insurance company or your health insurance card.
  • If you have private health insurance: Insurance policy and proof of paid contributions (for example, bank statements).

For the extension of the residence permit:

In order to make a decision on the extension of the residence permit, the Immigration Office requests information from the h_da about your academic progress and the expected completion of your studies.

If you need this confirmation, please send an e-mail to international@h-da.de stating your matriculation number. Please apply for the confirmation in time, because we need some time for the clarification with your department!

You should also note the following:

  • The university must inform the Immigration Office whether your studies are being conducted properly (i.e. you regularly attend courses and make progress in your studies). 
  • The average duration of studies (of all students of the respective study program) may not be exceeded by more than three semesters. Otherwise, the delay must be justified. In individual cases, a discussion with the central study advisory service is therefore necessary.

Good to know

The Service Center for Fill-In Assistance and Language Mediation can assist you in filling out your forms and applications. Several languages are offered. 
Contact: sprachservice.darmstadt@gmail.com

CONTACT

International Student Services
For general questions about residence permits
international.student.services@h-da.de

Admission area
The application of the "Confirmation of the educational institution" can be submitted via Student Services in  my.h-da.de.

© 2026 T3AC