Non-EU citizens

For foreigners, who have to enter on a visa, any stay exceeding the period validated by the visa must be authorised. In order to do this you have to have a residence permit. This also applies to foreigners who are eligible to enter the country without a visa for stays of one to three months (citizens of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea or the USA). The required procedure varies according to your country of origin.
We advise you to submit your application at the Department of State and Foreign Affairs (“Ausländerbehörde”) as soon as possible. If the application is made before the end of the current permit, the pre-existing conditions (i.e. permission to work) will be valid until the foreigner’s office reaches its decision.
The Immigration Office generally requires the following documents (originals and copies, if needed translations):

- filled-in application form for a residence permit (available from the immigration office)
- passport (please make sure your passport is valid for the planned duration of your research stay)
- required visa (D-visa)
- one biometric passport photo
- employment contract, hosting agreement or certificate of funding including the monthly salary or your grant to proof sufficient means of living
- proof of adequate health insurance
- confirmation of registration at the Residents' Registration Office (Einwohnermeldeamt)
- for partners / children: marriage license, birth certificate

Please check additionally the list of needed documents, which will be attached to your invitation to the Immigration Office!

Note: Please make an appointment before visiting the office by giving your first name, surname, date of birth, nationality and the reason of your stay to termin.auslaenderbehoerde(at)dresden.de

With the date and time of your appointment you will get a list of the needed documents. If necessary, the Welcome Center will set an appointment for you.

A pilot project of the State Ministry of the Interior of Saxony, the city of Dresden and other partners speeds up the administrative process for qualified professionals including researchers and PhD students in order to integrate them in the workflow as soon as possible. For more information on the project: AKZESS

For further information see: Residence Permit

EU citizens

Citizens of the European Union as well as the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) and Switzerland do not require a permit for stays of a longer duration. If you are planning to spend a longer period of time in Germany (more than three months), the only thing you usually have to do is register at the Residents' Registration Office and collect a freedom of movement certificate (“Freizügigkeitsbescheinigung”) from there.

For further information see: Freedom of Movement Certificate