A valid passport is necessary when coming to Germany. EU citizens may enter Germany on their national identity card. Non-EU citizens usually need a visa and, for a longer stay, a residence permit. Depending on the duration and purpose of your stay you will need a Schengen Visa (research visit lasting up to three months) or a National Visa (research visit lasting more than three months or PhD studies).

Non-EU nationals have to apply for a visa at the German embassy or consulate while they are still in their own country or current country of residence. The application process takes about two or three months. Visas for family members travelling with you should be applied for at the same time.
Please make sure you apply for the correct visa: PhD students should apply for a National Visa for study purposes, employees for a National Visa for working purposes or a Researcher Visa (D-visa).
Note: Do not enter Germany on a Visitor or Tourist Visa (Schengen Visa/C-Visa), when you are planning to stay longer than three months. This type of visa cannot be extended or redesignated for other purposes.

Who does not need a visa? Citizens from the Member States of the European Union (EU), Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein do not require a visa. Nationals from Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and the USA do not require an entry visa.
Generally, a visa only entitles you to entry and residence of 90 days initially. If you are planning a longer stay, you have to apply for a residence permit shortly after arrival. For EU nationals, a ‘freedom of movement’ permit, instead of the residence permit, can be obtained relatively easily.

More information on entry requirements you may find on the webpage of the Federal Foreign Office.

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