One of the most important issues to organize before coming to Germany is your residence permit / student visa, called “Aufenthaltsgenehmigung” or "Studentenvisum".
As a rule, all foreigners require visas for the stay of more than three months. Exemptions apply to EU and EEA (European Economic Area) citizens and Swiss nationals. If you are NOT a German or a citizen of the above mentioned states, please contact your local German consulate or embassy immediately to determine which form of visa is required for your 12 months' study program in Hamburg. Relevant information and contact data can be found on the German Foreign Service's website.
Citizens of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and the United States of America may obtain any residence permit that may be required after entering Germany. Citizens of all other countries must submit student visa / residence permit applications, together with all necessary documents, in person at the German mission (German embassy or German consulate) in their home country and must have the visa issued in their passport before arriving in Germany. During the peak travel season there may be a waiting period for visa applications. You must therefore make sure to submit your application on time. In order to avoid time-consuming requests for additional information or documentation, applicants should contact the respective mission well in advance of their departure date to enquire about any special local requirements pertaining to visa formalities. Visa applications will be sent to and must be approved by the relevant immigration authority in Hamburg. Depending on your home country, the visa application process can take up to three months.
Immediately after your arrival in Hamburg or during the Orientation Week, MLB staff will inform you how to fill out documents and extend your student visa / residence permit for the 12 months of the MLB Program, until mid-September 2012, at the Hamburg Welcome Center ("Hamburg Immigration Office"). We arrange your appointment at the Hamburg Welcome Center and answer your questions about the visa extension / application. Please have originals and copies ready and make sure to submit your passport and all other relevant application documents.
Although European Community citizens can choose their place of residence and study within Europe without need of a residence permit, they will still receive a "Freizügigkeitsbescheinigung" (proof of freedom of movement), a certificate proving their right to free mobility after arrival. This can also be arranged with the help of MLB staff.
Non-EU members pay € 60 for the residence permit/student visa. The "Freizügigkeitsbescheinigung" for EU members is € 6. An additional Hamburg city registration fee for Germans, EU and Non-EU members is € 6.
For the student visa and residence permit application / extension purposes, please make sure to bring all necessary documents with you. The following documents are required for a residence permit application:
- Application Forms (filled out with our assistance before or during the Orientation Program)
- 1 German-standard passport-sized biometrical photo (when taken in Hamburg, € 10)
- A valid passport for the full duration of your stay (submit upon arrival)
- Financial Affidavit (submit upon arrival),
- Proof of health insurance coverage during your stay in Hamburg
- A marriage certificate for an accompanying spouse or/and a birth certificate for any accompanying children (submit upon arrival).
- A housing contract
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact: inga.diercks(at)law-school.de.
Please also bear in mind that it is possible to extend your residence permit for Germany right after graduating from the MLB Program for an additional 12 months for the purpose of looking for a job in Germany. Another option for those who want to work in Germany is to apply for a work permit that allows you to stay in Germany even longer.
Financial Affidavit
The German diplomatic mission in your home country as well as the respective Immigration Office in Hamburg require proof (original documents) that you have sufficient funds to meet your cost of living throughout the duration of the MLB Program. Pursuant to the regulations of the Immigration Office, the following sources of funds are acceptable: personal savings in a bank account, family support and/or financial aid/scholarships from other institutions. In each of these cases you must provide the corresponding documentation:
1. Personal Savings:
Enclose an official original bank statement signed by a bank official certifying that you have sufficient funds for your living expenses in Germany. The amount certified needs to be at least € 8,250 on the basis of your 12 months' stay in Germany.
2. Formal Obligation:
Enclose a formal statement from someone who is willing to support you during your stay in Germany (e.g., parents or spouse). This "Formal Obligation" form is available at and must be written and signed in front of an official at your local German embassy or consulate. The person who is willing to support you will need to prove that s/he possesses sufficient funds, e.g. salary statement, tax declaration etc. The support amount provided/certified by your family needs to be at least € 688 multiplied by the number of months of your stay in Germany.
3. Financial Aid/Scholarship from Government Agencies, Private Foundations, Bank etc.:
Enclose an official and original letter specifying the amount and availability of funds. You may attach more than one document.
A combination of these options is possible in order to prove that you will be able to afford living expenses throughout your stay in Germany.
Health Insurance
You must also show proof that you have health insurance which covers you in Germany. You can purchase traveler’s insurance in your home country or ask whether your current policy covers you while abroad. The MLB Team can assist you in getting coverage under an affordable German insurance policy which satisfies the German requirements for the residence permit.
For more information on health insurance click here.
If you have further questions regarding visa/residence permit, please contact inga.diercks(at)law-school.de.