People entering Germany from outside the EU usually need a visa that must be obtained from the German consulate or embassy in their native country before arrival.

If you are NOT German or a citizen of an EU member state, please contact your local German consulate or embassy to determine which form of visa is required for your 12 months’ postgraduate study program in Hamburg. You can find the relevant information and contact data on the German Foreign Service’s website. It is important to arrange an appointment in advance and apply for a visa with all required documents in your home country before coming to Germany. The visa application process can last 6 - 8 weeks. Make sure to get all documents ready in time!

Please note: This rule does not apply to citizens of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United States. Citizens of these states may apply at the Hamburg Welcome Center for the residence permit within 3 months after their arrival in Germany.

Citizens of countries that are members of the European Community can choose their place of residence and study within Europe and no longer need a residence permit. Instead they receive a certificate to prove their right to free mobility after their arrival.

Once you are in Hamburg, the MLB Team will help you to extend the 3 months' student visa that you have received from your local German consulate or embassy, into a residence permit/student visa in Germany. Therefore, you will apply during the Orientation Program for the residence permit. We will provide you with the appropriate forms and necessary materials for the "Welcome Center" ("Hamburg Immigration Office"). If we assist you with your application, we will need to collect your passport and submit it with your application documents to the Welcome Center. Processing a large number of applications takes a few days. For this reason, we ask you not to make any travel plans outside of Germany until mid-September.

Non-EU members pay € 50 for the residence permit. The residence permit for EU members is € 6. An additional fee for EU and Non-EU members is the Hamburg city registration: € 6.

You must submit the following documents to apply for a residence permit:

  1. Application Forms (filled out with our assistance during the Orientation Program)
  2. 1 passport-sized biometrical photo (submit upon arrival)
  3. A valid passport for the full duration of your stay (submit upon arrival)
  4. Financial Affidavit (submit upon arrival, please see the next section in this Handbook),
  5. Proof of health insurance covering you during your stay in Hamburg (submit via e-mail until July 15)
  6. A marriage certificate for an accompanying spouse or/and a birth certificate for any accompanying children (submit upon arrival).

In order to assist you with the residence permit application, we must receive copies of all necessary materials by July 15. Please send all necessary materials to maite.baeurle(at)law-school.de and ask for a notice of receipt.

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Financial Affidavit

The Immigration Office requires proof that you have sufficient funds to meet your educational needs and cost of living during your stay in Hamburg. For this purpose you need original documents to submit a Financial Affidavit.

In compliance with the regulations of the Immigration Office, the following sources of funds are acceptable: personal savings, family support or financial aid/scholarships from other institutions. In each of these cases you need to provide the supporting documentation:

1. Personal Savings:
Enclose an official and 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 € 7,020 for your 12 months’ stay in Germany.

2. Family Support:
Enclose a formal statement from someone in your immediate family who is willing to support you during your stay here (e.g., parents or spouse). This "Formal Obligation" form is available 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 he/she possesses sufficient funds, e.g. salary statement, tax declaration etc. The support amount certified by your family needs to be at least € 585 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.

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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.

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If you have further questions regarding visa/residence permit, please contact maite.baeurle(at)law-school.de.