Studying all over Europe - Information for students and higher education institutions , Date: 2024.08.26, format: Article, area: Migration and residence

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Information for higher education institutions

If you are informed that individuals who are studying in other EU States (with the exception of Ireland and Denmark) intend to stay in Germany for up to 360 days for study purposes, please forward us a mobility notification via the specialist MoNa application.

Information for students

Study stays in other EU Member States for up to 360 days

You may also use a German residence title issued for the purposes of studying in order to study in other EU Member States (with the exception of Ireland and Denmark) for up to 360 days. Some Member States require a separate notification to be made to the respectively competent authorities for this purpose; you can find a list of the procedures in the Download section. You do not need to obtain a residence title from the other Member State.

Study stays in Germany for up to 360 days

Make it in Germany: Working and Living in Germany Link to the information hotline "working and living in Germany" Source: © Make it in Germany

If you already hold a residence title for study purposes issued by another EU Member State, you do not need to obtain a German residence title. The residence title issued by the other EU Member State entitles you to come to Germany and study here, and needs to be valid for the entire duration of your stay in Germany.

The German higher education institution will inform the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees that you intend to study in Germany, this being the purpose of your stay. This notification should be provided as soon as it becomes known that you intend to study in Germany. The notification definitely must be received in full by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees 30 days before you come to Germany.

You do not need to present yourself in person at a German representation abroad or at the immigration authority.

The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees will issue you with a certificate entitling you to residence. The certificate is declaratory, and you do not absolutely have to have it in order to enter the country, but it can be used as proof vis-à-vis authorities and private individuals, including in other Schengen States.

Documents for submission to the German higher education institution

The host higher education institution in Germany will make the notifications to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees on your behalf. You should make the following documents available to the higher education institution to this end:

  • a residence title from the first EU State (issued for the purpose of studying, and in accordance with the REST Directive)
  • a recognised, valid passport/replacement passport (copy only)
  • proof that you are taking part in a programme organised by the EU or in another multilateral programme entailing mobility, and/or the agreement between the higher education institutions,
  • proof that you can support yourself (incl. proof that you have health insurance), where appropriate proof of parental or spousal support (cf. form in the Download section)

The host higher education institution will forward these documents and the admission to study issued by the host higher education institution to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. All documents, with the exception of the passport and the residence title, need to be submitted in German. The BAMF may be able to accept easily-understood documents in a foreign language, and will decide in individual cases whether the documents submitted meet the requirements.

Staying in Germany to study for more than 360 days

You will generally need an entry visa and a residence permit for the purpose of studying for the remainder of the stay if you wish to remain in Germany to study for more than 360 days. You will find more information about this under “Studies”.

The legal basis

  • Section 16b of the Residence Act
  • Section 16c of the Residence Act
  • Section 19f of the Residence Act
  • Directive (EU) 2016/801 of the European Parliament and of the Council