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Researching all over Europe - Information for researchers and research facilities ,
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Information for research facilities
Link to the information hotline "working and living in Germany"
Source: © Make it in Germany
If you are informed that researchers in other EU States (with the exception of Ireland and Denmark) intend to stay in Germany in order to research for up to 180 days, please forward a mobility notification to the national REST Contact Point at the Federal Office, via the specialist MoNa application.
Information for researchers
Research stays of up to 180 days in other Member States of the EU
You may also use a German residence permit issued for the purposes of research in order to research and teach in other EU Member States (with the exception of Ireland and Denmark) for up to 180 days. Some Member States require a separate notification to be made to the respectively competent authorities. You do not need to obtain a residence title from the other Member State.
Research stays in Germany for up to 180 days – short-term mobility
Good to know!
If your spouse and your children are already resident in another EU Member State and hold a residence title for family reunification there, they may accompany you to Germany. This is stated in the notification.
If you already hold a residence title issued for the purposes of research by another EU Member State, you do not need to obtain a German residence title if you are planning a research stay in Germany of up to 180 days within a period of 360 days. The residence title issued by the other EU Member State entitles you to come to Germany and take up residence here, and needs to be valid for the entire duration of your stay in Germany.
The host German research facility will inform the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees in advance that you intend to engage in research in Germany, this being the purpose of your stay. This notification needs to be made as soon as it becomes known that you intend to engage in research in Germany. The notification definitely must be made in full before you come to Germany.
You do not need to present yourself in person to the immigration authority.
The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees will issue you with a certificate entitling you to short-term mobility as a researcher. 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 research facility
The host research facility 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 research facility:
- a residence title from the first EU State (issued for the purpose of engaging in research and in accordance with the REST Directive)
- a recognised, valid passport/replacement passport (copy only)
- a hosting agreement or contract with the host research facility
- proof that you can support yourself (incl. proof that you have health insurance).
The host research facility will forward these documents 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.
Research stays in Germany of up to 360 days – long-term mobility
Good to know!
In order for your children and spouse to be able to accompany you during a stay of more than 180 days, they must apply to the immigration authority for a residence permit for Germany.
If you wish to engage in research in Germany for more than 180 but fewer than 360 days, you will need to apply for a residence permit for mobile researchers.
There are two ways of applying for a residence permit for mobile researchers:
Applying from abroad:
You should submit your application to the immigration authority competent for the place in which the research facility is located no later than 30 days before you come to Germany. The immigration authority will decide on your application. Alternatively, you may also send your application to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, which will forward the application to the competent immigration authority.You may already come to Germany and engage in research for up to 180 days within 360 days, pending the decision of the immigration authority.
- Applying from Germany:
If you are already in Germany for the purposes of short-term mobility and would like to remain in Germany for more than 180 days in order to engage in research, please lodge your application with the immigration authority competent for the place where you are staying no later than 30 days prior to expiry of your short-term mobility status.
Your application to the immigration authority
You should lodge your application with the immigration authority where the research facility is located. You will need to submit copies of the following documents:
- a residence title from the first EU State (issued for the purpose of research in accordance with the REST Directive)
- a recognised, valid passport/replacement passport,
- a reception agreement or contract with the host research facility
- proof that your livelihood is secure (incl. proof of health insurance).
Research stays in Germany – more than 360 days
You generally need an entry visa and a residence permit for the purpose of research for the remainder of the stay in order to remain in Germany and engage in research for more than 360 days. You will find more information on this in the section entitled "Scientists".
The legal basis:
- Section 18d of the Residence Act
- Section 18e of the Residence Act
- Section 18f of the Residence Act
- Section 19f of the Residence Act
- Directive (EU) 2016/801 of the European Parliament and of the Council