Immigration & Residence

EU/EEA citizens:
EU/EEA citizens do not have to apply for a visa for entry into Germany.

Non-EU/EEA citizens:
On the website of the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany you find further information on whether you need a visa for entering Germany. You can usually find an overview of the documents you need to submit to apply for a visa on the websites of the relevant German embassy or consulate in your home country.

If you need a visa to enter Germany, please apply for a national visa for the purpose of studying (not a tourist visa!) at the German embassy or consulate in your home country with the help of the official admission letter from the University of Cologne. You will receive an admission letter from the University of Cologne if you have successfully applied to study at the University of Cologne and have been offered a place.

Regardless of whether you enter Germany with or without a visa, as a non-EU/EEA citizen you must apply for a residence permit for the purpose of studying within 90 days after your arrival in Germany at the Foreigners Registration Office responsible for you - unless your visa is valid for more than the 90 days, then the application process is delayed accordingly.

Useful links:
Study in Germany - Website of the DAAD
Make it in Germany - Website of Federal Government
VisaFlow- the VisaFlow platform supports international students in applying for a visa and preparing for their stay in Germany. The University of Cologne offers free access with the access code “UniCologne25”.

NEW: For travelers from non-european visa-exempt countries, a travel authorisation called ETIAS will be required to enter most European countries. This has to be done before traveling. This authorisation procedure will start in the course of 2026 and has not yet started. See details here: European Union - ETIAS: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en

If you apply for a visa, you have to submit a financial proof to the German authorities. This financial proof ensures that you are able to cover all living costs during your stay in Germany. The amount of money you have to prove is based on rates that also apply to German students (BAföG). At the moment it amounts to 992 Euro per month, that means 11,904 Euro for a stay of one year in Germany.

You must provide a proof of the sum of 11,904 Euro per year each time you renew your residence permit in Germany.

The financial proof can be proved by the following documents:

• a blocked account (How do I apply for a blocked account? - further information of the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany)
• declaration of commitment - "Verpflichtungserklärung" (What is a "declaration of commitment"? - further information of the City of Cologne, in German language)
• scholarship grant
• bank statements

Not every German Embassy, German Consulate and Foreigners Registration office in Germany accepts every proof of financing!

We therefore strongly recommend opening a blocked account, as this proof of financing is certainly accepted by all embassies, consulates and authorities.  

To avoid problems with proof of funding during your studies in Cologne, it is therefore advisable to keep the entire sum in the blocked account throughout your studies and to finance the expenses incurred during your studies - if possible - through different means (e.g. through part-time job, support from parents, etc.).

All students must register their residence in Germany ("Wohnsitz") at the responsible Registration Office ("Bezirksrathaus" or "Einwohnermeldeamt") within two weeks of moving in - this is mandatory for all citizens living in Germany. 

Usually, you need the following documents for residence registration:

• personal I.D. (for EU/EEA-citizens) or passport (for non-EU/EEA citizens, including the visa or residence permit)
• "Wohnungsgeberbestätigung" - confirmation of your landlord. The form is available at the Registration Office of your city or online on their websites

If you live in the City of Cologne:
Please register in the Registration Office of the district you live in. Alternatively, you can also register at the Registration Office of ”Innenstadt”, no matter what place of residence. 

If you live in the City of Hürth (e.g. in the “Studierendendorf Hürth-Efferen”):
Please register at the Registration Office of the City of Hürth.

If you live in another city (e.g. Leverkusen, Bergisch Gladbach, Bonn etc.):
Please register at the Registration Office of your city.

Note: Please keep you registration certificate (“Meldebescheinigung”) in a safe place. You may need it for opening a bank account or for applying for your residence permit.

Every resident in Germany is issued a unique tax ID number („Steueridentifikationsnummer“) for a life time once registered a residence in Germany for the first time. Once you have successfully registered your residency in the Registration Office („Anmeldung des Wohnsitzes“), your tax ID will be sent to you by post within two to three weeks. In order to avoid any delays, we recommend that you ask for your tax ID number when registering at the Registration Office.

The tax ID number consists of 11 numbers in the format 00 000 000 000 and is also known as “Steueridentifikationsnummer”, „steuerliche Identifikationsnummer“, „Steuer-IdNr.“, „IdNr.“ or „Steuer-ID“.

It is important to note that your tax ID number is necessary to open a bank account in Germany.

If you already live in Germany for a while and you still did not receive your tax ID number, you can request it at any time at the Federal Central Tax Office („Bundeszentralamt für Steuern (BZSt)“).

EU/EEA citizens:
Students from EU/EEA countries do not have to apply for a residence permit during their studies in Germany. 

Non-EU/EEA citizens:
Students from non-EU/EEA countries have to apply for a residence permit within 90 days after their entry into Germany at the Foreigner's Registration Office - whether or not they entered Germany with a visa. If your visa is valid for more than 90 days, then the application process is delayed accordingly.

Necessary documents for the residence permit application are the following:

• completed application form
• proof of residence registration in Germany
• passport (with visa, if required)
• 1 biometric passport photo (NEW: from May 2025 on, authorities only accept digital passport photos)
• current proof of enrollment of the University of Cologne (download out of KLIPS 2.0.)
• proof of financial self-sufficiency (blocked account, declaration of commitment ("Verpflichtungserklärung"), scholarship grant, bank statements
• proof of health insurance coverage from a German statutory health insurance (or an exemption certificate ("Befreiungsbescheinigung") from a German statutory health insurer in case of private health insurance)

In some cases other documents may be necessary - in this case you will be informed by the Foreigner's Registration Office.

If you live in the City of Cologne:
Please apply online for an “Application for a residence permit” on the website of the City of Cologne. 
If you never had a residence permit before, please opt for "Initial application". If you wish to extend your current residence permit, please opt for "Application for extension of the residence permit".
Only after the City of Cologne has received your online application form, there will give you an appointment at one of the District Foreigners Registration Offices in Cologne for informing you on the next steps!

If you live in the City of Hürth:
The Foreigner's Registration Office in Bergheim is responsible for you.
Please make an online appointment on the website of the Foreigner's Registration Office of Rhein-Erft in Bergheim, both for the initial application and the extension of your residence permit. Afterwards you will receive further information on the documents you have to submit.

If you live in another city (Leverkusen, Bergisch Gladbach, Bonn etc.):
Please contact the responsible Foreigner's Registration Office of your city and inform yourself on the application procedure.

A residence permit for study purposes usually is issued for one to a max. of two years. Therefore, it must be regularly extended by your Foreigner's Registration Office. We recommend that you apply for an extension of your residence permit approx. 3 months before your current residence permit expires. Please enquire at your Foreigner's registration Office about how to apply for an extension.

Please note: Your residence permit will become invalid if you leave Germany for longer than 180 days. 

If you apply for a residence permit for study purposes, you have to submit a financial proof to the German authorities. This financial proof ensures that you are able to cover all living costs during your stay in Germany. The amount of money you have to prove is based on rates that also apply to German students (BAföG). At the moment it amounts to 992 Euro per month, that means 11,904 Euro for a stay of one year in Germany.

Proof of funding of 992 euros per month or 11,904 euros for one year must be provided each time the residence permit is extended!

The financial proof can be proved by the following documents:

• a blocked account (How do I apply for a blocked account? - further information of the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany)
• declaration of commitment - "Verpflichtungserklärung" (What is a "declaration of commitment"? - further information of the City of Cologne, in German language)
• scholarship grant
• bank statements

Not every Foreigner's Registration office in Germany accepts every proof of financing!

We therefore strongly recommend opening a blocked account, as this proof of financing is certainly accepted by all authorities.  

To avoid problems with proof of funding during your studies in Cologne, it is therefore advisable to keep the entire sum in the blocked account throughout your studies and to finance the expenses incurred during your studies - if possible - through different means (e.g. through part-time job, support from parents, etc.).

There is a general health insurance obligation in Germany, i.e. everyone resident in Germany must have either German statutory or private health insurance.

You must present your insurance cover e.g. when applying for your residence permit at the Foreigners' Registration Office. However, proof of German statutory health insurance or a certificate of exemption from German statutory health insurance (in the case of insurance from your home country or private (German) health insurance) must also be provided for enrolment at the University of Cologne.

Further information can be found on our website on Student Health Insurance.

We recommend that you open a bank account with a German or European IBAN during your stay in Germany. With the help of this account, transfers within Germany and Europe can be made easily and free of charge.

You will need the bank account for such things as:

• Payment of rent (please note: in Germany it is customary to transfer the rent.)
• Direct debit authorisations (e.g. for the payment of health insurance contributions)
• Payment of the semester fee
• Money transfers from abroad

You can open a bank account at any (direct) bank or savings bank.  Bank accounts are often free of charge for students up to a certain age. As bank conditions can vary, we recommend that you look at the offers from different banks.

To open a bank account, you will usually need the following documents:

• Passport/ID card
• Proof of residence registration in Germany
• Tax identification number/tax ID
• Current enrolment certificate from the University of Cologne

In Germany, every household is charged a so-called “public broadcasting fee”/"Rundfunkbeitrag"for the use of television, radio and online services provided by public broadcasters. International students must also pay this fee.

In individual cases, students can be exempted from the “public broadcasting fee”. If you have any further questions, please contact the Social Counseling Service of the Kölner Studierendenwerk (KSTW).