Visa and Residence

Applicants from abroad should inform themselves in good time about entry and residence regulations.

You will find some helpful information on the following sites. Please note that the information is non-binding. For binding information you are asked to contact the appropriate authorities.

Visa

Most residents from countries outside the EU, EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway) and the USA need a visa to enter Germany. The German Federal Foreign Office will help you find out whether or not you require a visa. 

Applying for a visa if you are not staying in Germany:

There are different kinds of limited visas, depending on the purpose of entry. 

Student visa:

• Student visa (Visum zu Studienzwecken)
• Language visa in order to learn German (Visum zum Erlernen der Deutschen Sprache in Vorbereitung auf ein Fachstudium)
• Visa for applicants (Visum zur Orientierung über ein Studium an einer deutschen Hochschule)

These visas are designed for persons wishing to study in Germany. This is why you must apply for one of these types of visa, because only these visas can be changed to a residence permit for students by the local authorities in Germany. You must apply for the visa at a German Consulate or Embassy in your home country or country of domicile by presenting the following documents:

• Valid passport and additional passport-sized photos
• Confirmation of application or admission to a German institution of higher education
• Financial statement

As confirmation of application the German Consulates or Embassies accept the final notification of your eligibility to study your chosen discipline from Uni-Assist and the confirmation that they have sent your data to Leuphana University of Lüneburg. 

For further details, please contact the German Federal Foreign Office. 

You should apply for a visa as early as possible, because the authorities will need some time to process your application. A student visa allows you to stay in the country only for a short period of time, usually one to three months. To receive permission to stay longer, you must apply for a residence permit at the local residents’/foreigners’ registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt/ Ausländerbehörde) within the first week after your arrival in Germany. When applying for a visa you must prove that you can finance your studies in Germany. 

Applying for a visa if you are staying in Germany:


If you are staying in Germany, you have probably entered the country with one of the following types of visa:

• Tourist visa
• Visitor visa
• Business visa
• Language visa without the intention to study at university
• Au Pair visa

These types of visa cannot be changed to a student visa and a residence permit for students. If you enter Germany with any of these visas, you will have to return to your home country and apply for a student visa.

Residence permit

Residence permits are usually limited to the period of your studies in Germany. 



It is normally not possible to change the purpose of your residence permit. This is why you cannot change your residence permit (for study purposes) to a work permit once you have passed your final university examinations.



If you wish to change your program of study or your university, you must obtain prior approval from the local foreigners’ registration office.

Work permit

Students from non-EU countries are allowed to work for a maximum period of 90 days or 180 half-days per year without any special permission to work. 



Students from EU countries may work to the same extent as German students. 



For further information, please contact the local job agency (Agentur für Arbeit). 


You can also find helpful information on the website of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Housing

Students usually live in student residences on and off campus or in private student apartments. The number of rooms available in student residences is limited; however, the Student Accommodation Office will assist you in finding private accommodation. 

The teasers on the right offer you links to search engines helping you find accommodation in Lüneburg and to the corresponding Leuphana website.