Entry and Residence regulations

Detailed information on visa applications is available on the VisaFlow website, which guides you through the individual steps before, during and after the application process. This service is free of charge as it is state-funded. Please use the access code UNILUENEBURG25.

As a first step, check on the Federal Foreign Office website whether you require a visa.

You can apply for a visa online via the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Leuphana University has no influence over the visa process.

Under no circumstances should you enter the country on a tourist or visitor’s visa, as this cannot be changed to a student visa!

Students from non-EU countries who are studying in another EU Member State should please note the following legal provision.

Students who are nationals of a country in the European Union, the European Economic Area (EEA – Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) or Switzerland do not require a visa to study in Germany.

Information on entry and residence can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of the Interior.

If you are already studying in Germany and want to transfer to Leuphana University, please note:
Your residence permit is linked to your current university and study program.
Before you switch one or both, you must get permission from your foreigner's registration office to make sure your residence permit is updated and remains valid for your new program at Leuphana.

When applying for a visa, you must already prove that you can cover your living expenses for the entire duration of your stay. To do so, you must provide evidence of financial resources currently amounting to €992 per month. You can demonstrate this by holding the relevant sum for at least one year in a blocked savings account (Expatrio, Fintiba). Detailed information on blocked accounts can be found on the Federal Foreign Office website.

You must submit proof of financial means each time you apply for or renew your residence permit. Please note that the monthly amount is set to increase. For the 2027/28 winter semester, the figure is forecast to be € 1025 per month.

A scholarship may be recognised as proof of sufficient financial means to cover living costs whilst studying in Germany. This is subject to the scholarship meeting the requirements of the relevant German diplomatic mission. Further information on recognised scholarships and the eligibility criteria can be found on the official information pages of the Federal Foreign Office.

Please note that there are very few full scholarships available in Germany and that competition for them is very competitive.

One recognised scholarship provider is the DAAD. Open the DAAD scholarship database.

If you are not able to prove that you can cover your living costs whilst studying by means of a blocked account or a scholarship, it is possible, under certain conditions, to submit a declaration of support. With a declaration of support, a person living in Germany agrees to take financial responsibility for your stay. Further information on the requirements, the procedure and the legal implications can be found in the Federal Portal.

With your passport and the registration confirmation from the Residents’ Registration Office, you can open a German bank account. Most banks offer free accounts for students.

If you are not yet able to provide proof of a permanent address in Germany, you have the option of opening what is known as a basic account.

Various multi-currency accounts (Wise, Revolut) can also be used in Germany and allow you to open a German or European account even before you arrive.

With a so-called “SEPA Lastschriftverfahren” (direct debit), you authorise an organisation (e.g. your health insurance provider or student hall of residence) to deduct due payments directly from your bank account. To do this, you must complete and sign a “SEPA Lastschriftmandat” (direct debit mandate). This means that payments, such as rent, are automatically debited on the due date.

In Germany, health insurance is compulsory for everyone. International students must therefore also provide proof of adequate health insurance valid in Germany. Travel health insurance is under no circumstances sufficient for enrolment!

Please be sure to note the information below regarding the M10 registration.

The obligation to have health insurance applies from the date of enrolment, regardless of the actual date of entry into the country. Health insurance providers may still bill students for all months of cover since the start of the semester, even in the event of a delayed arrival.

If you are taking part in the orientation days and language courses (March/September), please ensure you have adequate health insurance cover in good time. For example, compare different providers offering packages that include a blocked account, health insurance and entry insurance.

Students from countries with which Germany has a health insurance agreement (including all EU/EEA countries, the UK, Switzerland, Turkey and other countries) only need to provide their home country’s health insurance card (European Health Insurance Card, EHIC/AT 11) as proof.

Please be sure to also note the information below regarding the M10 registration.

However, as soon as you start working alongside your studies, you must take out a policy with a statutory German health insurance provider.

We also recommend taking out additional private international health insurance to cover any extra costs that may arise.

Students from countries with which Germany has no health insurance agreement can take out insurance with a statutory health insurance scheme in Germany for a premium of approximately 140 euros per month. This insurance can be taken out in advance online. Insurance policies from the student’s home country are only accepted in exceptional cases.

Please also be sure to note the information below regarding the M10 registration.

Students who are over 30 years of age at the time of enrolment and who have not previously been insured under a German statutory health insurance scheme cannot be insured through a statutory health insurance scheme. However, they do have the option of taking out private health insurance in Germany. Please feel free to contact us for an up-to-date list of private health insurance providers that are recognised for enrolment purposes.

Please also be sure to note the information below regarding the M10 notification.

Leuphana must be informed of your insurance status by a statutory health insurance provider.

If you are insured with a German statutory health insurance provider, please ensure that your health insurance provider is aware of your enrolment at Leuphana.

If you are not insured with a German statutory health insurance provider, you must apply yourself for a notification of your insurance status from a statutory health insurance provider (“M10 notification”) . To do this, you can contact any statutory health insurance provider operating in Germany. Please state the Leuphana sender number: H0000606

Below you will find an overview of all health insurance providers where you can apply for this M10 notification online:

• TK

All students must officially register their place of residence upon arrival. If you live in Lüneburg, you can book an appointment online.

If you do NOT live in the town of Lüneburg, you must register with the relevant local authority.

During the orientation days, the International Centre will assist you with the registration process. If you arrive earlier or later, you must register yourself.

You will need the following documents:

• Passport or identity card
• Confirmation from your landlord (pdf)

Please note that you must deregister when you leave!

If you are leaving Germany, please remember to deregister your residence.

If you are moving within Lüneburg or to another town in Germany, please re-register.

You can do this either in person at the residents’ registration offices or online using an eID card or a residence permit with the online function activated.

You can find further information on electronic residence registration on the City of Lüneburg’s website.

If you have entered the country without a visa, you must apply for a residence permit from the Foreigners’ Registration Office before the end of the first 90 days; this permit must be issued to you no later than 90 days after your arrival.

If you have entered the country on a visa, you must apply for a residence permit six to eight weeks before your visa expires, provided your period of study extends beyond the duration of your previous visa.

Students from the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland do not require a residence permit.

A residence permit for study purposes is usually granted for two years and must be renewed in good time before it expires.

A prerequisite for renewal is that your studies are progressing successfully. The authorities will check whether you are regularly taking exams and earning CP. When applying to renew your residence permit, please submit a current Transcript of Records (can be downloaded from myCampus). This enables the Foreigners’ Registration Office to determine whether you are likely to be able to successfully complete your studies within a reasonable period of time.

When applying for a renewal of your residence permit, you must also submit:

• a current proof of financial means
• a current health insurance certificate
• a certificate of enrolment (download from myCampus)

Once you have successfully completed your studies, you may, subject to certain requirements, remain in Germany to look for a job or take up skilled employment.

Depending on your personal circumstances, various residence permits may be available, such as a residence permit to seek for work, a residence permit for skilled employment or an EU Blue Card.

In the long term, it is also possible, subject to certain conditions, to obtain a permanent residence permit. Further information on the individual residence permits