Service Portal Niedersachsen Startseite
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IMPORTANT: Select a location.To obtain application forms, location-specific information and contacts, select a town or zip code.

For an area outside of Lower Saxony and foreign languages, some menu items and functions are not available. Please go to the service page of the respective country.

Please specify an area.

Your selected location: Emsland

Which place to enter?

The location is used to determine the responsible office for the selected administrative service. In most cases you can enter your place of residence to find the competent authority. However, there are also cases in which a different location must be specified. Here are some examples:

Birth certificateYou want to get married and need a birth certificate. You live in Hanover, but you were born in Celle. You must therefore state your place of birth, i.e. Celle.

Business registrationYou would like to register a business in Braunschweig. Your place of residence is Hanover. You must therefore state the location of your future business, i.e. Braunschweig.

Apply for a building permitYou would like to build a house in Wunstorf and therefore apply for a building permit. Her place of residence is currently Hanover. You must indicate the place where the house is to be built. In this case it is Wunstorf.

Apply for a residence permit for the purpose of studying

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You can obtain a residence permit for the purpose of studying if you wish to study in Germany and have been admitted to a state-recognized university or comparable educational institution in Germany. The course of study must be full-time.

The purpose of your stay also includes preparatory study measures. These are

  • attending a preparatory language course if you have already been admitted to university and admission is conditional on attending a preparatory course, and
  • attending a preparatory college or a comparable institution if a place is guaranteed.

The residence permit for the purpose of studying is limited in time.

With your residence permit for the purpose of studying, you may work for up to 120 days or 240 half days per year or take on a part-time student job. You are not allowed to work during preparatory study measures in the first year, except during vacation periods.

Who should I contact?

To the foreigners authority responsible for the applicant's place of residence.

What are the fees?

Issuing a residence permit: EUR 100.00

Under certain conditions, a fee reduction or fee exemption may be possible.

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

  • The residence permit should be applied for no later than eight weeks before the expiry of your visa or residence permit that is still valid.
  • Deadline for appeal: 1 month

What else should I know?

The procedure is usually conducted in German. If your knowledge of German is insufficient, you can use the help of a translator.

Further information

  • Portal of the Federal Government for Skilled Workers from Abroad
    https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/de/visum/arten/studieren/
  • You can also get free advice on the topics of entry, residence and work from the "Hotline Working and Living in Germany" of the Federal Government's portal for skilled workers from abroad.
    Phone: 030 1815-1111
    Service hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Legal basis

Appeal

Negative decisions of the Foreigners' Registration Office may be appealed to the competent administrative court.

Source: Serviceportal Niedersachsen (Portalverbund des Bundes und der Länder)

Further Links

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Single points of contact of the state of Lower Saxony, Single points of contact of the countries of Europe, advice and assistance for EU citizens and their families.
Access information on the single point of contact for the state of Lower Saxonyvisit Website Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEsVisit advice and assistance for EU citizens and their families