How do I schedule an appointment at the immigration office?

Please select your place of residence at the top of this website and follow the steps described under appointments.

I have just arrived in Germany. Where do I need to register?

Please select your place of residence at the top of this website and follow the steps described under registration.

 Am I allowed to work to finance my studies?

International students enrolled at a German university generally have the right to work. Please check your residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) to see whether it includes a work permit.

Students from the EU, the EEA, or Switzerland are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during lecture period. During semester break, there is no limit.

Students from other countries are allowed to work 140 full or 280 half days per year. Starting from March 2024, they can also work up to 20 hours per week as so-called Werkstudierende (= student employees).

For language course students, the same part-time work regulations apply.

Where do I get a Studienverlaufsprognose which I need to present to the immigration office?

UDE needs the following documents to issue a so-called Studienverlaufsprognose:

1. form provided by the immigration office
2. current certificate of enrolment
3. current transcript of records

ISE students need to contact the enrolment department, all others need to contact the responsible person at the Examination Office.

What is a blocked account (Sperrkonto)? How much money do I need to deposit there?

What do I need to remember when moving to a different address within the same city?

Everyone who moves within the same city, needs to notify the city administration within two weeks (Ummeldung).

Duisburg: Please schedule an appointment online; go to "Meldeangelegenheiten" and "Ummeldungen".

Essen: Please schedule an appointment online; go to "Ummeldung innerhalb Essen".

Mülheim: Please schedule an appointment via email.

Besides, you need to inform all the German authorities and instituitions to which you provided your address about your change in address. This for example applies to insurance companies, banks, UDE and the immigration office.

What do I need to remember when moving to a different city?

Everyone who moves to a different city should make sure they bear the following in mind.

When moving to a different city, a new immigration office becomes responsible for your case because responsibility always lies with your place of residence. Therefore, your former immigration office needs to send your file to your new immigration office. This can take several months. As long as your new immigration office does not have any access to your file, they cannot do or process anything regarding your case. Your former immigration office is no longer responsible for you and therefore cannot do anything for you either.

For this reason, it is highly recommended to only move to a different city shortly after your visa was extended for several months. Your residence permit and your work and/or travel permit remain valid.

You obviously need to register at your new place of residence. Often this is only possible after the authorities there have received your file. Please find further information on registration here.

Besides, you need to inform all the German authorities and instituitions to which you provided your address about your change in address. This for example applies to insurance companies, banks, UDE and the immigration office.

What do I need to remember when leaving Germany for good?

What is a Fiktionsbescheinigung?

A Fiktionsbescheinigung is issued by an immigration office as a temporary/interim solution if you cannot get an appointment to extend your visa within a short period of time. With a Fiktionsbescheinigung the status of your residence permit remains the same.

There a two different types of Fiktionsbescheinigung:

1. a Fiktionsbescheinigung issued via email
2. a green Fiktionsbescheinigung issued at the immigration office during an appointment

Does a Fiktionsbescheinigung include a work permit?

If your last (expired) residence permit includes a work permit, your Fiktionsbescheinigung allows you to continue to work. It does not matter whether your Fiktionsbescheinigung is issued via email or during an appointment.

Does a Fiktionsbescheinigung include a travel permit?

A green Fiktionsbescheinigung allows you to travel if your residence title is deemed to remain in force ("pursuant to section 81 subsection 4" is ticked off). The immigration office might also have added a sticker to your passport which usually also allows you to enter and leave the country.

If your Fiktionsbescheinigung was issued via email, you are not allowed to leave Germany until your residence permit was officially extended and until you have a document that proves that.

Should you leave Germany anyways, you will not be able to reenter the country. In this case, you will need to apply for a new visa in your country of origin.

I applied for a visa but it has not been granted yet. What am I supposed to do?

To make sure you enter the country in time for the start of your studies, you need to apply for a visa in your country of origin as early as possible. The entire process can take up to several months.

The International Office of UDE is not in touch with any of the German Missions abroad. If your visa process takes a longer period of time, please contact the embassy or consulate where you applied for your visa.

Where can I get counselling in case of a personal emergency (health or financial issues, death)?

Please schedule an appointment for our consultation hours for international students or contact us via support-immigrationoffice@uni-due.de.

I need a certificate to be exempt from military service. What do I need to do?

Please go to the Admissions Department during consultation hours and bring your current certificate of enrolment.

For more information, please click here and go to "Initial consultation hours for international students".

I have a valid visa and would like to spend some time in my country of origin. What do I need to bear in mind?

If you spend more than six months outside of Germany, your residence permit expires. The expiry date on your residence permit does not change this. After six months, you will always need to apply for a new visa in your country of origin if you want to reenter Germany.

Where do I get a document confirming my living expenses as a student in Germany?

Please send an email to the Support Center for (International) Engineering Students and attach your current certificate of enrolment.

Students at Duisburg Campus: scies@uni-due.de

Students at Essen Campus: scies-essen@uni-due.de