Applying for and Extending Your Residence Permit

 

Registration of residence

The first formality you have to be deal with upon arrival is registering your address with the Citizens´ Services Office (Bürgerservice/Einwohnermeldeamt). Typically, your personal data will then be transferred to the Immigration Office within a few days after registration.

 

Application for a residence permit

EU Nationals and Nationals of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway

You only need a valid passport or ID card as well as the registration certificate issued by the Citizens' Services Office during your stay in Germany. You only need to register your place of residence with the Citizens' Services Office for stays in Germany lasting three months or more.

Non-EU Nationals

If you have entered Germany with a visa for the purpose of pre-study programs, such as a German language course, or for the purpose of university studies (Bachelor, Master or Postgraduate studies), you will have to, after registering your current address in Germany at the Citizens' Services Office, apply for a residence permit with the respective Immigration Office responsible for your country.

Citizen of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, Switzerland and the United States of America

You do not require a visa to come to Germany for the purpose of studies, but you will still have to register for a residence permit with the Immigration Office two or three business days after registering your current address in Germany at the Citizens' Services Office. Citizens of Switzerland will receive a residence card or Aufenthaltskarte.

 

Place of application for the residence permit

For those international students at RWTH Aachen whose primary residence is located in the city region of Aachen, the following agency is responsible:

Agency	Immigration office branch at RWTH Aachen
Address	SuperC Templergraben 57 Room 421 or 422
Contact	+49 (0)241 80 -90820, -90821, -90822 info.auslaendische.studenten@staedteregion-aachen.de
Office Hours	Monday and Tuesday, 8am to 12:15pm Wednesday, 8am to 12:15pm and 2 to 4:45pm Friday, 8am to 12pm

Students, who hold a residence permit from another city and have relocated to Aachen, have to apply for a residence permit in Aachen now. They have to go to the following agency:

Immigration Office of the city region of Aachen – located at the Central Train Station
Hackländerstraße 1
Appointments via Email

Issue of electronic residence permits

Immigration Office of the city region of Aachen – located at the Central Train Station
Hackländerstraße 1, Info point 3rd floor

Hours:
Monday and Tuesday: 8am to 3pm
Wednesday: 8am to 4:45pm
Thursday: 8am to 1pm
Friday: 8am to 12pm

 

Extension of the Residence Permit

It is essential that you always have a valid residence permit during your stay in Germany. As a rule this permit can be extended as long as your purpose of stay is still valid.

Issuing the electronic residence permit takes several weeks. This is why the Immigration Office recommends applying for an extension four to six weeks before your current residence permit expires.

Fees

Fees are collected for issuing and extending a residence permit.

First Issuance: 100 euros

Extension: 93 to 96 euros (depending on the extension period)