City registration / residence permit
Einwohnermeldeamt / Registration office
When moving to Germany you must register your address with the authorities within 14 days of arrival. In German it is called Anmeldung.
When leaving Germany or you move to another city you must deregister again. In German it is called Abmeldung.
You need the residence registration document to:
- open a bank account
- matriculate at the university
- conclude contracts
- obtain a residence authorisation.
Street Address:
Einwohneramt / Meldebehörde
Luisencenter / 4th floor
Luisenplatz 5
64283 Darmstadt
Office hours:
Mon 08:00 - 15:00 | Tue 08:00 - 18:00 | Wed 07:00 - 12:30 | Thu 08:00 - 19:00 | Fri 07:00 - 12:30
Prepare your documents
Documents for the appointment at the City Registration:
- Passport
- Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (landlord’s confirmation of residence)
- Marriage certificate as well as birth certificate as original document and certified translation (if applicable)
Residence registration / Anmeldung
The residence registration is handled at offices called "Einwohnerwesen und Wahlen".
Appointments available: https://tevis.ekom21.de/stdar/select2?md=4
Please note:
Appointments are only activated for a period of two months in advance. This is the maximum advance booking period. If no dates are displayed, all activated dates are currently fully booked. Please note that new appointments are activated daily overnight (with the exception of weekends). If necessary, further appointments for the same day will be activated approx. 30 minutes before opening.
Step by step instruction book your appointment for city registration in English
You need a translator for the Registration / Anmeldung?
We recommend that you take a friend who speaks German with you to your appointment or a translator of the Intercultural Tutors Team - ITT.
Ausländerbehörde
Luisencenter
4th floor
Office hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 7:30 h-12:30 h / Wed: 8:30 h - 12:30 h + 14:00 h - 18:00 h
Granting and extensions of a residence permit is always subject to charges.
Following application for a residence title, you will usually receive a temporary permit (fictional certificate) in accordance with sec. 81 (4) residence act (AufenthG) which can be used for leaving and entering the country.
The aliens authority will contact you in writing when your electronic residence permit (eAT) is ready for collection. (No appointment is required for collection).
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Further Info: https://h-da.de/en/residence-permit
Your national visa was issued for 90 days?
Please apply for a residence permit within the validity period of your visa.
The application should be submitted approx. 8 weeks before your visa expires.
Your national visa was issued for more than 90 days?
A national visa can also be issued with a maximum validity of up to 12 months. If you intend to stay in Germany beyond the period of validity of your visa, please apply for a residence permit within the period of validity of your visa.
The application should be submitted 6 to 8 weeks before your visa expires.
If you do not intend to stay longer than your visa, you do not need to submit an application. In this case, it is also not necessary to go to the immigration office.
Employment
Your visa states whether and to what extent you are authorised to work.
With the work permit on your valid visa, you can start working to the permitted extent immediately after entering Germany, even if you do not yet have a residence permit.
If you intend to stay in Germany beyond the period of validity of your visa, please apply for a residence permit within the period of validity of your visa.
The application should be submitted 4 to 6 weeks before your visa expires.
If you do not intend to stay longer than your visa, you do not need to submit an application. It is also not necessary to visit us in this case.
Since the change in the law on 1 March 2024, you are allowed to work with a residence permit for study purposes for a total of no more than 140 full days or 280 half days per year. This also applies to part-time student jobs. Self-employment is not permitted. You can find more information about working during your studies here.
Even if your residence permit for study purposes contains the outdated ancillary provision (120 full days and 240 half days) with regard to employment, you have been allowed to work a total of 140 full days or 280 half days since 1 March 2024.
Job search/employment after your graduation
After successfully completing your degree programme you have up to 18 months (calculated from the graduation) to look for a job in Germany that that corresponds to your qualifications.
For this you must apply for a residence permit in good time for the purpose of looking for a job. If you have been granted a residence permit for the purpose of issued, you may pursue any kind of gainful employment. The successful completion of your studies and
financing, including sufficient health insurance cover including sufficient health insurance cover must also be be able to provide evidence of this period.
Reisen im Schengen-Raum
Mit einem gültigen nationalen Visum können Sie bis zu maximal 90 Tage in einem Zeitraum von 180 Tagen (nach der ersten Einreise) in die folgenden Staaten des sogenannten Schengenraums reisen:
Belgien, Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Dänemark, Estland, Finnland, Frankreich, Griechenland, Island, Italien, Kroatien, Lettland, Liechtenstein, Litauen, Luxemburg, Malta, Niederlande, Norwegen, Österreich, Polen, Portugal, Schweden, Schweiz, Slowakei, Slowenien, Spanien, Tschechische Republik, Ungarn
Prepare your documents
A current version of the following documents must be submitted at regular intervals when applying for a residence permit or its extension. Note: You must fill in an Application for a residence permit or Application for an extension of a residence permit and submit the document with the request for an appointment.
- valid national passport
- biometric passport photograph
- Certificate of language course / university registration
- Proof of ability to cover the costs of living (e.g. blocked account, salary document of the last 3 months - min. salary 861€ per month) . Sufficient financal means for covering the costs of living must be available (at present 853.00 Euros per month).
- Proof of health insurance cover
Foreigners' Office: Application for an appointment
Foreigners' Office: Application Forms
You need a translator for the meeting?
We recommend that you take a friend who speaks German with you to your appointment or a translator of the Intercultural Tutors Team - ITT.
Fiktionsbescheinigung (fictional certificate) / Aufenthaltsbescheinigung (resident permit)
Persons who have entered Germany with a valid visa are staying in the country legally.
- Your stay in Germany is deemed to be lawful (legal) until the Foreigners' Office has decided on your application for a residence title.
- If you submit your application for a residence title late, after the expiry of the validity of your visa, deportation is deemed to be suspended from the time of submission of the application until the decision of the Foreigners' Office.
- If you meet all the requirements, the Foreigners' Office will send you a certificate by post confirming the fictitious effect of your application for a residence title (fictional certificate).
- After receiving your application, the Foreigners' Office will contact you to arrange an appointment.
- The electronic residence permit will be issued then.