| Universität Bielefeld > International > Information for internationally mobile scientists and their families > Preparations > Visa and Entry |
If you plan to do research or to work at Bielefeld University, you should gather information regarding the visa regulations as early as possible.
Basically, all international citizens of countries that do not belong to the EU or the EEA require a visa, if they wish to stay, study, and/or work in Germany. Exceptions are citizens of countries that have made special agreements with either the EU or Germany.
Nonetheless, please ensure that your identity card or passport is valid for the entire length of your stay.
Table of countries whose citizens require/do not require a visa to enter Germany
In order to get a visa you will need to contact the German Mission in your home country and apply for a visa to enter Germany.
Regardless of whether or not you need a visa to enter Germany, all persons in the country are obliged to register where they are living with the authorities (Meldepflicht). In other words, after entering Germany you must report to your local residents' registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt). The same applies to family members traveling with you .
When applying for a visa, you must give precise and detailed information on the intended duration of your stay and the purpose of your visit (e.g. employment, studies, research etc.). It depends on this information which type of visa will be granted.
Staying in Germany as an international scholar generally requires a national visa. This is usually issued for a 3-month period. Before it runs out, you have to convert it into a long-term residence permit at the foreigners' registration office.
Scientific Visa for non-European Researchers who are planning to stay for more than 3 months
Please note: In order to apply for a Scientific Visa/ residence permit under §20 German Residence Law you need to conclude a Hosting Agreement with Bielefeld University after your arrival. Please contact the Welcome Centre to learn more about the hosting agreement and its conditions.
Please also inform your German mission abroad that you intend to conclude a hosting agreement while applying for a visa.
We strongly advise international scholars not to apply for a Schengen Visa, because it cannot be extended or converted into any other type of visa. A Schengen visa is granted for short-term stays in the Schengen area not exceeding 90 days in any six-month-period.
For more information please click here.
You can apply for a visa at the German Embassy in your home country or a German consulate representing the area in which you are registered or usually live. You have to present the following documents and evidence in person:
After receiving all necessary documents, the German Embassy or Consulate will examine whether the visa you have applied for requires the consent of the foreigners' registration office in your future place of residence. This is generally not necessary for international scholars and their families, and, under these conditions, a visa can be issued within 2-3 weeks. Nonetheless, to be on the safe side, allow a longer period for your visa to be processed.
You can find further and more detailed information on visas under:
You can apply for a visa at the German Embassy in your home country or a German consulate representing the area in which you are registered or usually live. You have to present the following documents and evidence in person:
In 2003, the European Council ruled that a valid health insurance with a covering sum of at least 30,000 Euro would be required in all Schengen states. If possible, this insurance should be acquired in your home country, but the institute issuing your invitation can also arrange it.
After receiving all necessary documents, the German Embassy or Consulate will examine whether the visa you have applied for requires the consent of the foreigners' registration office in your future place of residence. This is generally not necessary for international scholars and their families, and, under these conditions, a visa can be issued within 2-3 weeks. Nonetheless, to be on the safe side, allow a longer period for your visa to be processed.
You can find further and more detailed information on visas under:
When applying for a visa, you must give precise and detailed information on how long you intend to stay and the purpose of your visit. The type of visa you will be granted will be selected to fit this information.
Staying in Germany as an international scholar generally requires a national visa. This is issued for a 3-month period. Before it runs out, you have to convert it into a long-term residence permit by the responsible foreigners' registration office. A national visa only grants permission to stay in Germany.
National Visa for Researchers:Under the following conditions the Visa for Researchers might be the right choice for you:
If you are accompanied by your spouse, you should consider applying for a National Visa for Researchers, because for spouses of so-called researchers entry requirements are less bureaucratic (no basic knowledge of German is required for spouses of "researchers") and also admission to the labour market is much easier.
If you are employed at Bielefeld University and part of your work has to be done in other European countries you should consider applying for a National Visa for Researchers because then entry regulations between the different countries will be less bureaucratic.
If you are funded by a scholarship it might be useful for you to apply for a visa for "researchers", because the residence permit procedure will then be much easier.
If non of the above-mentioned characteristics apply to you, you can of course apply for a regular National Visa for Employment.
Please note, that to apply for a Visa for Researchers you need to conclude a Hosting Agreement with Bielefeld University. Please contact the International Office to lean more about the conditions for this hosting agreement.
If you intend to visit another Schengen country at the beginning of your stay in Germany, then you need to apply for a dual visa. This will allow you to make short visits (of up to 3 months) to all member states of the Schengen agreement before being granted a residence permit for Germany.
We strongly advise international scholars not to apply for such a visa, because it cannot be extended or converted into any other type of visa. A Schengen visa is granted for a stay of up to 3 months only. It may be valid for one or repeated entries, and it is intended particularly for business travelers and tourists.
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