Before you can begin your course of studies, there are some administrative errands to take care of. In order avoid having to retrace your steps, it is advisable to follow the suggested order. If you have questions about these preparatory steps or about the beginning of your studies, the International Offices at our local university campuses will be happy to help you:

Universität Osnabrück
Hochschule Osnabrück
Universität Vechta

Below please find the most important “First Steps” that you should take as soon as you arrive.

1. Registration (Aliens’ Office and Residents’ Registration Office)

Within seven days of your arrival in Germany, you must register with the Aliens’Office (Ausländerbehörde) or with the Residents’ Registration Office (Einwohnermeldeamt). You must provide them with a permanent address. If you haven' t found a permanent place to live, you must provide a temporary address and notify the office of your permanent address as soon as you move.

If you live in the city of Osnabrück, contact the

Ausländerbehörde Osnabrück
Stadthaus 1
Natruper-Tor-Wall 2
49076 Osnabrück
You can look up the office hours directly on the website of the Ausländerbehörde Osnabrück

In some cases you can apply for the residence permit (step 6) during the same visit.

If you live not within the City of Osnabrück, but in a community in the administrative district/region of Osnabrück, please contact the local Einwohnermeldeamt (Residents’ Registration Office). You can find the communities and boroughs, with links to the respective authorities, under Kommunen in der Region on the website of the Region Osnabrück.

2. Opening a Bank Account

In Germany,  (recurring) payments are usually made by transferring the money directly from your bank account. Not only your semester fee, but also rent, telephone etc. can be comfortably transferred. Giro bank accounts (see below) often come with a free debit card (EC-Karte), which comes in very handy as cashless spending is becoming more and more widespread in Germany.

Many banks offer students (and individuals below a certain age) free giro-accounts. Banks and their respective EC- cash points are distributed throughout Osnabrück and throughout Germany. Just look for a conveniently located bank and open an account there. If the account is only free for students, tell the bank that you are studying and hand in a proof of matriculation as soon as possible. In order to keep the free account, you must show a valid matriculation notice at the beginning of each semester.

In order to open an account you will need the following:
• passport
• registration/matriculation notice from the university
• registration notice from the Residents’ Registration Office or the Aliens’ Office.

Further details about payment transactions can be found on the website of the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) under Money transactions.

3. Transferring the Semester Fee

Before registering at the university you must pay the semester fee (tuition).

Please do not do this from your home country! Foreign transactions are often subject to extra charges and can be quite complicated.

You can pay the semester fee by cash at the bank, but this comes with extra charges as well. It is advisable to transfer the money from your giro bank account. The transfer form is included with your registration notice or you can get it at the International Office at your university.

4. Acquiring Health Insurance

You will not be allowed to enter the country unless you can provide a valid proof of health insurance. Germany has a social security agreement  with some countries, for example with EU countries and countries within the European Economic Region. This means that you can stay insured in your home country and do not need any additional health insurance in Germany. Make sure to inquire with your health insurance in your home country if there is a social security agreement with Germany, which costs are covered, and which documents you need to bring with you to Germany.

Your health insurance company must provide unlimited coverage for costs incurred in the case of sickness, as well as for dental treatment.  It is important to note that you must present proof of such a health insurance plan in order to receive the residence permit.

In the case that you must acquire a health insurance plan for the duration of your stay in Germany, you can choose between  public and private insurance.

We also highly recommend getting private liability and accident insurance.
Our International Welcome Center will be happy to provide advice.

Below are some links to several health insurance companies’ websites. For those insurance companies that have sites specially for students, we have provided the direct link.  

On the webpages you can find out where the respective branch offices are located in Osnabrück. Some of them also have special service-points for students that you can visit in person.

AOK
Barmer
DAK
Kaufmännische Krankenkasse KKH
Techniker Krankenkasse TK

5. Registering at the University

Your letter of admission lists the place and date by which you must matriculate (Immatrikulation). You can also get this information at your university’s  International Office.

Please bring the following documents in order to register at your university:
• passport
• original transcripts (including a translation where applicable)
• letter of admission (Zulassungsbescheid)
• payment receipt for the semester fee
• health insurance certificate

6. Applying for a Residence Permit

Several factors determine whether or not you require a residence permit for your stay in Germany. Citizens of EU countries do not need a residence permit. For other foreigners,  the length of their stay determines the permit requirement. If the stay is less than three months, the visa is sufficient; if the stay is longer than three months, you must obtain a residence permit. This also applies to nationals of countries from which Germany does not require a visa.

The Aliens’ Office in your respective place of residence is responsible for residence permission. If you live within the city of Osnabrück, you can contact:

Ausländerbehörde Osnabrück
Stadthaus 1
Natruper-Tor-Wall 2
49076 Osnabrück
For office hours, visit the Aliens’ Office website.

Documents Required for obtaining the Residence Permit

Which documents you need to show when you apply for a residence permit can vary from case to case.  But you will definitely need to bring the following documents:

- completed application form
- passport
- recent passport photograph
- proof of financial resources (financial guarantee)
- proof of health insurance
- registration certificate (you must register at your place of residence)

Please confirm directly with the staff at the Aliens' Office which documents you need to bring. 

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