• Clarify your visa requirements
  On the subject of entry and residence in Germany, different rules apply to citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland on the one hand and citizens of so-called third countries on the other.
  
  Non-EU citizens are generally required to obtain a visa for stays of more than three months and for taking up employment. EEA nationals and Swiss nationals are exempt from this requirement.
  
  If you are a citizen of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States of America, you can enter Germany without a visa and apply for a residence permit at the immigration office in Berlin. However, if you wish to take up your employment immediately after arrival, we recommend applying for a work visa.
  
  An overview of visa requirements can be found here.
• Employment documents
  Please contact us and/or schedule an appointment if you need support or further information (in German or English)
• Insurances
  Are you employed at Freie Universität? If so, you are required to have statutory German health insurance and can pick your health insurance provider. Find more information here.
  
• Accommodation
  Please find more information here.

• Get registered in Berlin
  Within two weeks of moving into a new place, you need to register at one of the 40 district offices in Berlin. Please find more information here.
• Tax identification number 
  The first time you register in Germany, the Federal Central Tax Office will issue you a tax identification number and send it to you by mail within about two weeks. You can find further information here.

• Certificate of conduct for official purposes
  You can apply for the certificate at the district office.
• Apply for your residence permit (if applicable) 
  If you do not have a passport from an EU member state and you plan to stay in Germany for more than three months, you will need to apply for a residence permit at the local immigration office. Find more information here.

• Open a bank account
  more information can be found here.

• Take out personal liability insurance
  In Germany most people take out personal liability insurance. Find more information on this here.

• Broadcasting license fee
  People living in Germany are legally required to pay public broadcasting fees that help fund public radio and television stations.Please find more information here.

• "De-register” (Abmelden) at the district office (let them know you are leaving).

• Close your bank accounts.

• Inform your health insurance provider.

• Cancel your other insurance coverage (e.g., liability insurance).

• Cancel your broadcasting license fee.

• Get your tax return in order.

• Take care of any matters related to your pension insurance.

• Set up a forwarding address with the German postal service.

For those who are also pursuing their PhD at Freie Universität Berlin and would like to/have to enroll as a student, please note:

1) Get acceptance from the department /Zulassung zur Promotion

Please find more information here.

2) Enroll at the university / Immatrikulation

More information here.

Questions?

Dahlem Research School supports doctoral candidates from abroad by providing advice, information and transferable skills courses on the way to the successful degree. Please get in touch if you have further questions: welcome-drs@fu-berlin.de.