As a general rule, foreigners require a visa to enter the country and a residence permit ("Aufenthaltserlaubnis") for stays of a longer duration. The visa can usually be obtained from German missions abroad. Depending on the duration and purpose of the stay, you either need a Schengen-Visa or a national visa. Citizens of the Union neither require an entry visa nor a permit for stays of a longer duration. If you are planning to spend a longer period of time in Germany the only thing you have to do is register at the Residents' Registration Office. This is where German citizens have to register, too. For foreigners, who have to enter on a visa, any stay exceeding the period validated by the visa must be authorised. In order to do this you have to have a residence permit. This also applies to foreigners who are eligible to enter the country without a visa for stays of one to three months. The required procedure varies according to your country of origin. In the case of graduates, the residence permit may be extended for up to a year after the successful completion of studies in order to search for employment.

Identity papers and documents required:

a valid passport

several passport photographs for various identity documents

birth certificate

marriage certificate

possibly copies of your doctoral certificate or diplomas for other final academic qualifications as well as copies of insurance documents, if possible translated into German and English

a confirmation that your health insurance is valid, possibly a declaration with regard to particular previous illness

your vaccination card.

Before moving to Germany, it is necessary to contact the German embassy in your country.