Formalities

Non-EU citizens should enquire about the visa requirements applicable to their country several months before entering Germany. Information and forms are available from the Foreign Office and the German embassy/consulate in your home country.

Whether you need a residence permit for Germany as a student or visiting scholar depends on your nationality and the length of your stay.

EU citizens and citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway only need to register with the registration office within three months of entering the country and provide information about the purpose of their stay.

International guests from non-EU countries usually require an entry permit and must apply for a residence permit at the relevant immigration office within three months of entry if they are entering without a visa, or two to three months before their visa expires if they are entering with a visa.

In order to study at UR, you must enrol (also known as matriculation). Only those who are enrolled can take courses and use the student ID card and semester ticket.

Enrolment is only required at the beginning of your studies. After that, there is a re-registration deadline at the end of each semester. The UR will ask you to transfer the re-registration fee in order to remain enrolled for the next semester. Once you have done this, you simply need to validate your student ID card at one of the validation machines. This will allow you to continue using all functions without any problems.

Some countries have concluded social security agreements with Germany (all EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey). If you come from one of these countries and have statutory health insurance there, you do not need to take out health insurance in Germany.

If you come from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro or Tunisia, we recommend that you take out statutory insurance! There is only a limited insurance agreement between these countries and Germany, which only covers absolute emergencies.

Students from other non-EU countries who are starting their studies at the UR and are under 30 years of age can take out statutory health insurance in Germany before enrolment.

Participants in preparatory German courses must mind special regulations regarding health insurance. Please consult the International Office for advice on this matter.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) has standardised features (e.g. EU emblem, text field layout) and is recognised in all EU Member States. With the EHIC, insured persons are entitled to treatment in public hospitals and doctors' surgeries in other European countries. However, private healthcare providers do not accept the EHIC. Click here for more information!

EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) (external link, opens in a new window)

If you are over 30 years old, you need private health insurance. Information about private health insurance companies recognised by the Foreigners' Registration Office in Regensburg is available from the advisors at the International Office.