Visas & Customs Requirements

Employment:

US citizens have the choice of applying for the residence / work permit (1) before traveling to Germany or (2) after arriving in Germany. (This also applies to citizens of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, and North Korea.) The visa fee (in Germany) for stays of less than a year is 50 euros; 60 euros for stays of more than a year (cash only). For minor children, the fee is reduced by half. Check with the German consulate or embassy for current fees in the US. (Note: Fees subject to change.)

1. Before You Leave

If you want to get your German residence permit in the US before traveling to Germany, you must do so in person at the German Embassy in Washington, DC or at one of the German consulates in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, or San Francisco. (Note: Each consulate serves specific states, counties, or regions of the U.S. See the Consulate Selector.) You must allow adequate time for your application to be processed. This can take from one to three months, because your application must be sent to the Aliens Office (Ausländeramt) in Germany that is responsible for your intended place of residence. See below for a list of the required documents and photos you need to present as part of your application.

2. After Arrival in Germany

In most cases it is easier to apply after you are in Germany, but you must obtain your residence permit before your 90-day, no-visa stay ends. You have to apply in person at the Ausländerbehörde (Aliens Authority) office for the German city or town where you reside. In Berlin and other larger cities it is possible to get an appointment via email for a specific day and time. (See a personal account [soon] of getting a residence visa/permit in Berlin.)

Whether you apply in the US or in Germany, you must present certain documents and forms (some of which can be printed out from PDF files online). For US citizens, the following items are required:

• A completed application form (two if applying in the US)
• Two passport photographs
• A valid US passport (and a copy if applying in the US)
• An Anmeldebestätigung from the local authorities confirming that you have registered your German address (if applying in Germany; see the Anmeldung section below for more)
• Employment contract or letter of intent from your future employer (for a work permit) and a completed work permit application
• Tax returns, bank statements, and other documents proving that you have sufficient funds or income to live in Germany
• Proof of health insurance coverage valid in Germany
• The visa application fee (no checks or credit cards)
• Any other documents that the Aliens Office may require. They will list what you need to bring in the email setting up your appointment (in Germany).

Registration & Health Insurance:

Anmeldung - Abmeldung

Before you can apply for your residence permit in Germany you have to register your address with the local authorities, usually at the city hall (Rathaus). As noted above, an Anmeldebestätigung is one of the documents required by the Aliens Office. Anyone residing in Germany is required to register (anmelden) his or her address within one week of moving into a house or apartment. When you move out, you’re required to unregister (abmelden). This applies to all German citizens as well, even if they are just moving across the street.

Health Insurance

Another requirement for a residence permit is proof of health insurance. Very few German doctors and hospitals accept US health insurance. Even if your US insurance covers you in Germany, usually you will be required to pay any medical fees yourself and get reimbursed later. Therefore, it is best to have a health insurance policy that is accepted by German healthcare providers. For shorter stays of up to a year or two, you can take out a special policy for that period. In some cases, your employer may provide health coverage.

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