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Visa and Residence Permit

Depending on your citizenship you may need a visa to enter Germany. To extend your visa in Germany you will have to apply for a resident permit. You can find the necessary information in the box below.

We would like to offer our support with your visa & residence permit application. As an international researcher, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Before first entering Germany, most non-EU citizens need to apply for a visa, while EU citizens can enter on their national ID card. Organize your visa application well ahead and make sure you apply for the correct type of visa from the very start, if you are planning to stay for longer than 3 months.

For the essential information on this topic for incoming researchers, such as who needs a visa (and who does not) and which type of visa to apply for, please read the corresponding section of our Welcome Guide and please do not hesitate to contact us. We will support you to the best of our knowledge.

On the following websites you can find further information:
General information about Entry regulations for Germany and Immigrants from third countries.

Whom to contact?

Foreign Office – Auswärtiges Amt
The German authority responsible for all visa questions
Auswärtiges Amt – Visa und Aufenthalt
+49 30 5000 2000  (09:00 – 15:00)
buergerservice@diplo.de

For general information about German entry regulations, procedures and fees, visit Federal Foreign Office – Visa regulations

To apply for your German visa and inquire about the status of your visa application, find the nearest embassy or consulate in your current country of residence. You can find their specific visa requirements, documents and contact information in the list of countries.

In contrast to visa applications, applications for a residence & work permit and their extensions are processed by the responsible local Immigration Office in Germany.
In Dresden the Immigration Office (also called “Dresden Welcome Center”, not to be confused with the DRESDEN-concept Welcome Center) is responsible for highly skilled workers, e.g. scientists and PhD-students.
Before you can apply for a residence title, you need to be registered in the city. As soon as you have an appointment for registration in the city, you can contact the Dresden Welcome Center for an appointment. The residence title needs to be obtained before the visa expires or when you do not need a visa to enter Germany, before you start working.

Whom to contact?

Dresden Welcome Center (Immigation Office)

Visitor Address: Schweriner Str. 1 // 01067 Dresden
E-Mail: akzess@dresden.de
Phone: 0351/488 6051

All requests will only be dealt with after making an appointment via email.
Please already send all relevant documents that substantiate your request (e.g. copy of passport, [draft of] employment contract etc).
Waiting periods for an appointment might take up to 2 months. Therefore we recommend requesting an appointment to apply for a residence permit as early as possible (latest 2 months before arrival for those who can enter without a visa or for those arriving in Dresden with a current residence permit from another German city or EU country) or at the latest 2 months before the expiry of your entry visa, to make sure you receive an appointment before your entry visa, entry period or current residence permit expires.

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Where to find us
Address
Einsteinstraße 9
01069 Dresden

Phone
+49 351 463 34009
Opening hours
Monday to Friday
10 a.m. till 3 p.m. (please make an appointment in advance)