Germany - Researcher

Hosting agreement

You must conclude a hosting agreement with an approved research body. The agreement may also be concluded with a research institution that is not recognised, but the process to obtain a residence permit may take longer.

A hosting agreement shows that you are planning to conduct a research work and that the research body will host you. The agreement must state the purpose, duration, and funding of the research project and your qualifications.

Visa

You must apply to the embassy or consulate in your country of origin for a visa. The visa may only be granted if the local Foreigners Authority of the place of intended residence consents. The rules of the Residence Act governing the issue of residence permits are applicable.

You do not need a visa if you are from Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea or the USA.

Residence permit

Once in Germany, you must apply for a residence permit. The residence permit is granted by your local Foreigners Authority.

Decisions related to residence permits can be challenged before the local administrative courts.

Decisions related to visa refusals can be examined by the administrative court in Berlin. The local court is only competent if you are already in Germany.

More on coming to Germany as a researcher

More on being a researcher in Germany

Your residence permit is tied to a specific research project within a specific research body.

German law makes a distinction between a settlement permit and the EC long-term residence permit.

To obtain a settlement permit, you must prove the following:

• residence for at least five years on the German territory with permit;
• sufficient resources to support yourself and your dependants;
• health insurance;
• adequate housing/accommodation;
• in general, 60 months social security contributions (or equivalent contribution to a private scheme);
• you have the right to work or to be self-employed;
• sufficient knowledge of the German language and basic civic knowledge.

Your application may be rejected if you threaten public policy or public security.

More on settlement permits

EC long-term residence

To obtain an EC long-term resident status, you must provide the following:

• residence on the German territory for five years with a residence title;
• stable, regular and sufficient financial means;
• adequate housing/accommodation;
• sufficient knowledge of the German language, basic civic knowledge;
• fulfilment of tax obligations.

Your application may be rejected if you threaten public policy or public security.

A foreigner shall not be required to have a residence title for stays for research purposes not exceeding 180 days within a 360-day period, if the host research establishment in the federal territory has notified the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees that the foreigner intends to carry out part of his research activities in the federal territory, submitting the following at the same time:

• evidence that the foreigner possesses a valid residence title for research purposes issued by another member state in accordance with Directive (EU) 2016/801,

• the admission agreement or a corresponding contract concluded with the host research establishment in the federal territory,

• a copy of the foreigner’s recognised and valid passport or passport substitute, and

• evidence of the fact that the foreigner’s subsistence is secure.

The host research establishment must make the notification when the foreigner applies for a residence title in the ambit of Directive (EU) 2016/801 in another member state of the European Union. If, at the time of application, the host research establishment is not yet aware of the foreigner’s intention to carry out part of his research activities in the federal territory, it must make the notification as soon as it becomes aware of this intention. If the residence title has been issued by a non-Schengen state, and if the foreigner enters the federal territory via a non-Schengen state, the foreigner must carry a copy of the notification and present it to the responsible authorities at their request.

If the host research establishment made the notification at the time the foreigner applies for a residence title in the ambit of Directive (EU) 2016/801 in another member state of the European Union and if the foreigner has not been denied entry and residence, the foreigner may enter the federal territory at any time during the validity of the residence title and stay there for research purposes.

Foreigners who fulfil the requirements shall be entitled to take up research in the host research establishment and to take up teaching activities.

The foreigner and the host research establishment shall be required to inform the competent foreigners authority of any changes to the requirements.

A foreigner shall be granted a temporary residence permit for stays for research purposes which last more than 180 days but no more than one year, if:

• he holds a residence title issued by another Member State in line with Directive 2016/801 for the duration of the procedure,

• a copy of the foreigner’s recognised and valid passport or passport substitute is submitted, and

• the admission agreement or a corresponding contract concluded with the host research establishment in the federal territory is submitted.

If the application for a temporary residence permit is filed at least 30 days prior to the beginning of the stay in the federal territory and if the residence title issued by the other member state continues to be valid, the foreigner’s residence and employment shall be permitted for up to 180 days in a 360-day period until the foreigners authority decides on the application.

The researcher is entitled to take up research at the research establishment specified in the admission agreement and to take up teaching activities.

Changes to the research project during the stay shall not cause this entitlement to expire.

The foreigner and the host research establishment shall be required to inform the foreigners authority of any changes to the requirements.

After completing the research activities, the temporary residence permit shall be extended by up to nine months for the purpose of seeking employment commensurate with the researcher’s qualification, provided that the host establishment has confirmed the completion and that foreigners are permitted to pursue this economic activity in accordance with Sections 18, 19, 19a, 20 and 21 of the residence act. The temporary residence permit shall entitle the holder to pursue an economic activity in this period.