Visa
Please note that it is your responsibility to inform yourself early enough about the visa and entry requirements for the Federal Republic of Germany, as they apply to you individually. The International Office of TU Dortmund University will be happy to assist you with any further questions you may have.
You can find out about the regulations that apply to you here.
EU Nationals
Exchange students with EU citizenship do not need a visa to enter and study in Germany.
EU Residence Permit
If you are not an EU national but already have a residence permit for study purposes in another EU country, you can usually apply for a residence permit through your contact at the International Office (see below) under the REST Directive.
Non-EU Nationals
Exchange students without EU citizenship need a residence permit to study in Germany.
Nationals of certain third countries also need a visa to enter the Federal Republic of Germany. Please check on the website of the Federal Foreign Office whether you need a visa to enter Germany or not.
If there is a "Yes" next to your country of citizenship in the table, you must apply for a visa in your home country to enter the Federal Republic of Germany! To apply for a visa at a local embassy/consulate you will receive an invitation letter from the International Office about 2-3 weeks after the application deadline (15 May/November), which you have to include with your visa application.
Please apply for your visa early! Please inform yourself about the visa requirements that apply to you with the local German Embassy/Consulate. You can find an overview of the German Missions abroad here.
Only if there is a "No" and "(1, 3)" or "(1, 4)" next to your country of citizenship in the table, you do not need to apply for a visa in your home country for your studies in Germany! You can enter the Federal Republic of Germany without a visa and apply for a residence permit for studying in Germany at the Ausländerbehörde of the City of Dortmund within 90 days.
In this case please do not apply for a visa in your home country. The International Office will assist you in applying for a residence title in Dortmund and will arrange an appointment for you at the Ausländerbehörde.
Exchange Students (Worldwide | ISEP | USA Program)
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If you have any questions regarding your exchange at TU Dortmund University, please also have a look at our FAQs