Registration and residence permit during your studies


All citizens living in Germany must be registered in the city they live in. You must do it at the Citizen Services usually called in Germany Bürgerbüro or Bürgeramt within 2 weeks after moving to that particular city.

In the city of Dortmund you must do it at Bürgerdienste (EU-Citizens) or Bürgerdienste International (NON-EU-Citizens).

After moving to Dortmund you should register with the Citizens Services (Bürgerdienste). European citizens simply contact the Bürgerdienste in the city centre as written below. Students from Non-EU-Countries have to contact International Citizen Services - Bürgerdienste International which is the name of the Citizen Services and Immigration Office of Dortmund in one. The administration and immigration issues will be both carried out there.


Please note:

  • If you live in a different city than Dortmund you should register there - even if you are studying in Dortmund (E.g. Essen, Bochum, Witten etc.)!

  • In case you change your apartment within one city you must re-register with the new address (Ummeldung). In case you move to another city you must register there and will be automatically de-register in the former one.
  • Remember that it is also compulsory to de-register with the Citizens Services when you leave Germany permanently and want to go back to your home country or move to any other foreign country!

Important to know as well for NON-EU-Students:

  • The official purpose of your stay in Germany as a student of FH Dortmund is „study (visit)“. As such you have to study according to the regulations, meaning you must not exceed the official average length of study plus three semesters. In general you are not allowed to stay in Germany for your studies for more than ten years. You can read more about you residence and extension of your visa/ residence permit below.
Required documents for the registration at the Bürgerdienste (Citizen Services) of Dortmund (for EU-Citizens) ↓

As explained above officially you should register within 2 weeks after your moving in to Dortmund at the Bürgerdienste.

Documents which you must bring to the registration in Dortmund:

  • Filled in registration form – it can be downloaded or picked up at the Bürgerdienste International or at the International Office
  • Current address in Dortmund written in the „Wohnungsgeberbestätigung“ written confirmation signed by the landlord pr landlady with your address and exact move-in date. More information about the landlord confirmation can be found here.
  • ID card (EU-citizens) and a copy of it

You can go during the office hours or book an appointment.

Where should you go to register?
Address:
Bürgerdienste
Südwall 2-4
44122 Dortmund
phone: 0231/5013331
fax: 0231 / 5013332
email: buergerdienste@stadtdo.de

Please notice:
You will find the entrance to the Bürgerdienste/Citizen Services in the building part B and F on the ground floor. The entrance is only possible through Berswordthalle, entrance is at Kleppingstraße 37, 44137 Dortmund Stadthaus Dortmund. Please follow the signs!

When can you register?
Opening hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 07:00-16:00 o'clock
Wednesday and Friday 07:00-12:00 o'clock



The location plan can be found here.


Required documents for the registration at the Bürgerdienste International of Dortmund (Non-EU-Citizens) ↓

REGISTRATION

As explained above officially you should register within 2 weeks after your moving in to Dortmund at the Bürgerdienste International.

The following documents are to be turned in if you already have a valid residence permit or come with a visa and you first just want to register at the International Citizen Services - Bürgerdienste International:

  • Residence registration form - can be downloaded or picked up at the Bürgerdienste International or at the International Office,
  • Landlord Confirmation: Wohnungsgeberbestätigung - it is a written confirmation signed by the landlord with your address and move-in date, more Information about it can be found here,
  • National passport, original and a copy of it,
  • Current residence permit/visa with the supplementary sheet - original and a copy of it.

In some individual cases there may be also following documents needed (e.g. in case the visa/residence permit already expired):

  • A biometric photo
  • University enrolment certificate (Studienbescheinigung)
  • Certificate of attendance in a language course with DSH-certificate/TestDaF-confirmation

Application for the residence permit (visa extension) // extension of the residence permit at the Bürgerdienste International of Dortmund (Non-EU-Citizens) ↓

1. For students coming with visa:

After you have entered Germany with a visa and already registered in the city of Dortmund you must apply for a residence permit (extension of your visa) before your visa expires. You can do it immediately while registering at the Bürgerdienste International (if you have all of the needed documents as listed below) or you can come again during the opening hours without an appointment or make an appointment - personally or via email to: studententeam@stadtdo.de. It can take up to 3 months to get an appointment so please make sure that your visa is valid for that time.

2. For students who already have a residence permit and must extend it:

In case you are already registered and have a residence permit which must be extended (eAT-card or a stamp in your passport) - you should get an appointment via letter directly form the Bürgerdienste International with a list of needed documents. In case you didn't receive any letter and your residence permit expires soon you must go to the regular opening hours without appointment with the needed documents as written below.

Please make sure that your name is written on the post box and the address with which you registered in the city is valid! In case the Bürgerdienste send you letters which regularly come back to them - they will de-register you and in can cause seriour problems!

The following documents are to be turned in if you entered Germany with a visa or if your residence permit needs extending:

  • Filled in application for a residence permit - can be dowloaded or picked up at the Bürgerdienste International or at the International Office
  • National passport, original and a copy
  • Copy of the visa and entry document or current residence permit with the supplementary sheet
  • A biometric photo
  • University enrolment certificate (Studienbescheinigung - can be printed in ODS)
  • or a certificate of attendance in a language course with DSH-certificate/TestDaF-confirmation
  • Proof of finance: declaration of financial support - e.g. declaration of commitment/Verpflichtungserklärung plus current account statements from your bank or security deposit in a blocked account (currently you need at least 720€/month for 12 months so 8640€ for a year!) or a scholarship with that sum
  • Proof of health insurance (certificate from the company/ deposit slip/ account statements)
  • Service charge (to be paid only by EC-card) - see the table below

Additionally if you already had a valid residence permit and want to extend it:

  • you will also need a so called Prüfbescheinigung. It will be sent to you by the Bürgerdienste via letter which contains an appointment for the extension of your current residence permit. Prüfbescheinigung can only be filled in by the International Office of FH Dortmund. Please come with the form to us at least 2 weeks before your appointment. In case this form is not included in the letter please bring the letter with you to the International Office.

In case of completion of preparatory courses or a language course additionally:

  • Attendance certificate of the German course (original & copy) or
  • current study certificate of the Studienkolleg or
  • Proof of assessment test.

Service charges of the Bürgerdienste International (Immigration Office) in Dortmund ↓
Issuing a residence permit valid up to one year       100€
Issuing a residence permit valid for less than one year 100€
Extending a residence permit up to 3 months 96€
Extending a residence permit for more 3 months 93€
Changing or extending the residence permit due to a change in the
purpose of residence		 98€
Issuing of a new eAT (electronic residence permit/ card) 67€
Re-issuing the supplementary sheet for the residence title due to a change in the purpose of residence    50€
Issuing a temporary permit      (Fiktionsbescheinigung) 13€
The Immigration Office asks to pay the fees for their services only with EC card.

Contact an opening hours of the Bürgerdienste International (Immigration Office) in Dortmund ↓


Address:

Bürgerdienste International 
Olpe 1
44122 Dortmund
phone: 0231 50-27132
studententeam@stadtdo.de


Please notice:
The entrance is only possible through Berswordthalle, entrance is at Kleppingstraße 37, 44137 Dortmund Stadthaus Dortmund, building part (Gebäudeteil) C. Please read the signs!!!

Location plan can be found here.

Opening hours (without appointment):

Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 7:30 - 9:00



Appointment:

  • If you do not have any appointment - you will get a ticket with your waiting number at the information point.

  • Students who have already valid residence permit which must be extended should get a letter with an appointment. If you would like to change it - you must contact the Bürgerdienste immediately. If they cannot offer you a different appointment then you must take it or come to the opening hours without appointment.

  • If you would like to arrange your personal appointment you can contact the Bürgerdienste personally, via phone or via email at: studententeam@stadtdo.de  Important: Please give your full name and your birthday date. The answer may take up to couple of days, please be patient! Please note that the appointment will be given first in 3-5 months so check if you can wait that long and make sure that your visa/residence permit is still valid. If your visa/residence permit expires - then you must go during the opening hours without appointment.

    Opening hours with an appointment are possible within:
    Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 7:30 – 12:00 o'clock

Landlord Confirmation, Sublease Agreements ↓


Since 1st November 2015 you need a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung - written confirmation from a landlord or signed by an authorized person for your registration in the city. It is a written confirmation  with your address and move-in date, more Information about it can be found here.

More...

Public Broadcasting Licence Fees/ Rundfunkbeitrag

After registration at the city you might receive a letter of Rundfunkbeitragsservice containing a registration for the public broadcasting licence fees (TV/radio taxes).

The fee is used to finance the numerous radio, television and online content of ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio.  It must be paid for each apartment, even if this apartment is inhabited by foreign students exclusively. There are some few exceptions - more on our website.

You may find more information in our our website on that specific topic - please read this information carefully!!!