International full-time students who come from a country outside the EU or EEA and wish to stay in Germany for longer than three months must apply for a residence permit. In contrast to the student visa, which you need to obtain before entering Germany, you only apply for a residence permit once you have arrived here and have enrolled at LMU.
If you come from a country in the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), you do not need a residence permit. You just need to register your residence with the city of Munich or your municipality.
Please use the Bayern-Tool if you are unsure which municipality you should register with. If you enter your post code when selecting your "location", the relevant authority will appear. By the way, you can change the language settings to English.
If you come from a Non-EU country and already have a valid residence permit in an EU country (exceptions are Denmark and the Republic of Ireland), you can use the REST procedure for your stay at LMU.
The REST Directive (REsearchers and STudents) enables students from other EU countries to have easier mobility rights within the EU under certain conditions.
Students must have a Non-EU / third-country citizenship, already be studying in an EU member state (except Denmark and Ireland) and wish to take part in a mobility program (e.g. Erasmus+) at LMU for a maximum of 360 days.
Please note that the residence permit must be issued in the first EU country of residence for study purposes and must be valid for the entire duration of the planned stay abroad.
Further information can be found on the BAMF website.
In most cases, students with student visas will need to obtain a residence permit. Exchange students have a special visa (for 6 or 12 months) and do not require a residence permit. If you are not sure whether you need a residence permit, contact the German Embassy or German Consulate in your home country.
Residence permits are issued by the Ausländerbehörde (Foreigners Office) in each district. In the City of Munich, the Ausländerbehörde is at the Kreisverwaltungsreferat or KVR (Department of Public Order).
If you live in one of the 29 districts and towns in the greater Munich area (Landkreis München), you need to go to the District Office Munich (Landratsamt München) to get your residence permit. Please use the Bayern-Tool to identify the authority responsible for you by selecting your "location" and entering the respective post code. By the way, you can change the language settings to English.
Just like a visa, a residence permit is issued only if you are pursuing a specific study program at LMU. If you switch majors, interrupt your studies, or withdraw your university enrolment, your permit may become invalid. Your permit may also be revoked if you cannot complete your studies within a reasonable and expected period of time.
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers detailed information on entry and residence issues for international students. If you cannot find your answer here, we suggest you contact the KVR directly.
Details on how to apply for a residence permit and further relevant information can be found in the KVR's current presentation document (PDF, 1,198 KB) for international students. Please note that the application and extension can currently take up to 5 months.
Kreisverwaltungsreferat (KVR)
Hauptabteilung II Bürgerangelegenheiten Ausländerangelegenheiten
Ruppertstraße 11
80337 München
Subway line (U-Bahn) U3 or U6, station: Poccistraße
Bus line 31, bus stop: Poccistraße
Please use the Bayern-Tool if you are unsure which municipality you should register with. If you enter your post code when selecting your "location", the relevant authority will appear. By the way, you can change the language settings to English.