Registering Your Address and Other Visits to Authorities

 

If you come to Germany for work or study, you have to register your new term-time address with the local Residents' Registration Office. You will have to register within one week after your arrival in Aachen or in the region of Aachen. Depending on the location of your new home, you have to contact one of the following offices:

  • For residents of the City of Aachen and its districts (Haaren, Richterich, Brand, Eilendorf, Kornelimünster/Wahlheim, Laurensberg): please register your address with the Citizens' Services Offices ("Bürgerservice") at the Hackländerstraße or Wespienstraße offices (see Bürgerservice website). Alternatively you can visit the local district offices
  • For residents of communities within the City Region Aachen ("Städteregion"): the local Residents' Registration Offices.

In order to register with the authorities, you have to complete a registration application form (Meldeschein) and present it to the Registration Office, together with your passport and rental agreement. If you have any problems registering in Aachen, please contact the Info Service Center, whose staff members will be glad to assist you.

Non-EU Nationals

If you are a non-EU national, the Residents' Registration Office will forward your documents to the Foreigners' Registration Office, where you then can apply for your residence permit.

Basically, you can apply for the residence permit two days after having registered your address.

Please note, however, that from the end of August to the beginning of November, a large number of international students come to Aachen, which results in long queues and waiting times at the above named offices. Your visa is in principle valid for some weeks upon arrival. For this reason you should take your time with applying for your residence permit - you have time to do so until about two weeks before your visa expires.
In the above mentioned months you should apply for residence permit a very short time after the registration only in case it is urgent to get the residence permit (e.g. if you need the residence permit to be presented to the Department of Human Resources within an employment procedure).

Please also note that without a valid residence permit for Germany, you are not entitled to travel to any of Germany's neighbouring countries.

EU Nationals

If you are an EU national, you can both register your address and apply for the so-called mobility certificate ("Freizügigkeitsbescheinigung") - EU nationals do not need to obtain a residence permit, as the mobility certificate will suffice. To obtain this certificate, you will have to present the following documents at the Residents' Registration Office:

  • ID (passport)
  • one biometric passport photo
  • a document detailing your purpose of stay, such as a Letter of Admission to doctoral studies or a Letter issued by  your host institution which confirms the purpose of your stay at RWTH
  • a certificate of enrolment if you are already enrolled as a doctoral candidate , e.g. your BlueCard student ID in combination with an enrolment certificate (printable from CAMPUS Office, path: Studierendensekretariat > Bescheinigung).
  • a proof of adequate funds to support yourself in Germany such as a sponsorship letter, an employment contract or any other financial proof
  • proof of health insurance.

If your documents and application are complete, the mobility certificate  will be sent to you within about four weeks' time. Please make sure that you put your name on the letterbox on time!

If it is urgent for you to get the Mobility Certificate (e.g. in case you must present this document in the Department of Human Resources within an employment procedure), you should then apply for the Certificate in the RWTH Branch of the Foreigners´ Registration Office, since this document can be immediately delivered provided that you presented all required documents.

Change of Address

Please note that your registration details must be kept up to date - do not forget to notify the Residents' Registration Office in person if you move to another place and there are changes to your address.

For enrolled doctoral candidates:

The same applies to your personal data kept at the International Office, for which it is essential to keep accurate, up-to-date records of all international students. Please keep the Info Service Center informed of changes to personal circumstances such as changes of address, name and status. Keep in mind that the university might send important documents such as your semester package and therefore it is very important that they have your correct address. If you have a new address, please write an email to the ISC or fill in the respective form at the International office. Alternatively, you can change your registered address by editing your data in the CAMPUS Office online system. Your data kept at the International Office will then be automatically updated.

GEZ (TV Fee Collection Agency)

Please also note that anybody who is registered in Germany and who owns a radio or TV set must pay regular fees to the GEZ collection agency (Gebühreneinzugszentrale für Rundfunk- und Fernsehgebühren). As soon as your address is registered with the Citizens' Service or the Registration Office, the GEZ will be notified and - if applicable - you will have to pay fees. For more information, please visit the GEZ website.