Registering in Aachen

 

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. 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 residents of the Aachen districts Haaren, Richterich, Brand, Eilendorf, Kornelimünster/Wahlheim, and Laurensberg: The Citizens' Services Office ("Bürgerservice") of the City of Aachen located near the Main Railway Station (Hackländerstr. 1) or at Wespienstraße.
• Residents of the Aachen districts (see above) can also go to the relevant District Office ("Bezirksamt").
• Residents of the cities and communities belonging to the so-called "StädteRegion Aachen" please refer to the relevant Citizen's Service Office or Residents' Registration Office.

In order to register with the authorities, you have to complete a registration application form (Meldeschein) and present it to the Citizens' Service Office / Residents' Registration Office, together with your passport and rental agreement.

If you have any problems registerin in Aachen, please contact the Info Service Center, whose staff members will be glad to assist you. Please note that the Registration Office needs to be notified of each change of address within one week.

 

Non-EU Nationals

If you are a non-EU national, the Citizens' Service Office / 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. 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.

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 certificate which clarifies the purpose of your stay in Germany, e.g. your BlueCard student ID in combination with an enrolment certificate or a letter from your RWTH supervisor outlining the reasons for your stay.
• Proof of adequate funds to support yourself in Germany, such as a declaration by your parents, a scholarship certificate, or any other appropriate document
• 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!

 

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. Students with a low income, however, may be exempt from paying fees. For more information, please visit the GEZ website.

 

Change of Address

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

If you are enrolled at RWTH Aachen University, 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.