Important Documents

You will usually need the following documents in order to enter the country:

Passports or equivalent identity documents for yourself and any members of your family accompanying you which are valid for the entire duration of your stay in Germany
A visa for yourself and any members of your family accompanying you
Letter of invitation from the university or fellowship award letter
A biometric passport photo for your residence permit; possibly other passport photos for the various ID cards you will need during your stay (please observe the requirements for passport photos laid down by the German Foreign Office)

In many cases you will also need the following documents:

Birth certificates for yourself and any members of your family accompanying you (preferably inGerman translation)
Marriage certificate (preferably in German translation)
Certified copies of your doctoral certificate or any other certificates awarded for academic degrees (preferably in German or English translation)
Vaccination certificate
A declaration referring to particular or previous illness (possibly recent x-rays) and any current medication
If you intend to drive while you are in Germany: international driving licence or foreign driving licence including translation (depending on country of issue); if you wish to take your car with you to Germany you will need additional documentation
If you sign an employment contract with a university – depending on the type of contract – you will need additional documents; please ascertain which documents are necessary in your particular case prior to entering the country