Frequently Asked Questions

In principle, you are not allowed to enter Germany without a visa or a  residence permit. The only exception at the moment are the refugees from Ukraine. However, you must obtain a residence permit within 90 days and this regulation currently only applies until February 28th, 2023.

According to § 5 AufenthG you have to be able to finance yourself. There are two options for this: Either you can prove that you have enough assets. You must deposit these assets in a blocked account. Or you can appoint someone to support you if you cannot do it yourself. This person must have sufficient income and must sign a declaration of commitment. Your identity has been clarified. You have a valid passport. There is no interest in deportation - for example because you have already committed a criminal offense in Germany.

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As long as your child lives with you in a household, you have a German employer and German labor law applies to your employment contract, you can take parental leave and receive parental allowance. You can also spend parental leave outside of Germany.

You have registered your residence in Germany and received a letter from the “Beitragsservice (contribution service) von ARD, ZDF und Deutschlandradio”. 

What does this mean?

In Germany, as in other countries, there are independent broadcasters that are publicly funded and monitored. They offer a politically balanced media program on radio, television and the internet, which should remain free of commercial influence.

To finance this service, all residents of legal age in Germany pay a broadcasting fee, the so-called Rundfunkgebühren. This currently amounts to €18.36 per month. However, it only has to be paid once per apartment, even if several people of legal age are registered in the apartment. The fee is collected by the Beitragsservice  of ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio. In everyday life, we often speak of the Gebühreneinzugszentrale or GEZ for short, which used to perform this task. So, when you hear the terms Rundfunkgebühren, broadcasting fees, GEZ fees or just GEZ, they all refer to the broadcasting contribution of €18.36 per month to finance public broadcasting and the organization that is charged with collecting that fee.

When you register your residence in Germany, you will automatically be contacted by the contribution service of ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio and asked to provide information via an online form. By providing this information, the contribution service can check whether the broadcasting fee is already being paid for this home. 

If a person in the household already pays the broadcasting fee and therefore has a contribution number, then you can provide this contribution number to the contribution service online. You should then not receive another contribution invoice. Only if, for example, the person paying the fee moves out of the apartment later, will you receive another letter from the contribution service and have to enter your information again using the online form.

If no one in your household pays the broadcasting fee and therefore no contribution number exists, then you may be liable to pay the fee. Then you must register with the contribution service with your account details. You will then be assigned a contribution account and a contribution number. You can pay the broadcasting fee in several ways, for example, by SEPA direct debit, bank transfer and, in certain cases, by cash payment upon request.

You can be exempted from the obligation to pay the broadcasting fee if, for example, you can prove that you have no income of your own and/or receive benefits under the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act (Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz) or other social benefits (Bürgergeld - formerly Arbeitslosengeld II, Sozialhilfe, Grundsicherung im Alter, BAföG, Blindenhilfe). The contribution service has an application for exemption available on its website.

But even if an exemption is not an option for you, there are other ways to temporarily suspend or partially avoid paying the broadcasting fee. With a so-called deferral you have the possibility in a financially difficult situation to pay your arrears later. With a so-called settlement, you may even get a partial waiver of your arrears from the contribution service under certain circumstances - however, this requires meaningful documentation of your inability to pay.

If you live in a shared accommodation such as a home for asylum seekers or a hotel used exclusively for accommodating asylum seekers, you do not have to register with the contribution service.

TIPS:

- Letters from the contribution service are sent automatically and without prior verification of your obligation to pay the broadcasting fee. Therefore, be sure to fill out the online form and especially check if someone in your household is already paying the fee. Ask for advice if you are unsure.

- The obligation to pay the broadcasting fee is independent of whether you actually listen to the radio and watch television. It even exists regardless of whether there is any equipment for receiving radio and television in your home.

- If you do not pay the broadcasting fee despite your obligation to pay, the fee will be enforced, possibly with late payment penalties. In the worst case, high fines may also be imposed if payment is not made for months. So, take care of the registration or exemption and do not simply leave the letter from the contribution service unanswered!

If you want to live independently in Germany, you need a checking account, for example, to pay rent and utilities or to receive a salary transfer. In addition, the EC card linked to the account serves as a means of payment in many stores.

TIPS:

- Pay close attention to the terms and conditions of the blocked account. Often you do not have to pay the total amount at once - several partial amounts are possible.

- There are contact points for foreign students at all German universities. They have experience with blocked accounts and can help you choose a suitable bank.

To open a checking account at a bank in Germany, you first need the following documents: your valid passport, your residence permit and your registration certificate. Some banks require a minimum monthly deposit for certain current accounts; in this case, you will also need to provide your salary statements for the last few months.

TIPS:

- Pay close attention to the terms and conditions of the blocked account. Often you do not have to pay the total amount at once - several partial amounts are possible.

- There are contact points for foreign students at all German universities. They have experience with blocked accounts and can help you choose a suitable bank.

The services and thus also the costs of checking accounts at different banks vary enormously. It is therefore worthwhile to compare the offers carefully, for example through internet portals. In any case, think about which services you absolutely need. In general, there should be no additional costs for online banking, for example. Cash withdrawals should also be possible free of charge at readily available ATMs.

TIPS:

- Pay close attention to the terms and conditions of the blocked account. Often you do not have to pay the total amount at once - several partial amounts are possible.

- There are contact points for foreign students at all German universities. They have experience with blocked accounts and can help you choose a suitable bank.

If people from outside the EU want to come to Germany for a certain period of time, they usually have to show that they can support themselves during their stay. A blocked account is an account through which the account holder proves to the German authorities that they can support themself for a specified time. The account holder transfers the cost of living estimated by the German authorities to the blocked account. He can now only withdraw a certain amount from the account each month. This is to ensure that the monthly budget is actually available until the end of the specified period.

Students from outside the EU, for example, need a blocked account if they want to study in Germany. But applicants for a visit visa may also have to prove their ability to pay with a blocked account.

TIPS:

- Pay close attention to the terms and conditions of the blocked account. Often you do not have to pay the total amount at once - several partial amounts are possible.

- There are contact points for foreign students at all German universities. They have experience with blocked accounts and can help you choose a suitable bank.

Banks are not obliged to offer blocked accounts. It may therefore be that there is no such offer at your place of residence or study. In this case, it can be useful to inform yourself about the offers of larger banks on the internet. The contact points for foreign students at the universities in your place of residence may also be able to help.

You can open a blocked account in your home country or in Germany. In addition to the bank's form, you will also need your valid passport and - depending on the reason for the blocked account - your university admission or your letter of invitation. If you are opening the account from your home country, you will need to have the documents notarized at a German consulate or embassy and sent to Germany. If you are already in Germany, then you can open the blocked account locally in person.

In many countries there are local providers who offer blocked accounts. The relevant German embassy or consulate abroad will provide you with information on this. In addition, there are banks in Germany that offer special blocked accounts for students.

TIPS:

- Pay close attention to the terms and conditions of the blocked account. Often you do not have to pay the total amount at once - several partial amounts are possible.

- There are contact points for foreign students at all German universities. They have experience with blocked accounts and can help you choose a suitable bank.

Yes, in many cases, it is possible to extend your visa or residence permit in Germany. The

process for extension varies depending on the type of permit you hold and your individual

circumstances. Generally, you will need to apply for an extension before your current permit

expires and provide updated documentation to support your request. 

If you lose your passport or residence permit while in Germany, it is important to take

immediate steps to report the loss and apply for a replacement. Contact your country's embassy

or consulate in Germany for assistance.

 Finding accommodation in Germany can be competitive. There are several options available,

including renting an apartment or room, staying in student dormitories, or arranging homestay

accommodations. Many universities and student organisations offer assistance and resources for

finding housing.

Germany has a comprehensive healthcare system that provides coverage for residents and

visitors. It is generally required to have health insurance when staying in Germany. 

Learning German is essential for living and working in Germany. There are various options

available, including language schools, adult education centres like VHS, and language courses

offered by universities and private institutions. 

Discrimination and harassment are unacceptable and illegal in Germany. If you experience

such behaviour, you can report incidents to the police and other relevant authorities and seek assistance from support

services and counselling centres.