First Steps

From the train station, you can reach the university by bus or tram within 10 minutes and most parts of the city within 15 – 20 minutes. Timetable information is available from Braunschweiger Verkehrs AG.

Braunschweiger Verkehrs-AG (German only)

If you are arriving in Braunschweig for the first time and have a lot of luggage, a taxi ride may be the easier solution. German taxi drivers do not necessarily speak English, but you can simply write down your destination and pass it to the taxi driver. A taxi ride in Braunschweig costs between € 6 -15 depending on the distance.

If you have rented an apartment in Braunschweig, you will receive the following documents from your landlord upon moving in:

• your rental agreement
• one or more sets of keys
• a handover protocol

The handover protocol details the condition of the flat at the time when you move in. It also states the number of keys you received. If you find any defects in your new flat, you should insist that they will be noted in the protocol. Ask the landlord for a copy of the protocol.

If you come from a country outside the EU and stay longer than 3 months, you must apply for a residence permit. Please make an appointment with the Foreigners' Registration Office in Braunschweig immediately after your arrival. If you do not live in Braunschweig, please contact the Foreigners' Registration Office in your place of residence.

For your application you will need the following documents:

• your passport
• completed application form for the granting of a residence permit (PDF)
• the rental agreement for your accommodation in Braunschweig
• proof of health insurance that is valid in Germany
• your employment contract, your scholarship agreement or other proof of how you will finance your stay in Germany
• proof of your scientific activity at your host institute in Braunschweig
• 1 biometric passport photos
• €80 – 110 fee
• your marriage certificate and the birth certificates of your children, if applicable (possibly with German translation and certified)

The issuing of the residence permit takes about 8 weeks. This also applies if you will have to extend your residence permit later. To do so, please contact your immigration officer about 12 weeks before your residence permit expires.

We accompany you to the Foreigners' Registration Office

The Mobile Researchers' Services offer to accompany you to your appointment at the Foreigners' Registration Office. If you speak little German or are not sure whether you have all the necessary documents, you should make use of this service.

If you stay in Braunschweig for a longer time

Statutory Health Insurance

If you have an employment contract in Braunschweig and earn less than €60,750 per year, you will automatically be insured with one of Germany's statutory health insurance companies. Your research institution transfers the contribution directly from your salary to the insurance company. Your children and your partner are insured free of charge if they live in Germany and have no income of their own.

Private Health Insurance

If you are a scholarship holder, you will need to take out private health insurance. With private health insurance, you can individually pick and choose the health services you want. The rates vary considerably from company to company and obviously depend on the services covered. When signing a contract for private health insurance, make sure that the services covered are at least equal to those of a statutory health insurance policy.

For short-term stays

For short-term stays without an employment contract, you will usually have to take out private health insurance. Your home country health insurance may be accepted, depending on your country of origin and the coverage provided by your insurance policy. As soon as you know the exact terms of your stay in Braunschweig, we can find out for you whether your health insurance is accepted in Germany or whether you will have to take out a German health insurance policy.

We strongly recommend that you take out liability insurance for your stay in Germany. This insurance covers any personal injury or property damage that you might accidentally cause. Accidents can quickly lead to substantial costs – for example, if a person is severely injured in a car or bicycle accident that you or a member of your family has inadvertently caused. If you do not have liability insurance, you will have to bear all of these costs yourself.

Before coming to Germany, you should check if you have liability insurance that is valid internationally. Alternatively, you may take out a German liability insurance policy for the duration of your stay. Expect to pay approximately €60 – 70 per year for liability insurance in Germany. We would be happy to help you in choosing an appropriate insurance policy.