> Things to do before coming here?

The most important things to take with you ...

Passport :

Your passport is, by default, the most important document which you require to enter Germany. It should be carried with you at all times always and be produced on demand. The passport, along with the residence permit, is the only document that legally states that you are staying in Germany.

Birth Certificate:

This may be important for part-time jobs, especially at the university. The offices concerned may ask you to produce your birth certificate as a proof of your date of birth.

University/High School transcripts :

All certificates from the primary school, high school and also the Bachelor/ Diploma degree from the school/university concerned are mandatory documents. They must be produced at the time of enrolment in the university and also when applying for your residence permit.

Certificate of admission at TUHH:

This is the document that says that you are entitled to study at the university. This should be produced at the time of enrollment.

Passport size photographs:

You should bring at least 10 passport-size photographs. You will need them in the course of various application procedures.

International driver’s license (optional):

This is optional. You may find a job in firm that requires you to drive (eg., a parcel service).

Student Identity Card (optional):

There is an identity card called the International Student Identity Card (ISIC). This is an internationally recognized identity card. It is most probably offered in your home country. For more details, visit http://www.isic.org .

Fast cash for your first month in Hamburg:

You will need some cash during the first 2-3 weeks for your university registration fee and various other things as it takes at least 7 working days for you to be able to withdraw the money from your new German bank account once you have opened one. We would therefore recommend you to carry at least € 600-700 in cash when you enter the country. If you come from y country, whose visa rules require you to open a blocked account, you should bear in mind that after blocking account, you cannot withdraw more than a specified amount per month.

Proof of Finance:

The visa that you obtain in your home country is valid for 3 months only. After coming to Germany, you will need to apply for a residence permit before this short-time visa expires. For this, you are expected to show a financial proof of income which demonstrates that you have €659/month to support your living expenses. You may have to show a bank balance of €7,905 (it depends on the country you are coming from).