Departure
Travelling to Germany
From planning the flight to the things that must happen in your first 48 hours — what makes the move to Germany go smoothly.
- Visa validity before the semester
- 1 – 2 weeks
- Cash recommended for the first days
- €200 – €300
- Legal deadline for address registration
- 14 days
- Biometric photos to bring
- 4 – 6
Visa validity before the semester
Cash recommended for the first days
Legal deadline for address registration
Biometric photos to bring
Flights and Airports
Germany has a dense network of international airports, and choosing the right one makes the onward trip to your city considerably easier.
Frankfurt (FRA) (main hub)
Germany's largest airport and one of Europe's major transfer hubs, with a direct connection to the ICE high-speed rail station.
Munich (MUC) (southern hub)
Ideal for universities in Bavaria and southern Germany. The S-Bahn reaches the city centre in roughly 40 minutes.
Timing your flight
Student visas are usually valid from one to two weeks before the semester starts. Book your flight against the validity date on the visa.
What to Bring
What goes in the suitcase depends on the season, but these documents and items are needed every time — carry them in your hand luggage.
- Passport with the valid visa inside
- University admission letter (Zulassungsbescheid)
- Health insurance confirmation
- Biometric passport photos (4–6)
- Cash for the first days (€200–€300)
- Layered clothing, waterproof shoes and an umbrella
Arrival and Local Transport
Two things to know between leaving the terminal and boarding your first train — the second one carries a fine if you miss it.
From the airport into the city
Major airports have an S-Bahn or regional (RE) train connection. Tickets are sold from the Deutsche Bahn machines in the station.
Validating your ticket (entwerten)
In most cities a ticket bought from a machine must be stamped in the small box on the platform. Travelling with an unstamped ticket is fined.
The First 48 Hours
The critical steps once you arrive. Keeping this order speeds the bureaucracy up — each step is the precondition for the next.
Move into your accommodation
Reach your dorm or flat and collect the keys. Always ask the landlord for the confirmation of tenancy (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) — address registration is impossible without it.
Book your address registration (Anmeldung)
Take the earliest available appointment at the local registration office (Bürgeramt). Everything from a bank account to the residence permit depends on it.
Complete your university enrolment
Go to the International Office to finish enrolling in person and collect your semester ticket, which covers local transport.
Conditions vary by city and airline
Departure
Follow the departure step in your journey
Your Dreemli journey lists the departure stage, the documents to carry and the first formalities after arrival, in order.