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A German residence permit for research purposes also enables you to spend a limited period researching and teaching in other EU States (with the exception of Ireland and Denmark). The Directive was already not applicable to the United Kingdom before its withdrawal from the EU. Some Member States require a separate notification to the respective competent authorities in this regard; an overview of the procedures can be found in the Download area.
Equally, if you hold an equivalent residence title issued by another EU Member State, you can work for a limited period in a scientific or research capacity at a research facility in Germany. The conditions vary depending on how long you intend to stay in Germany.
Stays of up to 180 days for research purposes - short-term mobility
Good to know!
If your spouse and your children are already resident in another EU Member State and hold a residence title for family reunification there, they may accompany you to Germany. This is stated in the notification.
If you wish to conduct research in Germany for up to 180 days within a period of 360 days, you do not require a German residence title. The residence title issued by the other EU State makes you eligible for residence in Germany.
The research facility employing you in Germany must notify the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees accordingly. This notification should be provided as soon as it becomes known that you intend to pursue research in Germany. Full notification must be received prior to you entering Germany.
It is not necessary for you to present yourself in person to the immigration authority.
The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees will issue you with a certificate confirming your entitlement to short-term mobility as a researcher.
Notification of the Federal Office
The notification which the research facility sends to the Federal Office must comprise the following documents:
- a residence title issued by the first EU State (issued for research purposes and in accordance with the REST Directive),
- a recognised, valid passport/replacement passport (copy only),
- an admission agreement or contract with the admitting research facility, and
- proof that you can support yourself (incl. proof that you have health insurance).
All documents must be submitted in German. Where applicable, the BAMF can accept easily comprehensible documents in a foreign language, but decides whether the documents submitted meet the requirements.
Note for the research facility in Germany: The notification may only be submitted by the research facility. It can be uploaded via the MoNa web-application: https://nks.bamf.de
In order to have access to MoNa, you will need to have signed MoNa’s conditions for use; a scanned, signed copy must be sent to the Federal Office via the BSCW server. The research facility will then receive a registration code to use the Delegated User Administration (DeBeV) in order to manage its staff’s access to MoNa, along with the appropriate instructions for use.
You will find more information on registration and how to transmit the application at "Further information/Downloads"
Stays of up to 360 days for research purposes - long-term mobility
If you wish to pursue research in Germany for more than 180 days and up to 360 days, you must apply for a residence permit for mobile researchers.
Good to know!
In order for your children and spouse to be able to accompany you during a stay of more than 180 days, they must apply to the immigration authority for a residence permit for Germany.
There are two ways of applying for a residence permit for mobile researchers:
- Applying from abroad:
You must submit the application to the immigration authority competent for the place in which the research facility is located no later than 30 days prior to entering Germany. Alternatively, you can also send the application via the BSCW server to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (https://bscw.bund.de). The competent immigration authority will decide on the application.
Before the immigration authority reaches a decision on the matter, you may stay and pursue research in Germany for up to 180 days within a period of 360 days.
- Applying from Germany:
If you are already resident in Germany for the purposes of short-term mobility and wish to stay for more than 180 days in order to conduct research, you must submit the application to the immigration authority competent for your place of residence no later than 30 days prior to expiry of your short-term mobility status.
This application is to be submitted by you, and must comprise the following documents:
- a residence title issued by the first EU State (issued for research purposes and in accordance with the REST Directive),
- a recognised, valid passport/replacement passport,
- an admission agreement or contract with the admitting research facility, and
- proof that you can support yourself (incl. proof that you have health insurance).
Stays for research purposes - longer than 360 days
If you want to stay in Germany for more than 360 days to carry out research, you must apply for a residence permit for research purposes. Further information can be found under "Scientists".
The legal basis:
- Section 18d of the Residence Act
- Section 18e of the Residence Act
- Section 18f of the Residence Act
- Section 19f of the Residence Act
- Directive (EU) 2016/801 of the European Parliament and of the Council