While entry to Germany may be possible under certain circumstances using a valid residence permit issued by another Schengen Member State, the recommended option for non-EU nationals is to always obtain a German national student visa before travelling, if possible. This provides the greatest legal certainty and helps ensure a smooth arrival and subsequent residence permit application (if applicable) in Germany.
However, IF you still intend to enter Germany using a valid student residence permit issued by another Schengen Member State, then you MUST apply for a German student residence permit as soon as possible AFTER arrival in Berlin. This must be done within 90 days of arrival in the Schengen area and/or before the expiry date of the student residence permit issued by another Schengen Member State, whichever takes precedence.
In other words, current ESCP students who possess a valid student residence permit* as mentioned below for their current semester may enter Germany without obtaining a prior visa and apply for a German student residence permit. Additionally, please ensure that you travel directly to Germany from the country that issued the permit. For example, if your valid student residence permit was issued by the French authorities, your previous study campus should have been ESCP Paris, and you should ideally arrive in Berlin from France.
- Titre de Séjour étudiant in France
- Permesso di soggiorno per motivi di studio in Italy
- Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero TIE in Spain
*Excluded from this are residence permits for study stays in Denmark and Ireland.
It may take several weeks to arrange all the documents required for a German student residence permit. Please begin preparing them early and plan your travel accordingly. Keep in mind that certain documents can only be obtained after you arrive in Berlin. After arrival in Berlin, we strongly recommend postponing any travel outside Germany (e.g. trips home during the summer or winter break) until you have received your residence permit. Otherwise, you may encounter difficulties re-entering Germany!
Please note that a German residence title (including a national D visa, residence permit, fiction certificate) generally expire if you remain outside Germany for more than six consecutive months. Re-entry is then possible either visa-free (provided one belongs to a country of origin listed in Section 41 of the German Residence Ordinance) or with a new visa.
If you have any questions, please ensure to email us a clear copy of your visa/residence permit/entry stamp for cross-checking at visasupport.berlin@escp.eu.