Visa and residence permits

Visa and entry

This page is only a guide that aims to answer frequently asked questions.
When planning your visit to MPI-M, the first step is to carefully check the entry requirements from your home country with the nearest German diplomatic mission (Embassy, consulate) which you find on the website of the German Federal Foreign Office.

Visa applications have to be filed with the German Embassy/Counsulate in your home country. Visas are connected to a particular purpose of your stay in Germany (i.e. scientific work, studying, business visit, tourist, etc.). Note: Do NOT enter Germany on a tourist visa if you want to work at MPI-M, or are staying in Germany for more than three months. The purposeof stay noted in the visa cannot be changed once you entered Germany.

Overview of visa requirements

European Union / EEA nationals

In the Member Countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) all citizens may move and work freely. Citizens wanting to work in Germany may still be asked to show evidence of their funding. Citizens from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway have, as a general rule, identical rights as EU citizens. For some new EU member countries there are transitional periods (until 2011, 2012, respectively) for acces to the German labour market. Please check the details for your home country at the European Commission webpage.

New EU Member State nationals

During a  transitional period, rules for the new member states are different and vary from one country to another. These are: Cyprus - Czech Republic - Estonia - Hungary - Latvia - Lithuania - Poland - Slovakia – Slovenia, and Romania and Bulgaria. Cyprus and Malta nationals have still another status. Check your status individually.

Non-EU and non-EEA (European Economic Area) nationals

Group 1 - Citizens of Australia, Japan, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, USA, South Korea, Switzerland do not need a visa before entering Germany. They may apply for it after entry into Germany. However, there are time limitations to this rule.  All other citizens not mentioned in the above lists belong to

Group 2-   nationals requiring a visa for visits to Germany during which they will work or study in Germany. Here is the list of countries whose nationals require /do not require a visa (German Federal Foreign Office) . Application forms can be obtained from all Embassies and Consulates or be downloaded from the website of the German Federal Foreign Office (above). Check with the International Office first which form is the right one for you.

HowtoGermany offers additional basic information on this subject.

Visa service from the International Office

The International Office is offering services to foreign scientists, scholars, students, and their families who intend to come and work at MPI-M. We can help avoid delays in the visa process.  

 
You will receive an invitation letter from the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology for your visa application. This is generally issued by the International Office in close cooperation with the MPI-M Department with whom you are in working contact. Please address the Office before making visa applications after you have been invited by a member of our scientific staff at MPI-M. Under German law, scientists can profit from a special status and receive a visa fairly quickly.