After Arriving – First Steps

The following list may help you to organise your first steps in Berlin.

 

Rental Contract

Sign a rental contract with your student residence or private landlord. If you need assistance, please contact the International Office.

 

International Office

Collect your student ID and information pack from the International Office (Badensche Str. 50–51, Room 56) and add your name to the contact address list there. Pay the fee for the semester ticket for local transport services (€191.68 / €241.68) if you have not already done so.

 

Health Insurance

  • For nationals of EU Member States: Please bring a European Health Insurance Card with you.
  • If you do not have any health insurance, you will need to join one of the health insurance companies in Berlin (e.g., the Technische Krankenkasse)
  • Submit a proof of your health insurance cover here or comparable health insurance cover to the International Office at the FHW Berlin.

 

Official registration (Meldebehörde)

Germany has a legal requirement on registering your place of abode here. You can register:

  • in the Schöneberg Town Hall at John-F.-Kennedy-Platz
  • in your student residence or at the nearest authority office (ask your student residence for details)
    • or at any of the authorities listed on the Internet at: www.buergeramt.info/berlin.htm&nbsp Don't forget to take your passport and your rental contract with you!

New students in Berlin are entitled to Begrüßungsgeld (or literally 'welcome money'). The welcome money is € 100 and is paid on submission of an application form obtainable from the International Office at the FHW Berlin. The application (Antrag auf Erteilung von Begrüßungsgeld) also has to be stamped by the authority offices where you registered and returned to the International Office.

 

For citizens of EU Member States: The EU law on free movement provides EU and EEA country nationals the right to reside without a visa. However, if you are planning to work in Germany you will need to complete a form confirming your entitlement to freedom of movement. The form and certificate (Freizügigkeitsbescheinigung) can be obtained at the authority offices when you register.

 

Aliens Registration Office (for non-EU citizens)

All non EU nationals staying for longer than 3 months in Germany have to register at the Aliens Office within the first three months of their stay and obtain a residence permit.

  • Opening hours: Mon, Tue, 7am-2pm, Thu 10am-6pm, Closed: Wed + Fri

You will need to take with you the completed application form (www.berlin.de/labo/formulare//formularserver.php), your official registration certificate, 2 photos, passport, student ID, proof of health insurance and income, (bank statement or proof of scholarship or bursary from your home university or a letter of support from your parents) and € 60.


More details at:

 

Address: Friedrich-Krause-Ufer 24, 13353 Berlin

 

Subway stop: U 9 / Amrumer Str.

City railway: S 4 / Westhafen

Bus: 127, 227, 248

 

Bank account

You can open a student account at many banks in Berlin. You will need your passport, your student ID and your official registration certificate. There is normally no charge for opening a bank account! If you want to apply for the € 100 'welcome money', you will need a bank account as it is only transferred and not paid out in cash.