Residence Permit for OTH Regensburg Students: Complete Guide for International Students (2026)

Residence Permit for OTH Regensburg Students: Complete Guide for International Students

Written by Isma Khalid

If you have secured your admission to Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg (OTH Regensburg), congratulations! You are about to join one of Bavaria’s most prestigious technical universities in a city recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

However, before you can fully immerse yourself in student life at the Galgenberg campus, there is a crucial administrative hurdle: the German Residence Permit. This guide provides a comprehensive roadmap for international students at OTH Regensburg to navigate the Bureaucracy in the "Free State" of Bavaria with ease.

Credits: OTH Regensburg / Florian Hammerich

Who Needs a Residence Permit in Regensburg?

The requirement to obtain a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) depends on your nationality. You must apply if you are:

• A non-EU / non-EEA / non-Swiss citizen.
• Enrolled as a full-time, exchange, or dual-study student at OTH Regensburg.
• Planning to stay in Germany for longer than 90 days.

Student Visa vs. Residence Permit: The Critical Distinction

It is a common misconception that a visa is all you need.

1. The Entry Visa: Most international students enter with a National Visa (Type D). This is merely a "golden ticket" to enter the country and is usually valid for only 3 to 6 months.
2. The Residence Permit: Once you arrive in Regensburg, you must convert that visa into a long-term residence permit issued by the local Ausländerbehörde (Immigration Office).

Note for "Positive List" Countries: Citizens of Andorra, Australia, Brazil, Canada, El Salvador, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, San Marino, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America do not require a visa to enter Germany. However, in order to study, citizens of these countries are required to apply for a Student Residence Permit within the period of 90 days upon their arrival in Germany.

Step 1: Registering Your Address (Anmeldung)

In Bavaria, order is everything. Before you can talk to the Immigration Office, you must prove where you live. This process is called Anmeldung.

You must register at the Bürgerzentrum (Citizens' Center) in Regensburg within two weeks of moving into your room or apartment.

What you need for Anmeldung:

• Valid Passport/ID.
• Wohnungsgeberbestätigung: A specific form signed by your landlord (your rental contract alone is usually not enough).
• Proof of enrollment or your OTH admission letter.

Once registered, you will receive your Meldebescheinigung. Keep this safe! You cannot open a German bank account or get a residence permit without it.

A sample of Meldebescheinigung

Step 2: Applying for Your Residence Permit at the Ausländerbehörde

The Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde) of the City of Regensburg is responsible for students living within the city limits. If you live in the surrounding rural district (Landkreis), you may need to visit the Landratsamt Regensburg.

Required Documents for OTH Students

To ensure a smooth application, you should prepare the following "Bavarian Essentials":

• Valid Passport with your entry visa (if applicable).
• Biometric Photo: Must meet strict German standards (no smiling, specific head tilt).
• Current Certificate of Enrollment (Immatrikulationsbescheinigung): Downloadable from the OTH Regensburg student portal.
• Proof of Financial Means: Usually a Blocked Account (Sperrkonto) with the required monthly amount (approx. €992/month as of 2025/26), a job contract with the last three salary slips, a scholarship certificate or a formal Letter of Obligation (Verpflichtungserklärung).
• Health Insurance: Proof of German statutory insurance (e.g., TK, AOK) or a recognized private equivalent.
• Application Fee: Usually around €100–€110 for the initial issuance.

Get Your Personalized OTH Regensburg Checklist with VisaFlow

Requirements in Bavaria can be stricter than in other federal states. To avoid the "missing document" trap, OTH Regensburg students can use VisaFlow for free.

Why use VisaFlow?

• Complete Checklists: Up-to-date checklist to ensure you don’t miss any document
• Service Hub: Ensure your Blocked Account and Insurance meet Regensburg’s specific standards by comparing different providers on our Service Hub
• Expert assistance: Step-by-step guidance along with assistance from experts

🎓 Access for OTH Students: You can often find your free VisaFlow access code through the OTH Regensburg International Office or your "Welcome" email from the university.

Working While Studying in Regensburg

Regensburg is a hub for automotive and digital technology (think BMW, Continental, and OSRAM). Many OTH students seek "Werkstudent" (working student) positions.

• The 140-Day Rule: As of recent law updates, international students can work 140 full days or 280 half days per year.
• Academic Work: Jobs as a student assistant (HiWi) at OTH Regensburg do not count toward this limit.
• Internships: If an internship is a mandatory part of your OTH curriculum, it does not count against your 140-day work limit.

Immigration Offices in Regensburg

Determining which office is responsible for your residence permit depends on your registered place of residence (Anmeldung).

• Stadt Regensburg (City): If you are living within the city limits of Regensburg (including areas like Galgenberg, Kumpfmühl, or the Altstadt), your primary point of contact is the Ausländerbehörde der Stadt Regensburg. You can find them at Maximilianstraße 26, 93047 Regensburg. This is the office for the vast majority of students living near the OTH campus.

Pro Tip: In Regensburg, you typically submit your initial application via email The relevant authority will then coordinate with you via mail or email to schedule an in-person appointment for your biometric data collection. You can confirm which authority covers your specific address by checking the official portal of the City of Regensburg or the Landratsamt.

Essential Tips for OTH International Students

1. Check your Spam Folder: The Regensburg Ausländerbehörde often communicates via email. Don't let an appointment invite sit in your junk folder!
2. The "Fiktionsbescheinigung": If your visa is expiring and your new permit hasn't arrived yet, ask for this "fictional certificate." It proves you are still legally in Germany.
3. Bavarian Deadlines: Do not wait until 2 weeks before your visa expires. Start the process 8-10 weeks in advance.

Final Thoughts

Securing your residence permit is the final step in your journey to becoming a "Regensburger." While German bureaucracy has a reputation for being rigid, following a structured path makes it entirely manageable.

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