Welcome to the MPI FKF International Office

Moving to a new country is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming at first. The International Office is here to support you and your family with initial preparations prior to arrival and throughout your stay at MPI FKF.

Before your arrival

What do I have to consider before arriving Germany? Entry rules

Passport

Please make sure that you have a valid passport and that it is valid for at least six months after your arrival in Germany.
In case you have dual citizenship (or even more), please bring all passports with you.

Visa application

If you are not a citizen of the European Union, you may need a visa to enter Germany.

List of countries with visa requirements or exemptions

Even if you are a citizen from a country exempt from visa requirements in Germany, it is strongly recommend that you enter with a valid visa. Otherwise, you will not be authorized to work until a residence permit has been issued, a process that takes several weeks.

Please submit your visa application as soon as possible to the nearest German embassy or consulate in your home or residence country. It can take several weeks or months to get an appointment at your local German embassy for the visa to be issued.

Keep in mind that a visa is only the 'entry ticket' to Germany. If you plan to stay longer, you will need to apply for a residence permit at the local Immigration Office.

Please note that type C/short-term Schengen visas cannot be extended or converted to a residence permit!

Further information:
Federal Foreign Office - General Information on Visa Regulations
Overview of all German missions abroad worldwide

Further contact information

If you have further questions you can reach out to our HR adimistration - Personal@fkf.mpg.de - or to our HR coordinator - Mr. Frank Gottschalk

Accommodation

We recommend starting your search for an accommodation early, well before your planned arrival. Sometimes, housing opportunities arise spontaneously, but this is not always predictable.

MPI-FKF has its own guest house; however, availability and permitted duration of stay are restricted. Nevertheless, staying there for the first few weeks (max 3 months) can be helpful as it allows you to search for a suitable accommodation at your own pace. More information about the guest house can be found here: guest house.

Helpful links for apartment searches:

Important documents

Please remember to bring important certificates and documents (originals!) to Germany as they may be needed for certain official procedures. For example: birth certificate, marriage certificate (officially translated to German), university degree(s) in English or German, vaccination records, driver’s license, official language certificates such as TOEFL, TELC or TestDaF.
Please note that these documents also apply to all family members relocating with you.

Further information:
Foreign public documents for use in Germany

Health insurance

Please note that you will need proof of health insurance for a residence permit application. Our HR staff will be happy to advise you.

Cash

Please think of bringing some cash (currency EUR) with you to get by during the first days in Stuttgart until you have opened your own bank account. Not every shop, restaurant or landlord accepts credit cards.

After your arrival

Please visit our International Office (4C6) as soon as possible after your arrival.

Onboarding checklist

Upon arrival you will receive an onboarding checklist from your department secretary or the International Office. Please fill it out and collect the needed signatures as soon as possible as several administrative steps (email account, safety briefing etc) are dependent on the completion of this form. After you have collected all the necessary signatures, please return it to the HR department, room 2C11.

Registration in Stuttgart

If your stay in Germany is for more than 90 days, you must register within two weeks of your arrival in Stuttgart. In that case, please visit us at 4C6 (with your passport) in order to fill out and sign the registration form. We have a weekly appointment at the Stuttgart Mitte Registration Office.
Please note that this service only applies to Stuttgart residents.

After successful registration, you will receive a registration certificate, which you will need, for example, to open a bank account or to apply for your residence permit.
This registration automatically triggers the issuance of your Tax-ID number which will be sent within 2-4 weeks to your address.
Please provide our Human Resources department with your Tax-ID number, as this number is required for the payment of your salary. The bank will also ask you for this number when you open a bank account.

If you move within Stuttgart or elsewhere in Germany during your stay, you must repeat this step and re-register.

Application / extension of residence permit

If you hold a national visa (type D) for Germany, it is usually valid for a limited period of time (90 days up to one year). If your stay in Germany exceeds the validity of your visa, you have to apply for a residence permit at the Immigration Office.

We will guide you through the residence permit application process, assist you in selecting the most suitable option, help prepare all necessary documents and accompany you to the Immigration Office in Stuttgart *

* Please note that this service is only available for Senior/Staff Scientists, Postdocs, PhDs and Fellowship/Scholarship holders (excluding MSc-Scholarship) due to capacity limitations.

Before you leave

Whether you are completing your contract or departing earlier, there are several important steps to take when leaving Germany. The International Office will support you throughout the process to ensure a smooth transition and compliance with local regulations.

Inform the International Office of your planned departure date as early as possible. This allows us to support you in organizing the offboarding process and to advise you on any residence permit obligations.

Important: Failure to complete these steps may negatively impact future visa or residence permit applications, as well as potential re-entry into Germany!

We will remain your point of contact in non-academic matters during your stay. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Your MPI-FKF International Office