Working and Researching in HeidelbergResearchers Directive (Forscherrichtlinie)

Generally scholars from Non-EU countries may apply for either a residence permit for researcher (§18d Residence Act) or a Blue Card EU according to §18g (former §18b) Residence Act. The Blue Card is only available for researcher with employment and minimun salary.

The researcher residence permit allows scholars to work within a particular research or teaching project either with an employment contract or with a fellowship or self-funded. Any visiting scholar from a non-European Union country who wishes to stay in Germany for longer than three months can apply for a residence permit according to §18d of the Residence Act. Doctoral students can also obtain a residence permit according to §18d of the Residence Act under special conditions.

Information for PhD students from non-EU countries:

Doctoral students continue to receive a residence permit for students (§16 Residence Act). When applying for a visa at a German embassy/consulate, the letter of admission of Heidelberg University should be presented. When applying for the residence permit at the local immigration office, a certificate of enrolment is required.
Doctoral students with employment contracts (up to 50%) can apply for a researcher residence permit (§18d Residence Act) in special cases (for example, for PhDs with children because of child and parental benefits). Doctoral students without employment can´t apply for a researcher residence permit.
PhD students with employment contracts more than 50% can´t get a residence permit for students (§16 Residence Act). In this case, they have to apply for a researcher residence permit (§18d Residence Act) and a hosting agreement is required. Please contact the Welcome Centre for support and information.

In order to apply for a researcher residence permit according to §18d of the Residence Act, the research organization must sign a hosting agreement with the visiting scholar. You will need to submit the hosting agreement with your visa application to the German embassy in your home country. Please note: An invitation letter of your host won´t be accepted any more.

At Heidelberg University the Welcome Centre is the central office for issuing hosting agreements (except Medical Faculty, please contact the clinics HR department). We kindly ask the host institution to contact us for clarifing the research stay and preparing a hosting agreement.

Documents

For scholars with employment:

name, nationality, current address, birthday and - place of the scholar
copy of the form "Einstellungsantrag" normally used for the HR department
copy of passport (main page)
if applicable copy of the current visa or residence permit for Germany

For scholarship holders:

name, nationality, current address, birthday and - place of the scholar
copy of the scholarship confirmation letter
For PhD students: copy of Master degree with official translation in German or English
invitation letter or confirmaiton of the host institution regarding research stay
copy of passport (main page), if applicable copy of the current visa or residence permit
working title of research project

For scholars who are self-funded:

name, nationality, current address, birthday and - place of the scholar
information and if applicable proof of finance (for example salary in the home country, savings etc. )
For PhD students: copy of Master degree with official translation in German or English
invitation letter or confirmation of the host institution regarding the research stay
copy of passport (main page), if applicable copy of the current visa or residence permit
working title of research project

Further information about the researcher residence permit/visa

The researcher directive offers several advantages, such as:

The residence permit as a “researcher” includes mobility privileges within the EU. This means that a researcher with a residence permit for Germany can carry out parts of his or her research project (up to a max. of six months) in another EU country, with the exception of Great Britain and Denmark, without applying for a separate visa. Additionally, a researcher with a similar residence permit in another EU country can carry out research for up to six months in Germany.
A researcher’s spouse who accompanies the researcher to Germany is entitled to take up gainful employment. No work permit is required. There is no German language requirement for the spouse.
After your research project ends it is possible to prolong your residence permit up to 9 month for job search.

Therefore, a residence permit according to §18d of the Residence Act is of particular interest to international scholars

who would like to work for a limited period in another EU country within the framework of the research project.
who are looking for a job in Germany after their research project ends