All you need to know and more for all new incoming internationals can be found on a separate page here.

Emergency Contacts

Police: 110

Fire Department: 112

Medical Emergency: 112

Karlsruhe has a list of standby numbers to call in different emergency situations.

Health and Well-being

• Know the location of the nearest hospital (Klinikum, Krankenhaus) or standyby services (Bereitschaftsdienst)
• Register with a local doctor and ask your health insurer about how to access which healthcare services and which is covered.
• also see: Safety apps

Local Laws and Regulations

Carry identification with you at all times. At the least a copy of your passport. You can be randomly checked by the police and will have to provide proof.
If you're in public transport and using a ticket linked to your name then the ticket inspector might ask you to provide ID, especially in trains.

Understand and respect local laws and regulations, including those related to road safety, alcohol consumption and public behaviour.

Safety apps

nora is the official emergency call app of the German federal states.It lets you contact the police, fire brigade and rescue service quickly and easily in an emergency. Anywhere in Germany. It uses the geolocation function of your mobile device to communicate your exact location to the responsible emergency control centre. This enables responders to find you more easily, even if you don’t know exactly where you are.

NINA  this federal emergency information and news app provides important warning messages from the civil protection authorities. If the area where you currently are is affected by accidents or disasters such as fire, flood or a release of hazardous substances, the local authorities will provide you with crucial information and safety instructions.
Subscribe to areas and locations for which you would like to be warned: Counties, municipalities or for a radius of 1 to 9 square kilometres around a freely selectable location are possible.

KATWARN sends public warnings and behavioural advice directly to the people affected. All warnings originate from government agencies or responsible safety and security organisations, who decide on the content, timing and extent of issued warnings.

Extending Your Student Visa

If you’re studying in Germany on a standard student visa, you’ll probably need to extend it around your 5th semester.
The visa office (Ausländerbehörde) in Karlsruhe will ask for a document that shows:

• how your studies are going so far, and
• when you’re expected to finish your degree.

This document can only be issued by the Examination Board Master (Prüfungsausschuss Master, PAM) pam∂bgu.kit.edu. Please email them directly from your KIT account.

What Documents Do You Need?

Here’s what the Karlsruhe District Office usually asks for when you apply to extend your residence permit:

If you're planning to bring your spouse to Germany, there are a few important things to prepare. The German authorities will want to make sure you can support your family financially and have enough space to live together comfortably.

Ask the German embassy or consulate in your home country which documents they need from you. It’s best to start early, as the application process can take a while.

What documents do you need?

Here’s a list of the most common documents required for a family reunion visa:

Proof of living space.

You’ll need to show that you have enough space for both of you. In general, that means:

• At least 12 m² per person
• Plus 15 m² for shared spaces (like the kitchen and bathroom)

So, for two people, that’s around 40 m² in total.

You’ll need to provide:

• Your rental contract (showing the size and cost of the apartment)
• Your Meldebescheinigung (registration at your address)

Valid residence permit

Make sure that you permit is valid and readable.

Sufficient income to support the family

You need to show that you can support your spouse without public assistance. This usually means:

• A net income of €1,200–€1,500/month (for a couple, depending on where you live – this is a rough estimate for Karlsruhe)
• Enough to cover rent, health insurance, living costs, and your study fees

You can prove this with:

• Your employment contract (including duration and conditions)
• Your latest payslips (usually from the last 3–6 months)
• Your latest tax return (if available)
• Bank statements showing regular income and financial stability

What about savings?
Yes, savings can help.  While regular income is preferred, substantial savings can also show financial stability. You’ll need to provide:

• Bank statements showing your savings
• Savings certificates, or
• Investment documents (like stocks or bonds)

It all depends on how the authorities interpret the documents.

A valid marriage certificate

You’ll need a marriage certificate that is recognized in Germany. Check with your local German embassy or consulate to make sure yours is valid.

Important: You need to get this right right from the beginning of your visa application as changes might lean towards the visa office thinking the marriage is "concluded without the purpose of creating a family", i.e. it might be a fictitious marriage. That could lead to your visa being denied.

Age requirement

Both you and your spouse must be at least 18 years old.

Health insurance

You must show that both of you will have health insurance in Germany. This can be a private insurance, or family coverage under your insurance plan

Basic German language skills

Your spouse will need to show basic German skills (A1 level). The idea behind this: speaking a little German will help settle in and manage everyday life in Germany.

Valid passport

Make sure your spouse’s passport is valid. Getting a new one abroad can be expensive and take time.

Other documents

Depending on your situation, the embassy might ask for more documents, like a letter of motivation or other supporting documents.

Checklist: what to prepare

Make sure you comply to what your local embassy/consulate asks for. It is likely that they will provide you with a list anyway.

• Completed application form (from the German embassy/consulate website)
• Declaration form (confirming all info is correct)
• Biometric passport photos (size: 35mm in width, 45mm in height)
• Valid residence permit (for you)
• Marriage certificate (and documents from any previous marriages)
• Birth certificate
• Invitation letter
• Proof of income
• Meldebescheinigung (your address registration)
• Health insurance
• Any additional documents requested by the embassy

If you're feeling ill and need medical help, your first step is to visit a GP (General Practitioner) – in German, this is called a Hausarzt or Allgemeinarzt. They are GPs who can treat most common health issues.

How to get an appointment:

• find a GP nearby (depending on how ill you are: the closer the better)
• Call the doctor’s office and ask for an appointment.
• If they are fully booked or not accepting new patients, try contacting other GPs.
• If you still can’t find a doctor, call your health insurance provider – they can help you arrange an appointment.

Important: Always bring your health insurance card to the appointment. The doctor’s office needs to scan it before they can treat you.

If you need to see a specialist (like a dermatologist or orthopedist), you usually start by visiting a GP. They will examine you and give you a referral if necessary.

Your covered services as a student

As a student enrolled in Germany's public health insurance system, you're entitled to nearly the same healthcare benefits as any other insured person. These include: