Student Services
A warm welcome to our dedicated page for students at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg! Here you will find all the information you need to make use of the services offered by the City Office and the Immigration Office quickly and easily.
We offer special consultation hours so that you can sort out your matters easily and without long waiting times by booking an appointment.
City Office
For which matters should you contact the City Office?
– To register your address (including flatmates in a shared flat) in Cottbus/Chóśebuz
Registration is carried out via eWA (electronic residence registration).
- Identity document with eID and activated online function
- A BUND ID is required to use the eWA
- Moving house exclusively within Germany
Applications can only be submitted online via „Digital Residence Services“ („Digitale Aufenthalte“).
Advance registration with the city office (Stadtbüro) is mandatory!
- Residence permit for training
Immigration Office
Applications can only be submitted online via ‘Digitale Aufenthalte’
IMPORTANT for students not yet registered in Cottbus/Chóśebuz:
You must first register with the City Office (please complete the contact form),
only then can your online application be processed via ‘Digital Residences’
Pre-registration with the City Office is absolutely essential!
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) to the city office
Do I have to register as a student in Cottbus/Chóśebuz?
- If you move into an apartment in Cottbus/Chóśebuz, or into a student room in a hall of residence or live as a roommate in a shared apartment, you must register in accordance with the Federal Registration Act (BMG).
How quickly do I have to register or re-register after moving to Cottbus/Chóśebuz or moving within Cottbus/Chóśebuz?
- according to the Federal Registration Act within 14 days
Where do I have to register or change my address in Cottbus/Chóśebuz?
- when moving to Cottbus/Chóśebuz or moving within Cottbus/Chóśebuz:
- Stadtverwaltung Cottbus
Technisches Rathaus
Bürgerservice / Stadtbüro
Karl-Marx-Straße 67
How can I make an appointment in Cottbus/Chóśebuz?
- via the “Contact form for the city office for students of the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg to make an appointment” offered here
What documents do I need to register my move to Cottbus/Chóśebuz or to change my registration within Cottbus/Chóśebuz?
- Original valid passport / identity card – to verify identity
- ID card if necessary
- Confirmation of occupancy from the landlord/provider: Confirmation of occupancy to be submitted to the registration authority/Wohnungsgeberbestätigung zur Vorlage bei der Meldebehörde
- desirable = an accompanying person with language skills, for better communication when registering a foreign student
Can I also register with a secondary residence?
- Only if the apartment remains the main residence within Germany and the secondary residence is occupied for less than half a year within a whole year according to quantitative calculations.
- IMPORTANT: Cottbus charges second home tax for a secondary residence: Second home tax assessment/Zweitwohnungssteuer Festsetzung
What do I need to consider if I move from Cottbus/Chóśebuz to another municipality within Germany?
- Registration must be made with the new municipality's responsible registration authority
- Cottbus/Chóśebuz is informed electronically and registers the departure from Cottbus/Chóśebuz
What do I need to consider if I move from Cottbus/Chóśebuz to my home country or another country?
- Cancellation can be made by email at the earliest 7 days before departure
- Complete and sign the “Residence Deregistration” form and send it with a copy of your passport or identity card to stadtbuero@cottbus.de
- If you wish to receive confirmation of your cancellation, this must be stated in the email.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) to the immigration office
Wich documents do I need to submit to apply for a residence permit?
- Passport
- completed application
- current certificate of enrollment
- proof of financing (e.g., employment contract with pay slips, bank statement)
- proof of health insurance
- a current biometric QR code photo, debit card for fee payment
What deadlines should I need to observe for applying for/extending a residence permit or visa?
The application should be submitted about two months before the current document expires.
How can I prove my livelihood/financial self-sufficiency, including adequate health insurance coverage?
Sufficient funds are required to secure my livelihood, including adequate health insurance coverage.
Funds are considered sufficient if they match the BAföG maximum support rate. For a study stay, you should have 992 euros per month (11,904 euros per year). Proof can be a recent bank statement (not older than 1 week), recent salary slips, or a declaration of commitment.
Am I allowed to work with a visa?
What are the regulations regarding work permits? (There is already a declaration sheet regarding Section 16b (3) – Employment Opportunities.)
Students from third countries may work 140 full or 280 half days per year without approval from the Federal Employment Agency. Alternatively, they can work 20 hours per week during the lecture period.
They can work without restrictions during semester breaks. Employment beyond this period requires approval from the Immigration Office and the Employment Agency. Practicums related to studies may, in some cases, exceed the allowed work time.
How long is the residence permit valid?
Typically at least 1 year, usually 2 years. For new students starting studies and getting the first permit, the validity is usually 3 years for students in Cottbus.
What if I need to change university or study program? What do I need to apply for?
The side conditions will be changed on the additional sheet. The fee for this is 50 euros.
What options do I have for staying in Germany after graduation?
After successfully finishing your studies, you can switch to a residence permit for employment based on your qualification. Alternatively, I can initially obtain a residence permit for job search purposes for 18 months.
Can I travel abroad with my residence permit?
Yes, for up to 6 months.