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Short answer: Register within 14 days at any Berlin Bürgeramt, with an appointment. Then: apply online only, through Service-Portal Berlin; the LEA then invites you to an appointment. Budget for rent of €650 a month.
| Register your address | Register within 14 days at any Berlin Bürgeramt, with an appointment. Service Berlin: register your residence |
|---|---|
| Residence permit office | Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA), Keplerstraße 2, 10589 Berlin |
| Typical rent | €650 a month (average room in a shared flat, utilities included, winter semester 2026/27 (Moses Mendelssohn Institut / WG-Gesucht)) |
| Fixed monthly costs | ≈ €145 health insurance + your share of the €18.36 broadcasting fee + your university's semester fee (usually includes the Deutschlandticket) |
Step 1: register your address (Anmeldung) in Berlin
- Deadline: within 14 days of moving in.
- Where: any Bürgeramt in Berlin; you don't have to use the one in your district.
- Appointment: required; book through Service-Portal Berlin.
- Bring: the registration form, your passport, and the landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung).
- Cost: free.
- Online registration exists, but only for German or EU citizens with an eID card, so non-EU students register in person.
After registering you receive the registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung); your tax ID and a broadcasting fee letter follow by post.
Step 2: residence permit in Berlin
Office: Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA), Keplerstraße 2, 10589 Berlin.
- How: the application is submitted exclusively online; you can apply up to 4 months before your current visa or permit expires.
- Bring/upload: passport copies, enrolment certificate, proof of health insurance, proof of residence in Berlin, proof of money (e.g. blocked account), and for extensions your study progress.
- Fees: €100 for a first electronic residence permit card, €93 for a renewal (sticker permits: €56 first, €49 renewal).
- Timing: after a positive check you get an appointment; electronic cards take about 4–6 weeks to collect.
Apply before your visa expires and keep proof that you did. Under § 81 (4) of the Residence Act, a timely application generally keeps your stay lawful until the office decides; ask for a provisional certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung) if you need proof.
Step 3: monthly budget in Berlin
The calculator starts with Berlin's rent figure. Change every field to your own situation; food, phone and other costs are example values. See also costs in other cities and health insurance.
- Rent:
- Semester fee:
Semester fee per month: … · Your share of the broadcasting fee: …
Total per month:
…
Sources
- Service Berlin: register your residence (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Service Berlin: residence permit for full-time studies (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Rent figures and their sources
General information, not legal advice. Rules and office procedures change; confirm with the office before you go.