Hello there!
I will be transferring to a German university for one year. I've had German citizenship all my life (got it through my father) and I've been to Germany for a few weeks on vacation but I've never actually lived there so I have a few questions.
1. Do I also need to get a residence permit once I arrive? And/or anything else?
2. Will I be drafted to do the 10 months at the Bundeswehr? That would screw up all my plans. I am 21.
3. Can I still drive with my American driver's license (together with my international license, like any other foreigner could for the first year)? Say I get pulled over, I can show them my international license and it would be fine, except they will see that my passport is German and I'm guessing a German citizen needs a German license to drive?
4. Should I just bring my other passport and leave my German one at home, and do everything like a regular foreign student would?
Thanks in advance!
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German citizen moving to Germany for first time
Residence permit, driver's license, Bundeswehr
2. Yes, maybe. It is only 9 months, though, and you may get lucky, as there are too many potential draftees for the Bundeswehr to handle, ever since 2002.
OK, this is just an intelligent guess, for a reliable answer you ought to visit the German consulate where you live at present. Here goes with my guesses nonetheless:
1) I don't think you'll need a residence permit in the literal sense, but everybody living in Germany, whether German or foreign national, must register with the local authority where they live.
2) This might be a theoretical possibility, but I believe students are exempt while studying. What happens when you're finished, if you stay here, may be another question.
3) You can drive with your American licence (probably in conjunction with an International licence - check that out!) for six months. This is based on where you are "normally resident", not your nationality. After that you need a German licence. Driving licences from some, but not all, American states can simply be swapped for a German licence. However, depending on state, you may need to take a test here - again, check this with the consulate in advance. The German test is neither easy nor cheap, so if you need to take it, you'll have to make a move soon after arriving - not after the six months have expired!
4) This is really getting into guessing territory, but I would think if you've got German nationality, then it probably makes sense to travel on the German passport. However, once again, it might be sensible to pay your local German consulate a visit and discuss the whole thing with them. After all, the German consulate is there to help German citizens, even if usually under the opposite circumstances!
1) I don't think you'll need a residence permit in the literal sense, but everybody living in Germany, whether German or foreign national, must register with the local authority where they live.
2) This might be a theoretical possibility, but I believe students are exempt while studying. What happens when you're finished, if you stay here, may be another question.
3) You can drive with your American licence (probably in conjunction with an International licence - check that out!) for six months. This is based on where you are "normally resident", not your nationality. After that you need a German licence. Driving licences from some, but not all, American states can simply be swapped for a German licence. However, depending on state, you may need to take a test here - again, check this with the consulate in advance. The German test is neither easy nor cheap, so if you need to take it, you'll have to make a move soon after arriving - not after the six months have expired!
4) This is really getting into guessing territory, but I would think if you've got German nationality, then it probably makes sense to travel on the German passport. However, once again, it might be sensible to pay your local German consulate a visit and discuss the whole thing with them. After all, the German consulate is there to help German citizens, even if usually under the opposite circumstances!
1. Not needed at all. Just register your address in Germany once you are here.
2. Not sure, probably not, but you need a reliable source
3. For 6 months. And later, depending if your state has an agreement with Germany you can just exchange the license for a German one
4. You are German, everything would be easier as a German. You might apply for some social help as well.
2. Not sure, probably not, but you need a reliable source
3. For 6 months. And later, depending if your state has an agreement with Germany you can just exchange the license for a German one
4. You are German, everything would be easier as a German. You might apply for some social help as well.
QUOTE (RMA @ Jun 27 2008, 12:11 am) 
I believe students are exempt while studying. What happens when you're finished, if you stay here, may be another question.
Not unless he's finished one-third of his (regular) university time. Afterwards he'd be too old, unless he studies medicine, pharmacy or a similar field.
In theory after registering he should get a letter from his KWEA that he is subject to the Wehrüberwachung, and will need to announce any plans to leave the country for more than 3 months (if they're nasty, he'll also get an "invitation" to his Musterung). Sending them a letter at that point stating that he'll only stay in Germany for a year should work.
3. A person who is only staying in Germany for one year can apply for a 6 month extension to the validity of their driving license, thus allowing them to use the license for the whole year. See here for details
4. Under the normal interpretation of citizenship law, you will be considered German under German law whilst you are in Germany. Ok, so they need to discover you are German first, but if you have a German passport, it would be relatively easy to check this out if they needed too. E.g. if you were to be arrested, don't expect the US consulate to help you out, as Germany would consider you one of their own.
4. Under the normal interpretation of citizenship law, you will be considered German under German law whilst you are in Germany. Ok, so they need to discover you are German first, but if you have a German passport, it would be relatively easy to check this out if they needed too. E.g. if you were to be arrested, don't expect the US consulate to help you out, as Germany would consider you one of their own.
KWEA(Kreiswehrersatzamt) will not bother with you if you state that your only here for a year when they send you a "Musterungsbescheid".
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