Karlsruhe: Bildung und Wissenschaft
Information for International Students and Apprentices
Welcome package for new inhabitants of Karlsruhe
So you‘re studying or doing an apprenticeship in Karlsruhe? Welcome! This youthful, vibrant city is not only a great place to study, but also to live. Reason enough, surely, to strike roots – and make it your primary place of residence. Particularly seeing as Karlsruhe city council has come up with one or two very special ideas to help you settle in:
You will receive a one-off voucher for a "Studi- oder Azubikarte" - the student or apprentice season ticket for public transport in Karlsruhe ("KVV"), shopping vouchers worth 50 Euros that you can cash in in over 750 retail outlets and restaurants and a book about Karlsruhe. You will also be given the chance to win one of the Draisler that have been specially designed for new inhabitants of Karlsruhe.
Your relocation to Karlsruhe and its welcome package brings you a financial relief of over 200 Euros.
You can spot them everywhere, they are ferrari-red, and they are called Draisler
When you register to make Karlsruhe your primary place of residence you will find a draw ticket in your welcoming package. With this ticket and just a little bit of luck you could win one of those exclusive red bicycles, that were specially designed for new inhabitants of Karlsruhe - the birthplace of Freiherr von Drais, inventor of the bicycle and who also lent his name to those high-quality bikes that are part of your welcome package: the Draisler. Over 5000 Draisler bikes have already been raffled. They shape the cityscape and the bike racks of Karlsruhe can hardly be imagined without them.
What does primary place of residence mean?
Officially, the definition is “main place of residence”. Anyone moving into a flat is obliged to register within two weeks with the local registration authority (“Einwohnermeldeamt”). If those who are obliged to register have places of residence elsewhere in Germany, they must declare upon registering which of their homes is their primary place of residence. Their primary place of residence is the place at which they spend the majority of their time – the main focus of their lives.
Let's be honest - in the course of your education, do you not spend most of your time in Karlsruhe? There are all sorts of advantages to be had by declaring Karlsruhe to be your primary place of residence.
A lot of things can only be done or dealt with at your "main place of residence":
- Identification cards can only be issued or changed at your primary place of residence; German passports are also issued at the holder's primary place of residence.
- You are only eligible for a residents' parking permit if Karlsruhe is your primary place of residence.
- For the GEZ (TV/radio licensing authority) the question of primary or secondary place of residence is irrelevant.
- If you have your own car it must be registered at your primary place of residence.
- The entitlement of parents to child benefit is unaffected by the location of your primary place of residence.
- Health insurance, nursing care insurance, German pension insurance and life insurance policies are independent of the primary place of residence. In the case of personal liability insurance, domestic students or apprentices are generally covered by their parents' insurance up to the age of 25 years (in some cases to the age of 27), even when their primary place of residence is where they are in education. What prevails for insurance policies is the General Terms and Conditions. In the case of vehicle insurance, there may be differences in the classification of regions.
- Income tax cards always come from your principal place of residence. Tax returns are dealt with by the tax office at your principal place of residence.
- As far as tax concessions for parents are concerned, it is not a requirement for children to have their parental home recorded as their primary place of residence.
- The right to vote can only be exercised at the voter's primary place of residence.
Relocate now and receive gifts!
Students:
You are enrolled at a university of Karlsruhe and recently moved here? Then you should register within two weeks with the local registration authority (“Einwohnermeldeamt”).
These are the basic rules:
- Karlsruhe has to be your primary place of residence
- You have to be matriculated at an approved university of Karlsruhe. As valid proof only your certificate of enrollment is accepted - never your student card
- There has to be a time-related connection between your relocation and the start of your studies (a maximum of three months)
Apprentices:
You are apprentice or vocational student and recently moved to Karlsruhe? Then you should register within two weeks with the local registration authority (“Einwohnermeldeamt”).
These are the basic rules:
- Karlsruhe has to be your primary place of residence
- Your apprenticeship has to take at least one year
- Your apprenticeship has to be a recognized trade (with final examination by IHK, HWK or the added title “nationally certified…”
- One of the two – your apprenticing company or your vocational school – must be located in Karlsruhe
Find further details in the campaign flyer! (PDF, 255 KB)
Do you meet with the criteria?
Then make Karlsruhe your primary place of residence and receive lots of exclusive gifts at the citizens' office (Bürgerbüro) at Kaiserallee 8 or the central citizens' office (Bürgerbüro Mitte) in the town hall on the market square.
Save time an make an appointment via www.karlsruhe.de
All you need to take with you is your personal identity card if you have one, your passport, and proof of matriculation, your apprenticeship contract or your vocational school certificate. As of the 01.11.2015 it is also mandatory to have a landlord's confirmation of residence ready for your relocation. You can pick up your welcoming package there and then.
Benefits for the city and its new inhabitants
You are not the only one to benefit if you decide to make Karlsruhe your primary place of residence, of course - the city itself also benefits. Every person registering their primary place of residence in Karlsruhe is one more for the city's total number of inhabitants, and this increases the funds the city receives from central and state government under the municipalities' fiscal equalization system. It needs these funds in order to maintain and develop the city's infrastructure, and of course the sports, social and cultural events and activities it offers. The city uses the funding not least to provide and improve the favorable conditions you and your fellow citizens need to live. The goals of our "Integrated city development concept 2020" include the provision of low-cost housing and the promotion of a lively urban culture and good research facilities. So by registering your primary place of residence here, you are actively contributing to the development and design of Karlsruhe as a "student and science city".
Contact:
City of Karlsruhe
Science Bureau
Clas Meyer
Manager Science Bureau
Tel.: 0721 / 133 7380