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Anyone coming to Saarland from abroad to study or conduct research should be able to focus on their studies and academic work as quickly as possible. This objective is one shared by the state government, Saarland's higher education institutions and its non-university research institutions. To help realize this goal, the Saarland Immigration Office is establishing a new service point on Saarland University's Saarbrücken campus.
Initially, the service will be available only to international students and researchers at Saarland University. The trial phase is being conducted in close coordination with the university's Welcome Center.
The service point will begin operations with a soft launch on 1 September. During the first few weeks, the various processes and workflows will be tested in day-to-day operation and adjusted as necessary. The aim is for the campus service point to be fully established and ready to offer a full range of services by the beginning of the 2026/2027 winter semester in mid-October. If the initial phase is a success and the evaluation positive, it is intended that the service will be gradually rolled out to other higher education institutions and non-university research institutions in Saarland.
At the campus service point, students and staff will be able to submit relevant documents and have them checked for completeness, provide biometric data, collect electronic residence permit cards and obtain temporary certificates confirming their lawful residence (Fiktionsbescheinigungen). Responsibility for processing the applications themselves will remain with the Saarland Immigration Office for the time being. The new service point will be located in Building C5 5 on Saarland University's Saarbrücken campus.
The service will initially be restricted to students enrolled at Saarland University who wish to apply for or renew a student residence permit under Section 16b of the German Residence Act. The new on-campus service point will also provide assistance to academics who have an employment, research or other formal service relationship with Saarland University under Section 12 of the Saarland Higher Education Act.
The service point will be open every weekday morning, with additional afternoon opening hours from Monday to Thursday. Appointments can be requested by email, either via the Welcome Center or directly from the campus service point.
The new service point is a further step towards making Saarland University a welcoming and inclusive location for international students and researchers. Alongside its advisory and support services, the university is also improving the infrastructure on campus. The Campus 1000 project, for example, is creating additional student housing, with the first construction phase providing accommodation for 234 students. The new on-campus service point complements these measures by giving international students and researchers direct access to advice and support regarding residence-related matters.
Jakob von Weizsäcker, Minister for Science, said: 'With its attractive higher education institutions and its commitment to welcoming international talent, Saarland is well placed to compete for international students and researchers. The new campus service point and the student halls of residence being created as part of Campus 1000 demonstrate this commitment in very practical ways, setting an example for other German states. I am delighted that the campus service point will begin operating before the start of the semester and that, following the trial and evaluation phase, the service will be incrementally rolled out to the other state higher education institutions and non-university research institutions.'
Reinhold Jost, Minister of the Interior, said: 'The new service point at Saarland University provides international students and researchers with quick access to professional, individually tailored advice on immigration- and residency-related matters. Not only does the new service point make it easier for international students and staff to navigate these issues, it's also an important element in securing the skilled workforce we need and in enhancing the international competitiveness of Saarland as a centre of higher education and research. Until the Immigration Office's services have been fully digitized, immigration matters that are not connected with the university will continue to be handled at the main Lebach office.'
Professor Ludger Santen, President of Saarland University, said: 'The new campus service point forms part of Saarland University's internationalization strategy. As well as providing international students and staff with an outstanding educational and research environment, we want to ensure that they also have the practical support they need, which includes assistance with residence-related matters.'
The new campus service point at a glance
Opening date: 1 September 2026
Who can use the service during the soft-launch phase?
The service will initially be available to international students, researchers and other eligible staff:
- who are studying at or have an employment, research or other formal service relationship with Saarland University under Section 12 of the Saarland Higher Education Act,
- and whose registered place of residence is in Saarland,
- and who entered Germany without a visa, or hold a visa or residence permit under Section 16b, 18b, 18d, 18g or 19c of the German Residence Act.
Office hours:
Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 12 noon
Monday to Thursday: also 1 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.
Appointments
Applications are normally dealt with by appointment.
From 1 September 2026, eligible international students and researchers at Saarland University can request an appointment either by emailing the Saarland Immigration Office directly at zab-campus(at)lava.saarland.de, or, as before, by contacting the university's Welcome Center at welcome(at)uni-saarland.de.
Documents: Applicants must bring all of the required documents listed in their appointment invitation.
Note: In individual cases, applicants may still need to submit their application to the Saarland Immigration Office in Lebach.
