During Your Stay

Depending on your place of residence, you must register with one of the citizens’ administration offices in Hannover. Please arrange an appointment online. The deadline is two weeks after your move in date.

For further information on which documents are required, please check the website of the city of Hannover.

If you have a foreign nationality, you may need to spend a fair amount of time at the Foreigners' Registration Office and Department of Citizenship after your arrival in Germany to apply for a residence permit.

In order to apply for a residence permit, various formalities must be observed. For further information, please visit the website of the city of Hannover.

Please arrange an appointment online with the Foreigners' Registration Office and Department of Citizenship.

You and your family need to provide proof of health insurance for the duration of your stay in Germany. Citizens of non-EU countries who cannot provide proof of health insurance may not be able to obtain a visa or – if they would like to stay longer than three months – a residence permit.

Without sufficient health insurance coverage, EU citizens violate the provisions of the regulations governing the free movement of persons.

Generally, you will need a German bank account to register for health insurance.

Find more information here

Which health insurance do I need?  Get help here

In Germany, each citizen is liable for any damages caused to others. We strongly advise you to protect yourself against these risks by taking out liability insurance cover.

Information on liability insurance and other useful insurances can be found on the euraxess website:

Your monthly payslip is a written document detailing the composition of your salary. The following document is a sample payslip and includes additional information on individual entries.

Sample payslip

Located in the heart of Germany, Hannover is one of the greenest cities in Europe. Locals and students alike benefit from a broad spectrum of cultural facilities, sports activities, colourful festivals, a vast range of shopping facilities, as well as numerous green spaces for rest and relaxation.
Enjoy the charm of an often underestimated metropolis and discover all the beautiful places in Hannover.

Finding the right doctor:

The GP is your first port of call (“Allgemeinmediziner”, or “Hausarzt”).

If necessary, your GP will refer you to a medical specialist (“Facharzt”). Ask your GP for a recommendation or let your GP arrange an appointment for you.

Doctors can be found in the phone book or via Arztauskunft Niedersachsen.

If you are looking for a doctor who speaks your native language, you are welcome to contact the International Office. We will be happy to assist you.

In Germany, pharmacies (“Apotheken”) are responsible for dispensing medication.

For medication that can only be prescribed by your doctor, you will receive a prescription in order to obtain the medication at the pharmacy.

If you are insured by a statutory health insurance provider, you have to contribute between €5 and €10 for most medication. The remainder is covered by your health insurance provider.

If you are insured by a private health insurance provider, you need to pay for medications initially. After submitting a receipt, you will receive a full refund from the insurance company.

Over-the-counter medicines, such as painkillers, may be obtained from pharmacies without a prescription. However, you will have to pay for them yourself.

In case of emergencies, please call the following numbers:

• Emergency Medical Services ☎112
• Fire Brigade ☎112
• Police ☎110

On-call doctors: If you are taken ill in the evening or during the weekend.

The state capital Hannover offers a comprehensive range of leisure facilities and cultural activities. Enjoy the numerous events, museums, sports activities, and nearby sights and attractions. 

The International Office of Leibniz University Hannover (LUH) also offers various events for leisure activities.

Equal Opportunities Office

The Equal Opportunities Office provides services for students and employees of Leibniz University Hannover in order to help them achieve a better balance between university and family commitments. Support, tips, and information for working and studying parents can be found here.

The website provides information and lists workshops on various topics such as childcare or caring for family members.

Family Service Office of the City of Hannover

Help with finding childcare, information on recreational activities, health and education, as well as tips on financial support for families.

The Family Service Office of the City of Hannover is only a short walk from Hannover central station and offers personal consultation and individual information for families, including numerous brochures, leaflets or online information such as the family portal on hannover.de. (Website currently in German, videos are available in 10 languages)

There are numerous destinations for family outings in Hannover and the surrounding region. The following list includes places to visit that your children will definitely like:

Hannover Adventure Zoo

SeaLife Hannover

Swimming pools

Zoological Gardens

Wisent Park Springe

Lower Saxony State Museum

Superfly Trampoline Park

Miniature golf

Detailed information on these and other activities can be found on the tourism website of the city of Hannover.

There are many playgrounds in Hannover and the surrounding region to play, build sandcastles, lark around, and have a kick about. The playgrounds, football pitches, and play parks in Hannover offer a large variety of play equipment: ziplines, areas to play with sand and water, climbing frames, swings, rope bridges, play houses, as well as a wide range of further climbing activities.

Further information on playgrounds can be found on the website of the city of Hannover:

Brochure “Playgrounds in Hannover”

Overview of playgrounds

Spielplatztreff