📄 What You Should Bring

Please make sure that you bring the following documents and items with you:

• 🪪 Valid passport or national ID card
  Your passport or ID card must be valid during your stay in Germany.
• 📱 Digital copy of your passport or ID card
  Save a copy securely on your smartphone and preferably also in a cloud storage account.
  A digital copy does not replace the original document.
• 🎓 Letter of Admission from FAU
  Bring both a printed copy and a digital copy of your Letter of Admission to Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.
• 🩺 Proof of valid health insurance
  Bring documentation showing that you have health insurance coverage valid in Germany.
• 🚗 Driving licence – if you plan to drive or rent a car
  Driving licences issued in the EU/EEA are generally valid in Germany.
  If your driving licence was issued outside the EU/EEA, check before departure whether you also need an
  International Driving Permit (IDP) or an official translation.
  Rental companies may have additional requirements.
• 💳 Payment card
  Bring a Visa or Mastercard debit/credit card that works internationally.
  A bank account with a SEPA-compatible IBAN is also very useful for subscriptions, rent and other payments in Germany.
• 💶 A small amount of cash in euros
  Although card payment is very common, some smaller businesses and services may still prefer or require cash.
  It is therefore recommended to have some euros available when you arrive.
• 🛂 Visa/residence documents and proof of financial means – if applicable
  If you are a non-EU/EEA citizen and require a visa or residence permit for your stay,
  bring all relevant visa documents as well as the required proof of sufficient financial means.
  This is especially important if you will apply for or extend your residence permit after arriving in Germany.

💳 Money, Cards and Cash in Germany

For everyday life in Germany, it is best to have both a payment card and some cash available.

• 💳 Visa and Mastercard debit/credit cards are widely accepted.
• 🏦 A SEPA-compatible bank account is useful for direct debit payments such as subscriptions or other recurring payments.
• 💶 Bring a small amount of euro cash for your first days in Germany.
• 🏧 You can withdraw cash from ATMs, but your bank or the ATM operator may charge fees.
• 🛒 Many supermarkets also offer cashback at the checkout when paying by card.
  Conditions and minimum purchase amounts depend on the supermarket and the card used.
• 💡 For example, Lidl currently allows cash withdrawals at the checkout from a very small minimum purchase,
  while other supermarkets may require a higher purchase amount.
• 💱 Avoid exchanging large amounts of money at airport currency exchange offices without comparing the exchange rate first,
  as airport exchange services are often less favourable.

📱 Install These Public Transport Apps Before Departure

We strongly recommend installing the following apps before travelling to Germany:

• 🚆 DB Navigator – for train connections throughout Germany
• 🚌 VGN Fahrplan & Tickets – for public transport in the Nuremberg–Fürth–Erlangen region
• 📲 NürnbergMOBIL (NüMo) – useful for public transport and Deutschlandticket services in the region

⚠️ Very important: Activate the Deutschlandticket filter

If you are travelling with a Deutschlandticket, open the connection settings in the
DB Navigator and activate:

“D-Ticket services only”

This is extremely important.

The Deutschlandticket is generally valid on:

• ✅ RE – Regional Express
• ✅ RB – Regionalbahn
• ✅ S-Bahn
• ✅ U-Bahn
• ✅ Trams
• ✅ Local and regional buses

It is generally not valid on long-distance trains such as:

• ❌ ICE
• ❌ IC
• ❌ EC

The “D-Ticket services only” filter prevents the DB Navigator from suggesting connections that require an additional long-distance ticket.

✈️ Before You Leave for Germany

Before starting your journey, please complete the following steps.

📅 If You Arrive in September

If you arrive in September and want to use public transport extensively:

• 🎫 Purchase a regular Deutschlandticket for September.
• 📱 You can purchase it through providers such as NürnbergMOBIL, VGN or Deutsche Bahn.
• ⏳ If purchasing through the VGN online shop, allow approximately 1–2 working days for processing.
  A Deutschlandticket purchased directly through NürnbergMOBIL is generally available immediately.
• ⚠️ If you only need the regular Deutschlandticket for September, cancel it no later than 10 September.
  This ensures that the subscription ends on 30 September and does not automatically continue into October.

🎓 If You Arrive in October

Once you are enrolled at FAU, you can purchase the
Bavarian reduced Deutschlandticket for students (Bayerisches Ermäßigungsticket).

• 🎫 It is a full Deutschlandticket at a reduced student price.
• 💶 The current price is €43 per month.
• 🎓 You must be enrolled at an eligible university such as FAU in order to purchase it.
• 📱 The ticket is digital and can be displayed using the supported VGN/NürnbergMOBIL apps.
• ⚠️ If your student eligibility begins in October, the reduced ticket cannot be used for journeys made in September.
• 📖 Detailed instructions on how FAU Erasmus students can purchase the reduced Deutschlandticket will follow separately.

Important: FAU no longer has a traditional “Semesterticket”.
The current student transport option is the reduced Deutschlandticket.

📱 Check Your Mobile Phone Plan

Before departure, check whether your current mobile phone contract includes roaming in Germany.

• 🇪🇺 If you have a mobile phone contract from an EU/EEA country, roaming in Germany is usually included,
  subject to the conditions and fair-use limits of your provider.
• 🌍 If your current plan does not include Germany, consider purchasing a German prepaid SIM or eSIM after arrival.
• 📶 ALDI TALK is one possible prepaid provider, but many other German mobile providers are available as well.
• 💡 Having mobile internet immediately after arrival is highly recommended, as you will need it for navigation,
  public transport apps and digital tickets.

🏠 Contact Your Accommodation Before Arrival

Do not arrive at your accommodation without arranging the key handover in advance.

• 🏢 Student residence:
  If you have a room operated by the Studierendenwerk, contact the responsible
  Hausmeister (caretaker) before your arrival.
• 🔑 Agree on when and where you will receive the keys to your apartment.
• 🏡 Private accommodation:
  Contact your landlord in advance and arrange the apartment and key handover.
• 📞 Save the contact details of your landlord or Hausmeister on your phone before travelling.

This is particularly important if you arrive in the evening, at night or during the weekend.

🛬 After Arriving in Germany

Your exact journey depends on the airport at which you arrive.

✈️ Arrival at Nuremberg Airport (NUE)

• 🚌 Bus 30 connects Nuremberg Airport directly with Erlangen.
• 🚏 The bus stop is located directly in front of the airport terminal.
• 🎫 The journey is included if you already have a valid Deutschlandticket.
• 📱 If you do not have a Deutschlandticket, you can purchase a suitable VGN ticket using the
  VGN Fahrplan & Tickets app.

✈️ Arrival at Munich Airport (MUC)

• 🚆 Regional trains connect Munich Airport with Nuremberg.
• 🚆 The RE22 (ÜFEX) operates direct regional services between Munich Airport and Nuremberg.
• ⏱️ Depending on the connection and timetable, the regional journey takes approximately 2–3 hours.
• 🔄 After arriving at Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof (Nuremberg Central Station),
  continue to Erlangen using an RE, RB or S-Bahn connection.
• 🎫 These regional journeys can be used with a valid Deutschlandticket.
• ⚠️ In the DB Navigator, activate “D-Ticket services only” to avoid accidentally selecting an ICE or IC connection.
• 📱 If you do not have a Deutschlandticket, use the DB Navigator to find and purchase a suitable ticket for your complete journey.

✈️ Arrival at Memmingen Airport (FMM)

• 📱 Use the DB Navigator to search for a connection from
  “Memmingen Allgäu Airport” to Nuremberg or Erlangen.
• ⏱️ Depending on the connection, the journey normally takes several hours.
• 🚌 The airport is connected to Memmingen railway station by shuttle bus.
• 🎫 If you already have a Deutschlandticket, use the
  “D-Ticket services only” filter and check whether all parts of the selected journey are covered.

🏠 Arrival at Your Accommodation

• 📞 Contact your Hausmeister or landlord again if necessary.
• 🔑 Complete the key handover.
• 🏡 Move into your apartment or student residence room.
• 📄 Make sure you receive the documents required for your address registration,
  especially the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung.

🏛️ Formalities on Arrival – Address Registration

After moving into your accommodation, you will normally need to register your German address with the local registration authority
(Anmeldung).

📍 Where Do I Register?

• 🏙️ If you live in Erlangen:
  
  City of Erlangen – Residence Registration
  
• 🏙️ If you live in Nuremberg:
  
  City of Nuremberg – Residence Registration
  

⏰ Registration Deadline

The general rule in Germany is that a new residence must be registered
within 14 days after moving into the accommodation.

However, there is a legal exception for people who normally live abroad and are not already registered in Germany:
the registration obligation generally only arises once their stay in Germany exceeds three months.

Nevertheless, Erasmus students who will stay in Germany for several months should complete their Anmeldung as early as possible after moving in.

Registration may also be important for other administrative procedures during your stay.

📄 Documents Usually Required for Anmeldung

You will normally need:

• 🪪 Your valid passport or national ID card
• 🏠 Wohnungsgeberbestätigung
  This is the official confirmation from your landlord or student residence that you have moved into the accommodation.
• 📝 Registration information/form
  Depending on the city and registration procedure, the required information is submitted online or at the registration office.
• 📄 Any additional documents requested by the responsible registration authority in your individual case.

⚠️ Permanent Address Required

You can only register an address at accommodation that qualifies as your residence.

A short hotel or hostel stay cannot simply be used as your permanent residential address for Anmeldung.

☁️ Keep Digital Copies of Your Documents

It is strongly recommended to keep secure digital copies of all important documents.

You should save digital copies of:

• 🪪 Passport / ID card
• 🎓 FAU Letter of Admission
• 🩺 Health insurance documents
• 🛂 Visa / residence documents, if applicable
• 💰 Proof of financial means, if applicable
• 🏠 Rental agreement
• 📄 Wohnungsgeberbestätigung
• 🎫 Important travel and transport documents

Store these documents securely on your smartphone and preferably also in an encrypted or password-protected cloud storage account.

🪪 Important When Using the Deutschlandticket

The Deutschlandticket is personalised.

You must be able to identify yourself during a ticket inspection, so always carry an
accepted official photo ID when travelling with your Deutschlandticket.

A driving licence or student ID alone is not necessarily accepted as identification for DB ticket inspections.

✅ Final Checklist Before Departure

Before leaving for Germany, check once more that you have:

• 🪪 Valid passport / ID card
• 📱 Digital copy of your ID documents
• 🎓 FAU Letter of Admission – printed and digital
• 🩺 Proof of health insurance
• 🛂 Visa / residence documents, if applicable
• 💰 Proof of financial means, if applicable
• 💳 Visa/Mastercard payment card
• 🏦 Access to a SEPA-compatible bank account, if available
• 💶 Some cash in euros
• 🚗 Driving licence / IDP, if required
• 📱 DB Navigator installed
• 📱 VGN Fahrplan & Tickets installed
• 📱 NürnbergMOBIL installed
• 🎫 Deutschlandticket arranged if needed
• 📶 Mobile roaming checked
• 🔑 Key handover arranged with your Hausmeister or landlord

Once these preparations are completed, you are well prepared for your journey and your first days in Erlangen or Nuremberg. Welcome to Germany and welcome to FAU! 🇩🇪🎓