Visitor`s Guide - Göttingen - Max-Planck

Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization
Visitor’s
Guide
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TABlE OF COnTEnTS
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Before you arrive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
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InTRODUCTIOn
Passport / Visa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Student ID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Obtaining official recognition of your academic qualifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Health insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shipping personal property from abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accommodation: Looking for an apartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Salary and Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2.1 Income tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2.2 Fellowships and grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2.3 Value Added Tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
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Miscellaneous: Food . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
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Travel Directions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
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Getting settled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
Information for your first day at the Institute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Visiting researcher’s liaison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Residence permit / registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Foreigner’s registration / Visa application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driving license . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
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Banking, mail, telephone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Opening a bank account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Public phones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Prof. Dr. Eberhard Bodenschatz
(Managing Director)
Andreas Bock
(Authorized representative)
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7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
The Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self­Organization welcomes you to Germany and
wishes you all the best during your time here.
Th is guide provides information you may need before you move to Germany and guidelines
about fulfi lling necessary formalities at the start of your stay here. We hope it will also help to
introduce you to the Institute.
Please note that the colleague who invited you (referred to here as your ›host‹) is your main con­
tact for all your queries. He or she will introduce you to the department secretary, whom you
may of course contact if your host is absent.
Th is guide includes web links for other useful information. You should also consult the Insti­
tute’s website: www.ds.mpg.de
We appreciate suggestions on how to improve this guide. If there is information here that
should be amended or other useful information you think should be included, please let us
know.
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Electricity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
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Public transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
10 German language Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
11 Daycare and Kindergarten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
12 Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
13 More information – welcome Center Göttingen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
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1 BEFORE YOU ARRIVE
When working in Germany you must comply with several legally required formalities. The
nature of these depends on your country of origin, the length of your stay, and whether or not
you intend to bring your family with you. Here, we provide some general information, but we
strongly recommend that you contact your nearest German Embassy or Consulate for infor­
mation about this as soon as you have accepted your position.
Please visit the website http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en for further details.
1.1 Passport / Visa
Please make sure that your passport is valid for the entire duration of your stay in Germany.
If you are staying longer than three months, you must apply for a Residence Permit (Aufent­
haltsgenehmigung). Please note that a tourist visa is not sufficient for your stay and work in
Germany.
A EU nationals
EU nationals do not require a visa to enter the Federal Republic of Germany. In order to ob­
tain a Residence Permit however, several formalities must be dealt with shortly after your ar­
rival, for which you will need your passport. Please note that your Identification Card is not
sufficient for this purpose.
B Non-EU nationals
Generally speaking, all other foreigners require a visa for stays in Germany. A visa is not re­
quired for semi-annual visits of up to three months for nationals of those countries for which
the European Community has abolished the visa requirement. You will find an overview on
current visa requirements here: http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/DE/EinreiseUndAufenthalt/StaatenlisteVisumpflicht_node.html
Please apply in good time, i.e. 4 months in advance to your nearest Embassy or Consulate with
your MPI invitation letter.
If you plan to travel to other EU countries during your stay at the Max Planck Institute, please
apply for a ›multiple entrance visa‹. You should note that the German immigration office will
not change a visa into a multiple entrance visa, if the embassy or consulate originally issued
you a single entrance visa!
The Federal Foreign Office’s website provides information on applying for visas and on where
to find a German Embassy or Consulate in your home country. It also lists the foreign mis­
sions in Germany. Please visit: http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/DE/EinreiseUndAufenthalt/Uebersicht_Navi.html
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1.2 Student ID
If you are a student, you should obtain an international student ID before leaving your home
institution. This can save you money on travel, and with this ID you are often eligible for re­
duced prices at events such as concerts, opera, exhibitions, etc. in Europe. http://www.isic.de/
1.3 Obtaining official recognition for your academic qualifications (Anerkennung)
The Max Planck Society recognizes degrees obtained at non-German universities. However,
external organisations including the University of Göttingen may require conversion of your
qualifications to German equivalents. It is essential to bring along either originals or legally
certified copies of documents. For further information please contact your host.
1.4 Other documents
It is also advisable to bring originals, or legally certified copies of the following documents:
> Birth Certificate, for you and all family members coming with you
> Marriage Certificate (if you intend to bring your spouse with you)
Occasionally, the local Residents’ Registration Office (Einwohnermeldeamt) does not accept
certificates issued in English.
1.5 Health Insurance
In Germany, every person is obliged to have health insurance. Generally, employees are mem­
bers of a compulsory health insurance scheme. Holders of a fellowship or scholarship should
ensure they have adequate health insurance coverage. The Max Planck Society has agreements
with various insurance companies that offer insurance coverage at a reasonable price. For fur­
ther information please contact the Institute personnel office, Ms. Meyer-Blank (phone: 5176767, Email: meyer@vw.msf.gwdg.de.
1.6 Shipping personal property from abroad
Relocation goods
The European Customs Law provides for the possibility of a move from a third country to a
Member State of the European Union under certain conditions, exemption from import duties
for goods, which are designated in common language usage as relocation goods.
Although there is no specified limit in numbers as to the type and quantity of goods which have
been declared as relocation goods, the goods may not have a commercial character.
Considered as relocation goods:
Household goods i.e., all personal effects, household, bed and table linens, furniture and equip­
ment that are intended for personal use by the person moving or in his or her household;
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Private vehicles of all kinds, i.e. vehicles and motorcycles, passenger cars (possibly with a
trailer), camping caravans, water sports vehicles and sport aircraft (on the basis of a certifi­
cate of the competent foreign authority, it must be proven that the vehicle or the aircraft was
registered in that country in the name of the person moving);
Household supplies, as long as they do not exceed the amount usually held by a family – here
the standard should be the usual amount at the last place of residence;
Household pets and mounts;
Portable instruments and equipment for crafts or freelance activities, as long as the person mov­
ing requires these items to practice his or her profession.
Not considered relocation goods are:
> alcoholic products;
> tobacco and tobacco products;
> commercial vehicles;
> commercially used items, other than portable instruments and equipment for crafts or free­
lance activities.
Note
For relocation goods, restrictions must be observed as if returning from a non­EU country, as
certain products in Germany require permission or are subject to prohibitions, such as types
of weapons and ammunition or protected animals and derivatives thereof.
(http://www.zoll.de/DE/Privatpersonen/Reisen/Rueckkehr­aus­einem­Nicht­EU­Staat/Ein­
schraenkungen/einschraenkungen_node.html)
Address of the Customs Office
(Zollamt) in Göttingen:
Hauptzollamt Göttingen
Hagenweg 4
37081 Göttingen
Phone: +49 (0) 551/ 79770
Fax: +49 (0) 551/ 7977199
http://www.zoll.de
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At the Max Planck Institute, Mr. Amend is available to you for any questions:
Mathias Amend
Purchasing Department
Phone +49 (0) 551/5176 703
Fax +49 (0) 551/5176 467
Email: mamend@gwdg.de
You may wish to ask your shipping company for »door­to­door« shipping to have the container
delivered to your apartment or house.
1.7 Accommodation: looking for an apartment . . .
Finding accommodation in Göttingen can take time. Please ask your host for advice in find­
ing either temporary or long­term accommodation. Be prepared to pay 2 – 3 month’s rent as
a deposit for your new flat, i.e. before you move in, you must pay not only the deposit but also
the first month’s rent.
1.7.1 . . . in the Institute Guest House
You may also rent a guest room for a maximum of three months at the start of your time in
Germany. Please contact the department secretary if you wish to book one. Prices vary accord­
ing to length of stay:
All apartments and rooms are ready­furnished, bed linen, towels are included.
Depending on availability you will be accommodated in one of our three guest houses:
Guest House Bunsenstraße 14
Description Single Room
Z141 – 148: 25.00 € per day
When staying more than 12 nights, the monthly price
of 300.00 € is charged.
Description Apartment
W141 (53 m 2): 400.00 € per month
W142 (74 m 2): 555.00 € per month
W143 (47 m 2): 390.00 € per month
Kitchen for the rooms
ground floor, 1st floor
Kitchen for the apartments
W141 and W142: 2nd floor,
W143 top floor
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Guest House Bunsenstraße 16
Description Apartment
W161 (89 m 2): 549.00 € per month
W162 (89 m 2): 549.00 € per month
W163 (87 m 2): 549.00 € per month
W167 (63 m 2): 458.00 € per month
W168 (105 m 2): 549.00 € per month
plus 35.00 € for one-time cleaning
Guest House Bunsenstraße 18
Description Single Room
Z181 – Z 189: 25.00 € per day
When staying more than 12 nights, the monthly price
of 300.00 € is charged.
Description Double Room
W181 and W182 (89 m 2): 667.00 € per month
W183 and W184 (84 m 2): 665.00 € per month
W185 (82 m 2): 615.00 € per month
Description Apartment
W181 (31 m 2): 265.00 € per month
W182 (58 m 2): 435.00 € per month
W183 (53 m 2): 400.00 € per month
W184 (31 m 2): 265.00 € per month
W185 (82 m 2): 615.00 € per month
Kitchen for the rooms
ground floor, 1st floor
Kitchen for the apartments
2nd floor, W181 – 182 and W183 – 184
The Guest Houses are equipped with a washing machine and dryer. The use on site is to be paid
via coin operation. Please read our House Rules pertaining to the guest house area.
Contact person
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at the Guest house
Administration
Bianca Koch
Bunsenstraße 18, room 18005, ground floor
D-37073 Göttingen
Phone: +49 (0) 551/5176-671
Fax: +49 (0) 551/5176-747
Email: bianca.koch@ds.mpg.de
Wolfgang Goebel
Am Faßberg 17
D-37077 Göttingen
Phone: +49 (0) 551/5176-706
Fax: +49 (0) 551/5176-467
Email: goebel@vw.msf.gwdg.de
On behalf of the guest house management, you will receive a confirmation of the planned
period.­You will be informed of the rate for your stay accordingly.
The stays do not include breakfast. However, in some room categories you have the possibility
to use the kitchen. A bakery is located nearby.
Getting to the Guest Houses
General information
You may arrive at any time day or night. Ms. Koch of Guest House Management is at your
disposal Monday to Friday between 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Guest House 18. Outside these
times, the room key is deposited at the gateways of the German Centre for Aerospace, Bun­
senstraße 10. The personnel there will be happy to assist you.
By plane
From Frankfurt am Main Airport (FRA): Use one of the railway stations at the airport. Trains
to Göttingen (direct or via Frankfurt main station) leave twice an hour during the day (travel­
time: 2 hours). From Hannover Airport (HAJ): Take the suburban railway (S-Bahn) to the
Central Station (»Hannover Hauptbahnhof«). From here direct ICE trains to Göttingen de­
part every 1/2 hour or hour.
By train
The Göttingen station is served by the following ICE routes: Hamburg – Göttingen – Mu­
nich, Hamburg – Göttingen – Frankfurt, and Berlin – Göttingen – Frankfurt. From the Göt­
tingen railway station: From the Göttingen station you can take a taxi (5 minutes) or walk (20
minutes). If you walk, you need to leave the main exit of the station and walk to the right. Fol­
low the main street, which after the traffic lights turns into Bürgerstraße. Keep walking un­
til you come to the Bunsenstraße. Turn right – you will reach the entrance gate of the MPIDS
after about 300 m.
By car
Leave the freeway A7 (Hanover – Kassel) at the exit »Göttingen«, which is the southern exit.
Follow the direction »Göttingen Zentrum« (B3). After about 4 km you will pass through a
tunnel. At the next traffic light, turn right (direction »Eschwege« B27) and follow the »Bürger­
straße« for about 600 m. The fourth junction to the right is the »Bunsenstraße«. You will reach
the institute’s gate after about 300 m.
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1.7.2 . . . in the newspapers
Accommodation is advertised in local newspapers (e.g. Göttinger Tageblatt) on Wednesdays
and Saturdays. You can also place an advertisement in the paper yourself. Accommodation is
usually offered through an estate agent, who will show you any flat or house you might be in­
terested in. If you agree to take one of these, the agent will ask for a fee of about 2 – 3 month’s
rent. Here also, the cautionary deposit is usually the equivalent of 3 month’s rent.
Furnished, partly furnished or unfurnished? (Möbliert / teilmöbliert, unmöbliert). In Germa­
ny you can rent furnished, partly furnished or empty flats. Empty flats can be really empty:
sometimes they do not have curtains, lights or even kitchen fittings – often there will simply be
wires hanging out of ceiling and/or pipes coming out of the wall. Partly furnished rooms have at
least some furniture and kitchen fittings. Apartments are rarely offered with furniture, where­
as single rooms or rooms in dormitories (student halls of residence) are generally furnished.
1.7.3 . . . on the Internet
If you prefer to search the Internet by yourself here are some useful links:
http://www.immobilienscout24.de
http://www.immonet.de
http://www.immowelt.de
2 SAlARY AnD TAXES
1.7.4 Alternative options
Shared apartments
For those who are coming to Germany alone, living in a shared apartment (Wohngemein­
schaft, sometimes abbreviated as ›WG‹) is often a good option since it helps to reduce the rent
and makes it easier to meet people. You should be aware that WG rooms are often unfurnished.
Useful websites are: http://www.wg-gesucht.de
Some websites are only in German, but most people you contact will understand English. There
are no upfront fees for renting a room in a WG, however you should expect to pay a cautionary
deposit, usually the equivalent of 3 month’s rent.
1.7.5 Temporary accommodation
If you intend to stay in Germany for only a short time, you might consider temporary accom­
modation in the form of a sublet. Sublets can generally be found under the terms Untermie­
te or Zwischenmiete. Th is means that the flat or rooms are sublet and you sign a contract with
the tenant, not the landlord.
1.7.6 Useful terminology
General: An online German­English dictionary can be found at: http://dict.leo.org
Warm or cold? (Warm oder kalt?) Rents for unfurnished accommodation are often based on a
basic rent (Kaltmiete or kalt), on top of which you have subsidiary charges added, i.e. the cost
of electricity, water, heating and rubbish collection. These additional costs are referred to as
Nebenkosten or ›NK‹. By contrast, the rent for furnished flats usually includes these subsidiary
charges and is referred to as Warmmiete or simply ›warm‹. So when reading descriptions of ac­
commodation, note that the term ›warm‹ includes these additional costs and ›kalt‹ does not.
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In a polity, there are many tasks that the individual can not take care of himself: these include
education and public infrastructure as well as health care and social security. Ensuring inter­
nal and external security is a community task. Here the state is working for us all. Its services
to its citizens are financed with tax revenues. They are the main source of income of the state.
Without this money, the state would not be able to fulfi ll its organizational duties.
2.1 Income tax
Subject to income tax is the income of natural persons (individuals or joint contractors in a
partnership). While full tax liability taxes the income earned anywhere in the world, limited
tax liability only taxes domestic income as defined in Article 49 of the Income Tax Act. Corre­
spondingly, in the context of limited tax assessment for a number of personal or family­related
benefits such as standard marital status relief, the tax­free basic allowance, and certain special
expenses or extraordinary expenses that are not included or are only partially tax deductible.
2.2 Fellowships and grants
Fellowships and grants are usually tax­free. The grant is intended to cover your living expenses
and is not paid in return for any scientific activity. By accepting the grant, you do not become
an employee of the Max Planck Society. The grant is not subject to income tax or to social secu­
rity deductions. If you receive a contract of employment, your income is subject to tax and social
security deductions. Your gross income depends on your position (post­doc, doctoral student,
etc.), and the funding source. The final net income varies according to the tax rate. Please ask
the Institute’s personnel department for detailed information: Ms. Meyer­Blank, Phone +49 (0)
551/5176 745 or Mr. Rindermann, Phone +49 (0) 551/5176 707, Email: personal@ds.mpg.de
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2.3 Value Added Tax
The sales tax (also called VAT), which is systematically allocated to the possession and trans­
fer taxes (excluding VAT on imports), is in its economic effect a general consumption tax prin­
cipally imposed on all private and public consumption (i.e. goods purchased by the end user
and services rendered). In this way it differs from the income or wage tax, which takes into
consideration­the individual performance of each taxpayer.
3 Miscellaneous: Food
Since January 2, 2012, a new company has been running the service at the canteen and the
Espressobar at the Max Planck Campus: UMG Gastronomie, the largest catering service in
South Lower­Saxony. You can choose between four meals, namely the MPI Menu, which in­
cludes side dishes and a dessert, as well as the Traditional Line, the Suggestion of the Day,
and Wok/Pasta. There is at least one vegetarian dish every day. Of course you can combine all
mains with sides, salad, dessert, and soup. A salad and antipasti buffet completes the selection.
The Espressobar has been relaunched in an Italian style and serves a selection of cold and hot
beverages, cakes, and sweets, as well as freshly baked pizzas, baguettes, ciabatta, bagles, and
salads. If you would like to organize a buffet, menu or reception for a meeting or conference,
please contact Uwe Krüger and his team. They are happy to help you with anything ranging
from canapés to a full menu or even breakfast in your office. You can find the current menu as
well as breakfast and snack offers and the Espressobar prices in the intranet following the link
at: www.mpibpc.intern/intern/en/service/kantine.
4 TRAVEL DIRECTIONS
How to reach the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Am
Faßberg 17, 37077 Göttingen
By car
Leave the A7 autobahn (Hannover – Kassel) at the exit Göttingen-Nord and follow the direc­
tions for Braunlage (B27). After about 6 km, turn left in the direction of Nikolausberg (sign­
posted). The third road-junction on the left-hand side leads onto the institute’s campus.
By train
ICE from Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe (Frankfurt, Würzburg) or from Hannover-Hauptbahnhof. On
arrival at Göttingen train station, take either a taxi to the Institute or take bus no. 51 heading
to Faßberg. It runs Monday to Friday from 6:40 a.m. to 6:10 p.m. (service every 30 minutes)
and stops directly opposite to the institute’s campus. You can also take the city bus no. 8 or 13
heading downtown. Change at the second, third or fourth stop into city bus no. 5 heading to
Nikolausberg and get off at the bus stop Faßberg.
By plane
Göttingen can easily be reached by train from the Frankfurt Airport (travel time 2 hours) and
Hannover Airport (travel time 1/2 hour).
Frankfurt Airport:
There are two train stations at Frankfurt Airport: Long distance station (Fernbahnhof) and
regional train station (Regionalbahnhof), respectively. From the long-distance train station,
there are direct trains to Göttingen (direction Hamburg or Berlin) running every 2 hours. At
the regional train station, take a commuter train to Frankfurt Main Station (runs 3x/hour),
from where there is service to Göttingen (ICE-trains, direction Hamburg or Berlin) twice an
hour. Tickets can be purchased in the train stations at the airport. Driving by car takes ap­
proximately 2.5 hours.
Hannover Airport:
There is commuter train service (S-Bahn) to the Hannover main station every 30 min. From
Hannover, there are several ICE trains running to Göttingen per hour. Please note that service
to Göttingen discontinues after 9:00 p.m. The same journey by car will take about 1.5 hours.
http://www.bahn.de/international/view/en/index.shtml
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Bus schedule Göttingen
http://www.goevb.de/
As the department in which you will work would like to arrange to welcome you, please give
your host your estimated time of arrival.
5 GETTING SETTLED
5.1 Information for your first day at the Institute
You will be shown around the Institute by your host or one of your lab colleagues and intro­
duced to the service departments and Institute staff. Additionally, you will receive an »Em­
ployee Entrance Form« from the secretary of your department. This is needed to obtain a key­
card for the Institute, access to your computer account, Safety First, etc.
5.2 Visiting researcher’s liaison at the Institute, your contact person is
Ms. Meyer-Blank
Phone +49 (0) 551/5176 767
Email: meyer@vw.msf.gwdg.de
5.4 Foreigners’ Registration / Visa application
Residence permit
In September 2011 the electronic residence permit (eAT) was introduced in the Federal Re­
public of Germany. With the introduction of eAT, the EU regulations No 1030/2002 and No.
380/2002 were implemented. The goal is not only a Europe-wide standardization of residence
permits for foreigners who are not citizens of the European Union but also the increased protec­
tion against improper use. This new procedure also applies to those foreigners, who as members
of EU or Swiss citizens until now had a working certificate via a right of residence in paper form.
The cost for the eAT is currently 100.00 €. For each extension or modification of the permit,
these costs arise again.
Articles 52 Paragraph 5 of the Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) states that foreigners who re­
ceive a grant from public funds for their stay in Germany, are exempt from the fees for
1. the issuance of a national visa;
2. the issuance, renewal, reissue as well as the issue and transfer of residence permits
in exceptional cases,
3. the granting of a probational residence permit,
4. the processing of applications for performance of official acts referred to
in Paragraph 2 and
5. corresponding activities for the execution of the electronic proof of identity
This also applies to the spouse or domestic partner and unmarried minor children, if they are
taken into consideration in the funding.
If you have any queries about your stay, please contact also your department secretary.
Foreigner’s Registration Office (Ausländerbehörde Einwohnermeldeamt)
5.3 Residence Permit / Registration
When living in Germany, you are obliged to register with the resident’s registration office (Ein­
wohnermeldeamt) within the first week after your arrival. German regulations require regis­
tration of everyone who changes residence within Germany so you also must inform the office
whenever you change your address, as well as when you finally leave Germany (de- registration).
To register you need your passport plus proof of accommodation (i.e. the apartment letting
contract or, failing that, your landlord’s contact details). You will then receive a copy of your
registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung). You can download and directly fill out the
registration­form at http://www.goettingen.de/verwaltung/dienstleistungen/dienstleistung.php?menuid=20&topmenu=272&id=205
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New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus)
Hiroshimaplatz 1 – 4
37083 Göttingen
Phone +49 (0) 551/400-2527
www.goettingen.de
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6 Driving license
Your driver’s license is valid for a temporary stay in the Federal Republic of Germany.
If you have a valid national or international driver’s license, in the Federal Republic of Germa­
ny you may drive motor vehicles of categories for which your license is issued. You must ad­
here to the requirements and restrictions of your driver’s license here too. Your driving license
is valid even if you have not yet reached the minimum age prescribed for the corresponding
class in the Federal Republic of Germany. The license must be carried while operating the ve­
hicle. If you have an international driver’s license, no translation is required.
You must carry a translation of the national driver’s license with you if it:
has been issued in a non-member state of the European Union (EU) or in a party state to the
Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) or is not
written in the German language or does not correspond to the Convention on Road Traffic of
November 8, 1968. To find out whether your driver’s license complies, please ask the compe­
tent authorities of the issuing state.
German-language translations may, among others, be carried out by German or international­
ly recognized automobile clubs of the country issuing the license, official bodies of the country
issuing the driving license, court-appointed and generally sworn interpreters and translators,­
and German diplomatic representations. If you have a driver’s license from a member state
of the European Union (EU) or party state to the Agreement on the European Economic
Area (EEA), it usually remains valid even after taking up residence in the Federal Republic
of Germany until its expiration date. A national driver’s license is required, an international driver’s license is not sufficient.
Basic limitations
Combating driver’s license tourism
Special arrangements for students
1. The following basic restrictions must be observed:
Class A1
With Class A1, up to age 18 only light motorcycles (125 cc, 11 kW) with a maximum design
speed of 80 kilometers per hour may be driven.
Classes C1 and C1E
A driver’s license in these classes is only valid in the Federal Republic of Germany up until the
license holder reaches the age of 50.
Classes C, CE, D, DE, D1 and D1E
A driver’s license in theses classes is only valid until the expiration of five years from date of is­
sue, even if it is valid for a longer period in its home country.
Classes C, C1, CE, C1E, D, D1, DE and D1E
The validity of a driving license in these classes is further extended by five years upon request,
if appropriate health and eyesight requirements are met. For more information, contact your
local driver’s license authority. If your driver’s license is no longer valid according to the afore­
mentioned limitations at the time of transfer of normal residence to Germany, you may still
drive for six months in the Federal Republic of Germany. During this time you must apply
for an extension. A violation of the age requirements to drive light motorcycles or participat­
ing in street traffic with a driver’s license that expired under the law of the issuing State or the
German provisions shall be punished as if driving without a license. If your foreign driver’s li­
cense expires soon or if it is no longer valid, you will receive a German driver’s license in the
appropriate class upon request.
2. Combating driver’s license tourism
The Third EC Driving Licence Directive contains provisions to prevent the acquisition of
driver’s­licenses abroad by persons with alcohol or drug problems in circumvention of EC law
and to provide national authorities with better opportunities to not recognize such licenses.
The most important revision is:
»A Member State shall refuse to recognize the validity of a driving license issued by another member state to a person whose driver’s license has been restricted, suspended or
withdrawn in the sovereignty o<f the first-stated Member State.« 16
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With this regulation, the German authorities have again an efficient means of keeping unsuit­
able drivers away from the steering wheel due to alcohol or drug abuse, although they have ac­
quired a driver’s license from another Member State again after the withdrawal of their driv­
ing license.
The required implementation in national law entered into force on January 19, 2009. Foreign
EU or EEA driver’s licenses issued from this date on will no longer be recognized in Germany
if their owners have had their license previously revoked in Germany. It also no longer matters
whether the holder of such license only appeared to have moved his residence to the issuing state.
The previously existing principle of mutual recognition without exception of driver’s licenses
issued by another Member State, as emphasized by the European Court of Justice in several
judgments, is restricted to the benefit of better control of driver’s license tourism.
To the extent reference is made in different media to Article 13 Paragraph 2 of the 3rd Driving
License Directive, it is often stated that driving licenses issued in other EU member states are
recognized, as of 01/19/2013 in Germany, this does not apply. This provision on the grandfa­
thering applies only as long as a special regulation, such as in particular Article 11 Paragraph 4
of the 3rd Driving License Directive, explicitly defines the conditions for mutual recognition
of foreign non-EU driving licenses and therefore the opening of full grandfathering is already
directly regulated in the Directive. Thus, this particular provision in Article 11, Paragraph 4
of the General Provision goes beyond the existing protection in Article 13 Paragraph 2 of the
3rd Driving License Directive.
Due to the provisions of the Third EC Driving License Directive, Member States of the EU are
also obligated to refuse to issue an EU driver’s license if the applicant’s license has been revoked
in another Member State. With this new regulation, Germany thus also recognizes the with­
drawal of a foreign license and will issue a German driver’s license only if the applicant dem­
onstrates that there are no objections to a new license both under the laws of the withdrawal
state as well as under German law.
If you hold a driver’s license from a state that is not a member of the EU or the EEA, it is valid
for six months after justifying legal residence in the Federal Republic of Germany. After this
period, your license will no longer be recognized.
For continued participation in domestic road traffic, a driver’s license issued in the Federal Re­
public of Germany is then required. The conditions for the grant of the German driver’s license
depends on the country where you acquired your license. Regarding the purchase and the relat­
ed conditions for the German driver’s license, please contact the respective driver’s license au­
thority for your place of residence in advance. In exceptional cases, the driver’s license author­
ity can extend the deadline upon request up to six months if you can prove that you will not
have your main place of residence longer than 12 months in the Federal Republic of Germany.
Driving a motor vehicle with a foreign driver’s license that is not or no longer recognized here
will be punished as if driving without a license.
The City of Göttingen
Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall)
Straßenverkehrsamt (Road Traffic Licensing Department)
P.O. Box 3831
37028 Göttingen
District of Göttingen
KFZ-Zulassungsstelle (DMV Registration Office)
Führerscheinstelle (Driver’s License Office)
Reinhäuser Landstraße 4
37083 Göttingen
3. Special arrangements for students
A visit to a university or school alone does not imply transfer of normal residence. Licenses ac­
quired by students during their study period in the Federal Republic of Germany in their home
state are therefore valid here. Students from other Member States may also acquire a driver’s
license in the Federal Republic of Germany, provided they stay here for at least six months.
The same applies vice versa for those with normal residence in the Federal Republic of Ger­
many, if you attend a university or school in another Member State for at least six months.
You have a foreign driver’s license that was not granted by a Member State of the European Union (EU) or parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (ERW) and you
are taking up residence in the Federal Republic of Germany.
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7 Banking, mail, phone, Internet
8 Electricity / Power Supply
7.1 Money
You can register with the local provider E.ON, via the Internet at www.eon-mitte.com
(Carsten Pape, Phone: +49 (0) 551/909-3185, mobile: +49 (0)151/16115596,
carsten.pape@eon-mitte.com­)
You can compare different power supply companies and rates under: www.verivox.de
In Germany it is still common to pay cash for small sums of money in department stores,
clothes shops and restaurants. Credit cards or EC-cards are generally accepted. If you are plan­
ning to stay more than 2 months, you will probably want to open a current account (Girokon­
to) at a bank as soon as possible. Your salary or grant will be transferred to it and it is easier to
transfer regular payments such as rent and electricity.
If you have frequent payments from or to your bank account in your home country, ask your
home bank whether it works together with a bank in Germany. This could save both costs and
time in transferring money to the bank abroad.
Please note: Some banks levy charges for holding an account.
7.2 Opening a bank account
Current account: To open an account you need your passport or registration card. With a cur­
rent account (Girokonto) you can pay in and take out money, arrange a standing order (Dauer­
auftrag) for regular payments of the same amount (e.g. rent), transfer money to another account­
(Überweisung) or an authorize a direct debit (Einzugsermächtigung).
EC-card / electronic cash: Once you have opened a current account, you can order an EC-card
from your bank. The card works like a credit card with the same advantages and risks. If you
lose your EC-card, contact your bank as soon as possible or cancel the EC-card/credit card.
Note: The European wall power is 220 volts. To use electrical devices with any other voltage
requirement you will need a voltage converter or a travel adaptor.
9 Public transportation
Note that every city or administrative district has its own regional transport system, with its
own charges, tickets and services. There is no uniform system throughout Germany.
Ms. Meyer-Blank’s office has local bus and train timetables and maps of the local transport
system.
On buses you can buy a single ticket. They are sold at ticket machines at the tram stations or
can be purchased from the bus driver. However, it is often cheaper to buy multi-journey-tick­
ets or even a weekly or a monthly ticket at one of the GoeVB (Göttinger Verkehrsbetriebe) ser­
vice centres or from the driver.
7.3 Mail
Please consult www.deutschepost.de for information about post offices, mailing, charges and
German postal codes. The website is also in English.
Common tickets terminology
Einzelfahrt
ticket valid for one trip
7.4 Public phones
Tageskarte
ticket valid all day long
You can call any number in Germany or abroad from any public telephone box. However, to
some countries there is no direct dialing, so you must call an operator first at 0010 and ask for
a connection. In most public phone boxes it is also possible to be rung back, there should be a
number on the phone or above it.
Payphones have become fairly rare in Germany, however. Most public phones are now cardoperated. You can buy a phone card at post offices or newspaper stands.
Wochenkarte / 7-Tageskarte is valid for a whole week and costs about as much as 5
tickets would
Monatskarte
is valid for entire current calendar month or 30 days
Jahreskarte
is valid for one year and costs about as much as 10
monthly tickets
The public transportation company Göttinger Verkehrsbetriebe (GoeVB) offers reduced prices
for students. Please visit their website for price information: www.goevb.de
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10 GERMAn lAnGUAGE COURSES
Language is the key to the culture of a country. To help you to feel more at home in Germany,
the Volkshochschule (http://vhs-goettingen.de/) and Kreisvolkshochschule (http://www.
kvhs-goettingen.de) offers German courses, one for beginners and one for advanced persons.
11 DAYCARE AnD KInDERGARTEn
Are there childcare facilities in my area? What are the costs? Are places available? You will ask
yourself these and similar questions if you are looking for daycare for your child. The city of
Göttingen would like to help you find answers, as family­friendliness and compatibility with
family life are very important in Göttingen. Göttingen seeks to be attractive to young fam­
ilies. For this reason, the City Council of Göttingen cooperates with independent providers
of daycare centers and day care persons to make the care services desired by the parents avail­
able – whether in the form of institutional care places for with under­threes (creche) and school
children (day­care centers and primary schools with all­day care) kindergarten places with
half­, three­quarter or full­day care or child day care by qualified persons. To always have an
»open ear« for your needs, we regularly conduct parent surveys.
Fore more information: http://www.kita.goettingen.de/betreuungsangebote/index.html
The Max Planck Institute have an arrangement with the Kinderhaus Göttingen. We have an
allocation of child care places. For more information please contact Ms. Meyer­Blank.
12 SCHOOlS
Finding a school for your children aged 6 – 18 years is not a problem. Generally, where you live
determines which school your children to go. The school year begins after the summer holi­
days, any time between from July to September, depending on the federal state. Attendance
at state­run schools in Germany is free of charge. There are only a very few private or interna­
tional schools that charge tuition.
http://www.howtogermany.com/pages/education.html provides a good overview of the
German School System. In a German school, lessons are held in German. That is undoubted­
ly the quickest way for your child to learn the language.
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13 MORE InFORMATIOn –
wElCOME CEnTER GÖTTInGEn
The Welcome Center is a service facility for international students, researchers and academics
at the Georg August University in Göttingen (http://www.uni­goettingen.de/en/87827.html).
The team provides information and targeted assistance with respect to all areas and topics.
Additionally they offer Dual Career Service for newly appointed professors. The Welcome Cen­
ter is a valuable additional resource.
IMPRInT
Max-Planck-Institut für Dynamik und Selbstorganisation
Andreas Bock – Direktionsbevollmächtigter –
Am Faßberg 17
Tel. +49 (0) 551 / 5176-700
andreas.bock@ds.mpg.de
layout
Basta Werbeagentur GmbH
Am Reinsgraben 3
37085 Göttingen
www.basta.de
Druck
PR Druckerei GmbH
Willi-Eichler-Straße 1
37079 Göttingen
www.pr-druckerei.de
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© www.basta.de
Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization