Licence Fee for Radio and TV

Today it is perfectly normal to listen to the radio on your smartphone or to watch TV on your tablet computer. Modern technical devices offer an increasing number of functions and change the way in which we use media content. The licence fee for TV and Radio does not depend on the number of devices you own and covers all services offered by public service broadcasting on all distribution channels. It does not matter how many people live at one residence and how many devices they own - the following applies:

One residence - One Fee

Shared flats benefit in particular. For example, four people sharing a flat only pay one fee in total: € 17.50* per month regardless of the number of radios, televisions, computers or smartphones they have.

I live alone. What do I need to do?
A licence fee of € 17.50* needs to be paid for every residence. If you have not yet registered, then please register at the Beitragsservice von ARD, ZDF und Deutschlandradio at www.rundfunkbeitrag.de.

I live in a student hall of residence. What do I need to do?
The licence fee of € 17.50* per month is payable for rooms in student halls of residence that are accessed via a public corridor. Single Rooms count as a residence - regardless of whether or not they have their own bathroom or kitchen.

If you live in a room of a shared flat in a student hall of residence, only one person per shared flat needs to pay the licence fee. However, this is only the case if the shared flat is separated from a public corridor or starwell by a door and only those living in the flat have a key for the door. You can find the forms to register and de-register at  www.rundfunkbeitrag.de.
 

You can find more information on the license fee for students here. 

Exemption options for international students
Deutsches Studentenwerk (Student Services) tries to support international students concerning the issue "broadcasting fee for students". Please read their newsletter with information about exemption options.