Apply for a residence permit on urgent humanitarian or personal grounds

As a rule, you must apply for your residence permit in person.

• Arrange an appointment with your local Aliens' Registration Office (Ausländerbehörde). You can also find out about the application procedure and which documents you need to submit in which form on the respective website of the Aliens' Registration Office.
• During your appointment, your fingerprints will be taken.

If your application is approved, the Aliens' Registration Office will commission the Bundesdruckerei to produce the electronic residence permit. The residence permit is in the form of a cheque card with additional electronic functions.

For information on the duration of the procedure until the residence permit is issued, please contact the relevant Foreigners' Registration Office.

Locally competent foreigners authority

Locally responsible foreigners authority of your independent town or district

• Existence of an application for a residence permit
• Foreigner who is not compulsorily obliged to leave the country
• Urgent humanitarian or personal reasons or substantial public interests must require temporary presence in the Federal territory
• Fulfilment of the general conditions for the granting of a residence permit
• There must be no grounds for refusal (no interest in deportation, no prohibition of entry or residence)

• Current biometric photo
• Proof of identity, if available, e.g. passport, ID card, birth certificate, marriage certificate; citizenship certificate
• If applicable, employment contract or binding job offer
• Proof of health insurance
• Rental contract

Fee for the issuance of the residence permit: 100 Euro

For minors: 50 Euro

Exemption from fees when receiving social benefits

Validity of the residence permit:

• 6 months at the most if you have have not yet resided legally in Germany for at least 18 months (without interruption)
• up to three years if you have already resided legally in Germany for more than 18 months

You will usually be informed of the duration of the procedure (about 6 to 8 weeks) when you apply for a residence permit by the competent Aliens' Registration Office.

Note: The residence permit is issued as an electronic residence title.

• § 5 Residence Act
• § Section 25 (4) sentence 1 AufenthG
• § Section 12 Residence Act
• § Section 44 Residence Act
• § Section 29 (3) AufenthG
• § Section 78 Residence Act
• § Section 78a Residence Act
• § Section 45 AufenthV
• § Section 53 Residence Ordinance
• § 1 AsylbLG

You will receive the following from your local immigration office

Online procedure possible: no

Personal appearance required: yes

29.10.2020