Make a binding declaration to pay for all living expenses incurred by a foreign person or foreign persons as a result of their stay in Germany

You can submit the declaration of commitment at the immigration office or online.

If you submit the formal obligation at the immigration office:

• An official, nationally standardized form is used to submit your declaration of commitment, which is provided by the Foreigners' Registration Office or Citizens' Registration Office and completed on the basis of your details and supporting documents.
• You must provide the Foreigners' Registration Office with the required data in advance in the form specified by them.
• As part of the procedure, the Foreigners' Registration Office will check your creditworthiness, i.e. the extent to which you are financially capable of supporting your guest or meeting any financial obligations that may arise at a later date. To do this, you must provide evidence of your financial situation.
• If the Immigration Office has all the documents and assesses your creditworthiness as sufficient, the Immigration Office will accept your declaration.
• You pay the administrative fee. If the declaration of commitment is not accepted, you will have to pay a processing fee of the same amount.
• You must sign the declaration of commitment in the presence of a member of staff from the Foreigners' Registration Office.
• You will receive the original of the declaration of commitment to pass on to the guest and use in the visa procedure. A duplicate remains with the immigration authority.
• This concludes the procedure.
• You are bound by your declaration for a period of five years from the date of entry of your guest.

If you submit the declaration of commitment online:

You submit the online form electronically to the relevant immigration office. You have two options:

1. complete the procedure electronically (with electronic authentication):

• You read the information carefully
• If you do not understand the information, you cannot submit the declaration online. In this case, please contact the relevant immigration office in person.
• You confirm that you have understood the information.
• Open the online form and log in to your federal user account if you are a natural person and wish to submit the declaration as a private individual.
• Follow the instructions for authentication using the activated online ID function (eID function) of your ID card, your ID card (EU nationals) or your electronic residence permit
• You log in to the organization account if you wish to submit the declaration as a representative of a company, association or other organization and have a power of attorney.
• Follow the instructions for authentication using the ELSTER certificate of your company or association.
• Some of your personal data will be automatically transferred to the form.
• You provide information about your creditworthiness.
• You enter details about your guest or guests.
• You upload proof of your creditworthiness or the creditworthiness of the company, association or organization you represent.
• As a representative for a company, association or other organization, you upload the power of attorney.
• You choose whether you would like to have the certificate delivered by post or collect it in person from the immigration office.
• You pay the administration fee online and the postal charges if you wish to have it delivered by post.
• You click on "Send".
• You have made a legally binding declaration.
• The Foreigners' Registration Office will send you the document in paper form by post.
• The procedure is complete.
• You are bound by your declaration for a period of five years from the date your guest enters the country.

2. partially electronic processing of the procedure (online preparation, without electronic authentication):

• You read the information carefully.
• If you do not understand the information, you cannot make the declaration online. In this case, please contact the relevant immigration authority in person
• You confirm that you have understood the information.
• You provide information about yourself or, if you are representing a company, association or organization with power of attorney.
• You provide information about your creditworthiness.
• You provide information about your guest or guests.
• You upload proof of your creditworthiness or the creditworthiness of the company, association or organization you represent.
• As a representative for a company, association or other organization, you upload the power of attorney.
• You pay the administration fee online.
• You click on "Submit".
• You have prepared the submission of the letter of representation electronically.
• To collect the document, you must visit the Foreigners' Registration Office and sign the document by hand in the presence of a member of staff from the Foreigners' Registration Office and receive it in paper form.
• The procedure is complete.
• You are bound by your declaration for a period of five years from the date of entry of your guest.

You submit the declaration of commitment to the foreigners authority or the diplomatic mission abroad.

• As the person making the declaration, you must be legally competent and have reached the age of 18.
• If you represent a natural or legal person, you must have and present a power of attorney or proof of your authorization to represent.
• You must submit the declaration of commitment to the foreigners authority at the future place of residence of the foreign guest.
• If you do not know the future place of residence of your guest, you must submit the declaration of commitment to the immigration authority at the place of residence.
  • at your main place of residence or
  • the registered office or main branch of your company or organization.
• You must be in a financial position to cover the living expenses and any costs incurred by the foreign guest or guests. The assessment of your creditworthiness depends on the number of persons living in the household or persons liable to pay maintenance, the number of declarations of commitment submitted and the purpose of the stay.

• Identity card or passport
• ID card with online ID function (for online submission)
• eID card (for online submission)
• Residence permit
• Electronic residence permit (for online submission)
• For representation: Power of attorney
• Proof of own financial situation and solvency
  • for employed persons: e.g. bank statements, salary statements or salary certificates, proof of income, proof of pension
  • for self-employed persons: e.g. certificate from the tax consultant on net income or extract from the trade register or printout from the commercial register

Cost amount (fixed): 29,00 Euro

Prepayment: Yes

Description of costs: Administration fee

Payment method: SEPA bank transfer; if necessary, additionally Visa Electron in Europe.

In the case of postal delivery of the certificate, additional costs of € 8.45 (registered mail, personal delivery receipt) will be charged.

• § 47 Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV)

Period of validity: 5 years

As a rule, no more than six months should elapse between the date on which a declaration of sponsorship is submitted and the date on which the visa is issued, as the financial circumstances of the person submitting the declaration of sponsorship may have changed in the meantime.

1 day to 2 weeks

Note: The processing time depends on the number of declarations of commitment received, the purpose of the guest or guests' stay and the scope of the credit check. The processing time usually takes no more than two weeks.

• § 68 Absatz 1 und 2 Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG)
• § 66 Absatz 2 Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG)
• § 67 Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG)
• Allgemeine Verwaltungsvorschrift zum Aufenthaltsgesetz zu § 68
• § 5 Absatz 1 Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG)
• Artikel 21 Visakodex
• Artikel 6 Absatz 1c Schengener Grenzkodex

Appeal (if admissible) or action before the administrative court against the decision of the immigration authority that the declarant's financial capacity has not been made credible or proven.

You can obtain the form for submitting the declaration of commitment from the Foreigners' Registration Office.

In the case of a written application and online preparation, a personal appearance at the authority is required.

The declaration of commitment cannot be revoked.

25.05.2022

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.