Applying for a residence permit for urgent humanitarian or personal reasons

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

• Arrange an appointment with your local immigration office. You can also find out about the application process and which documents you need to submit and in what form on the website of the relevant immigration office.
• Your fingerprints will be taken during your appointment.

If your application is approved, the foreigners authority will commission the Bundesdruckerei to produce the electronic residence permit. The residence permit is in the form of a check card with additional electronic functions.

For information on the duration of the procedure until the residence permit is issued, please contact the relevant immigration office

• Existence of an application for a residence permit
• Foreigners who are not required to leave the country
• Urgent humanitarian or personal reasons or substantial public interests must require the temporary presence in the federal territory
• Fulfillment of the general requirements for granting a permit
• There must be no grounds for refusal (no interest in deportation, no entry and residence ban)

• Current biometric photo
• Proof of identity, if available, e.g. passport, ID card, birth certificate, marriage certificate; proof of citizenship
• Employment contract or binding job offer, if applicable
• Proof of your health insurance
• Tenancy agreement

Fee for issuing the residence permit: 100 euros

For minors: 50 euros

Exemption from fees if you receive social benefits

Validity of the residence permit:

• 6 months maximumif you 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 longer than 18 months

When applying for a residence permit, you will usually be informed of the duration of the procedure by the responsible immigration authority (approx. 6 to 8 weeks).

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

§ Section 5 AufenthG

§ Section 25 (4) sentence 1 AufenthG

§ Section 12 AufenthG

§ Section 29 (3) AufenthG

§ Section 44 AufenthG

§ Section 78 AufenthG

§ Section 78a AufenthG

§ Section 45 AufenthV

§ Section 53 AufenthV

§ 1 AsylbLG

• Residence Act
• Residence Ordinance
• Asylum Seekers Benefits Act

You will receive the following from your local foreigners authority

Online procedure possible: no

Personal appearance required: yes

29.10.2020