Questions about the residence permit

Processing is based on the date of receipt. Due to the high volume of applications and limited personnel capacities, very long processing times are currently to be expected. In addition, inquiries with the German security authorities are also necessary for the examination. We kindly ask you to refrain from inquiring about the status. Your inquiries have no influence on the duration of the examination and will not shorten the processing time. We ask for your understanding.

You can apply for a settlement permit  online (opens in a new tab).

Holders of a settlement permit have an unlimited right of residence in Germany. This means that even after the electronic residence permit ("eAT card") expires, the unlimited right of residence and the right to work continue to exist. Only a new eAT card needs to be issued. The card is always valid for as long as your passport.

On the front of the electronic residence permit, the period of validity of the card with the date and any comments on ancillary provisions are noted. The period of validity of the card depends on the validity of your temporary residence permit.

If you have a permanent residence permit, the card is valid for a maximum of ten years and must then be reissued. In any case, the electronic residence permit is only valid for as long as the corresponding passport or passport replacement entered on the front of the card.

Therefore, please ensure that you apply for a new passport or passport replacement in good time before the expiry date.

Requests for an early extension of residence permits cannot currently be considered and answered. Unfortunately, staff capacity at the Foreigners' Registration Office is currently limited and there are therefore only a very small number of available appointments.

Please note the following information on the subject of extensions:

• Notification when your residence permit expires: You will usually be contacted in good time before your residence permit, visa or Blue Card expires. If you have not received any notification until approximately two weeks before expiry, please refer to the information on the general emergency regulations on this website.
• General travel: For bookings of vacation trips that extend beyond the validity of an existing residence permit, no early date for the extension of the residence permit is possible.
• Travel for urgent reasons: If a trip is necessary due to a family emergency or death, for example, and an early extension of the residence permit is required for this reason, appropriate proof of this must be submitted in advance. Proof is, for example, a detailed medical certificate or a death certificate in German or English. Proof of the degree of kinship is also required, for example in the form of a copy of the birth register with a corresponding translation.
• Travel with a permanent residence permit: Holders of a permanent residence permit can carry both their old and new passports and travel with them. Further information on this can be obtained from the Federal Police or Border Police and the airline.

If the conditions of the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other part, adopted in 1999, are met, Swiss nationals do not require a residence permit. This is regulated by law in  § 28 of the Residence Ordinance (opens in a new tab).

The following Swiss nationals are entitled to freedom of movement under the existing agreement with the European Union:

• Employees
• Self-employed persons and service providers
• Swiss nationals who are not gainfully employed, provided they have sufficient resources and health insurance cover

If desired, Swiss nationals can apply for a Swiss residence permit, but this is not required under immigration law.

Third-country nationals who are family members of a Swiss national must contact the immigration authorities via our  digital contact form (opens in a new tab).

In accordance with the  Ukraine Residence Permit Continued Validity Ordinance (opens in a new tab), residence permits pursuant to Section 24 (1) of the Residence Act that are valid on February 1, 2025, including their conditions and ancillary provisions, will continue to be valid until March 4, 2026 without extension in individual cases. These residence permits were issued to foreigners who fled to Germany due to the war in Ukraine in accordance with Section 24 (1) of the Residence Act. It is not necessary to appear in person at the relevant immigration authority to extend the permit.
Non-Ukrainian third-country nationals with temporary Ukrainian residence permits are no longer granted temporary protection. It is not possible to extend the residence permit beyond March 4, 2025 in accordance with Section 24 (1) of the Residence Act. This means that

• Holders of such residence permits, with the exception of non-Ukrainian third-country nationals with a temporary Ukrainian residence permit, do not have to apply for an extension. It is not necessary to go to the foreigners authority.
• Due to the automatic extension, the opportunities for gainful employment, studying, receiving social benefits, attending integration courses and other guarantees and freedoms associated with the residence permit are retained.
• Holders of such residence permits are therefore still entitled to benefits under SGB II and SGB XII and are generally entitled to benefits under the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG), child benefit, housing benefit and health insurance benefits.

The extension of these residence permits is automatically reported to the Central Register of Foreigners. The border authorities of the Schengen member states are also informed of the continued validity, as are the authorities responsible for granting benefits in Germany.

If you have already applied for an extension or the issue of another residence permit before your residence permit expires, your current residence permit will remain valid until a decision is made on your application. If you have submitted your  application online (opens in a new tab), you will receive an automatic confirmation of receipt. This allows you to prove to your employer, for example, that you have submitted your application on time.

This means, for example, that you can continue to work if you were previously permitted to do so. During this period, the same conditions defined in your previous residence permit or fictitious certificate remain valid.

The right of residence acquired in this way ("fictional effect") only exists until the immigration authority has decided on your application.

You can apply for a residence permit for vocational training and further education  online (opens in a new tab) online (opens in a new tab).

We will contact you as soon as the application has been conclusively reviewed and any necessary approval from the Federal Employment Agency has been obtained.

The residence permit (§ 16a AufenthG) only entitles the holder to work up to 20 hours per week, regardless of the purpose.

The residence permit (§ 16f AufenthG) for participation in a language course entitles the holder to work up to 20 hours per week as a secondary occupation.

The residence permit (§ 16d AufenthG) entitles the holder to work up to 20 hours per week independently of the qualification measure.

The residence permit (Section 17 (1) and (2) AufenthG) only entitles the holder to work up to 20 hours per week and to carry out trial employment of up to two weeks in total.

Students with a residence permit in accordance with § 16b AufenthG may work 140 days per year (working day account). The exercise of a job depends on the corresponding conditions.

If you are in possession of a valid residence permit for studying or a corresponding fictitious certificate, you may work 140 days per year (working day account). This regulation also applies if you are looking for a job after successfully completing your studies or would like to apply for a residence permit for work.

As soon as you have completed your training, you can apply online  for a residence permit for employment (opens in a new tab) for a residence permit for employment (opens in a new tab).

We will contact you as soon as the application has been conclusively reviewed and any necessary approval from the Federal Employment Agency has been received.

If an employer link is entered in your ancillary provision and you would like to change your employer, you can  submit an online application to change your ancillary provisions under residence law (opens in a new tab) submit an online application to change your ancillary provisions under residence law (opens in a new tab).

We will contact you as soon as the application has been conclusively reviewed and any necessary approval from the Federal Employment Agency has been obtained.

The answer to this depends on how long you have held your EU Blue Card:

• If you have held an EU Blue Card for less than twelve months, you must inform the Immigration Office of your change of employment. The twelve-month period begins when you take up employment. Periods of employment already acquired outside the period of validity of the EU Blue Card can be included in this twelve-month period. The Immigration Office can also refuse the change of job retrospectively if the requirements for the issue of the EU Blue Card are not met.
• If you have held an EU Blue Card for more than twelve months , you do not need permission from the immigration authority to change jobs. You also do not have to inform the immigration authority. The requirements for obtaining an EU Blue Card must be met each time you change jobs. Taking up self-employment is still not permitted.

If your employment ends before the EU Blue Card expires, you are obliged to inform the immigration authority in writing within two weeks of becoming aware of the premature termination of your employment.

In accordance with Section 6 (3) AufenthG, third-country nationals require a national visa for long-term stays in Germany. This must be issued before entry. By law, the embassies and consulates general (missions abroad) of the Federal Republic of Germany are responsible for issuing visas.

You must therefore apply for a visa at the relevant German embassy abroad. You can find information about the visa procedure and the documents to be submitted when applying for a visa on the website of the responsible German mission abroad.

Employers can shorten the administrative procedure until the foreign skilled worker enters the country by using the accelerated skilled worker procedure in accordance with Section 81a of the Residence Act with the support of the State Agency for the Immigration of Skilled Workers or the immigration authority. Further information on the procedure can be found at  www.make-it-in-germany.com (opens in a new tab)

In addition to the local lower immigration authorities, the state of Baden-Württemberg has established the State Agency for the Immigration of Skilled Workers. The accelerated skilled worker procedure can be applied for online on the  state agency's website (opens in a new tab). There are also extensive advisory services available here.

The application for an employment visa to enter the Federal Republic of Germany must be submitted by the skilled worker independently to the competent German diplomatic mission abroad. The company can provide support, for example by completing the necessary documents such as the declaration of employment.

The  IHK Stuttgart Region (opens in a new tab) and the  HWK Stuttgart (opens in a new tab) can support their respective member companies as part of the accelerated skilled worker procedure.

The IHK and the HWK can take over the coordination of the immigration and recognition process in the case of an accelerated skilled worker procedure. They check the submitted documents for completeness and then forward them to the Stuttgart Immigration Office.

Please come in person to the Foreigners' Registration Office at Jägerstr. 14-18, 70174 Stuttgart on Mondays at 08:00. From 08:00 to 09:30, the security service will allocate a number, subject to availability. The necessary changes to your document will be made at this time.

The following documents are required for the appointment:

• Residence permit or
• Proof of arrival, alternatively a home pass or certificate of registration as an asylum seeker (BÜMA) or
• toleration
• and the allocation decision of the Karlsruhe Regional Council.

If the condition "Gainful employment only with the permission of the Aliens' Registration Office" is entered in your residence permit, you may only take up employment with the prior consent of the Aliens' Registration Office.

Have you found a job? Then you can  apply online to change an ancillary provision under residence law (opens in a new tab).

After you have submitted your application for an employment permit to the Aliens' Registration Office, it will forward the application to the Federal Employment Agency. The Federal Employment Agency will review the application and then inform the Foreigners' Registration Office of its decision. The Foreigners' Registration Office has no influence on the processing time of the Federal Employment Agency. It is advisable to submit the application in good time.

You do not need the approval of the Federal Employment Agency, for example, to take up an unpaid internship or state-recognized vocational training and all other activities listed in  Section 32 (2) of the Employment Ordinance (BeschV) (opens in a new tab):

• for compulsory internships (school or university), vocational orientation internships of up to three months, work or study-related internships of up to three months and entry-level qualifications (Sec. 32 para. 2 no. 1 in conjunction with para. 3 Employment Ordinance);
• for vocational training in a state-recognized or comparably regulated profession (Sec. 32 (2) No. 2 in conjunction with (3) BeschV);
• highly qualified persons who would meet the requirements for an EU Blue Card or a settlement permit, scientists and researchers, legally regulated voluntary services (Federal Voluntary Service, Voluntary Social Year and Voluntary Ecological Year) and charitable activities (Sec. 32 para. 2 no. 3 in conjunction with para. 3 Employment Ordinance);
• after an uninterrupted four-year period of permitted, tolerated or authorized residence in any type of employment (§ 32 para. 2 no. 5 in conjunction with para. 3 BeschV).

This means that the procedure is shortened in these cases, as the foreigners authority does not have to involve the Federal Employment Agency, but can decide on the granting or refusal of the employment permit itself.

Normally, the residence permit is extended automatically. The extended document or a letter of appointment for a personal interview will be sent to you by post in good time before the document expires.

The extension will only take place shortly before the expiration date. In this context, the Foreigners' Registration Office will check whether the residence permit has expired and whether a follow-up certificate needs to be issued.

Due to the very limited staff capacity at the Foreigners' Registration Office, processing may be delayed. Your inquiries will not shorten the processing time. We ask for your understanding.

Please note the following:

The word "Aufenthaltsgestattung" usually refers to the certificate of residence permit (the document issued by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees or the Foreigners' Registration Office after the formal application for asylum).

However, the residence permit also refers to the legal status that a foreigner has in an ongoing asylum procedure in Germany, see  § 55 of the Asylum Act (opens in a new tab). This means that a foreigner applying for asylum is permitted to stay in Germany for the purposes of the asylum procedure from the time the proof of arrival is issued in accordance with  Section 63a (1) of the Asylum Act (opens in a new tab), i.e. this person is not staying in Germany without authorization.

This also applies if the foreigners authority has not yet issued or extended the "Aufenthaltsgestattung" document. If your "Aufenthaltsgestattung" document has expired and has not yet been extended, you can continue to reside in Germany as before. This only has consequences for your stay in Germany when your legal status of "Aufenthaltsgestattung" expires.

 Section 67 (1) of the Asylum Act (opens in a new tab) regulates when the legal status of the residence permit expires - regardless of the duration of the document of the same name.

The residence permit expires in accordance with the Asylum Act

1. if a foreigner is rejected or deported back in accordance with  Section 18 (2) and (3) of the Asylum Act (opens in a new tab).

2. if a foreigner has not yet applied for asylum within two weeks of being issued with proof of arrival. This does not apply if the reception center has assigned a later date and the asylum application is submitted by this date (  Section 67 (1) sentence 2 Asylum Act (opens in a new tab)).

3. if the asylum application is withdrawn, upon notification of the Federal Office's decision.

4. if a threat of deportation issued in accordance with the Asylum Act or  Section 60 (9) of the Residence Act (opens in a new tab) has become enforceable.

5. with the enforceability of a deportation order in accordance with  § 34a of the Asylum Act (opens in a new tab). This means: Your asylum application was rejected because you come from a safe third country or because your asylum application is "inadmissible" - a rejection as inadmissible is often issued because there is a so-called "Dublin case", i.e. another country that applies the Dublin III Regulation is responsible for carrying out your asylum procedure.

5a. with the announcement of a deportation order in accordance with  § 58a of the Residence Act (opens in a new tab).

6. otherwise, when the decision of the Federal Office has become incontestable.

If none of these cases apply to you, you will remain in the status of "Aufenthaltsgestattung", even if your "Aufenthaltsgestattung" document has expired or has not yet been extended.

In the following two cases, it is possible to regain the status of a residence permit, even if it has expired:

• § Section 67 (2) of the Asylum Act (opens in a new tab) stipulates that an expired residence permit is reinstated if the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees resumes an asylum procedure that was initially discontinued due to "non-operation".
• The same applies if the application for asylum is submitted after the two-week period mentioned under point 2 or the period extended by the reception center in accordance with  Section 67 (1) sentence 2 of the Asylum Act (opens in a new tab) has expired

Please contact the Foreigners' Registration Office immediately using our  digital contact form (opens in a new tab).

Please submit an "Application for a residence permit" and enclose a copy of the decision from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees with the application. You will then be given an appointment for a personal interview at the Foreigners' Registration Office. Until the electronic residence permit is issued, you will receive a fictitious certificate.

Due to the very limited staff capacity at the Foreigners' Registration Office, the processing of the application and the allocation of appointments may be considerably delayed. Your inquiries will not shorten the processing time. We ask for your understanding.

Please note the following:

As soon as you have received the decision in which you have either been recognized as a person entitled to asylum or in which you have been granted refugee status or subsidiary protection,

• your stay in Germany is automatically deemed to be permitted in accordance with  Section 25 (1) sentence 3 of the Residence Act (opens in a new tab). Exception: You have been deported for compelling reasons of national security or public order. However, such reasons only exist if a person poses a threat to the security of the Federal Republic of Germany, is to be regarded as a terrorist threat or poses a threat to the general public because they have been convicted of a serious criminal offense.
  
  
• you may also pursue gainful employment without the consent of the Federal Employment Agency, unless a prohibition is stipulated by law, see  Section 4a (1) sentence 1 of the Residence Act (opens in a new tab).

This also applies if the immigration authority has not yet issued you with a residence permit ("card") or fictitious certificate. As proof of your legal residence in Germany, it is helpful in this case to carry a copy of the positive decision with you, together with a document showing your name and a photo of you. This can be, for example, the last document issued by the immigration authorities, your health insurance card or your driving license.

In contrast to persons who have been granted asylum or refugee status or subsidiary protection status, you can only be issued a residence permit once your asylum procedure has been legally concluded. It is not sufficient if you receive a so-called notification of partial legal force.

As soon as your asylum procedure has been legally concluded, please submit an "Application for a residence permit" and attach the decision of the Federal Office and the final notification to the application.

You will then be given an appointment for a personal interview at the Foreigners' Registration Office. In contrast to persons who have been granted asylum or refugee status or subsidiary protection status, persons who have been granted a ban on deportation are not automatically permitted to stay and take up gainful employment. Until the electronic residence permit is issued, you will therefore receive a tolerated stay and not a fictitious certificate.

Due to the very limited staff capacity at the Foreigners' Registration Office, the processing of the application and the allocation of appointments may be considerably delayed. Your inquiries will not shorten the processing time. We ask for your understanding.

You must obtain permission from the Foreigners' Registration Office before taking up employment if one of the following additional provisions is entered in your tolerated stay permit:

• "Employment (=self-employment) only possible with the permission of the immigration authority"
• "Employment permitted under immigration law, subject to any necessary approval from the Federal Employment Agency. Self-employment is not permitted by law".

Have you found a job? Please submit  an online application to change the ancillary provision under residence law (opens in a new tab).

If the ancillary provision "Employment permitted under immigration law, subject to any necessary approval by the Federal Employment Agency. Self-employment is not permitted by law" is entered in your tolerated stay permit, you do not require permission from the immigration authority to take up an unpaid internship or state-recognized vocational training or any other activity listed in  Section 32 (2) of the Employment Ordinance (BeschV) (opens in a new tab).

Normally the extension of the tolerated stay is automatic. The extended document or a letter of appointment for a personal interview will be sent to you by post in good time before the document expires. The extension will only take place shortly before the expiration date.

No, please contact the Foreigners' Registration Office immediately using our  digital contact form (opens in a new tab). 

If a residence restriction is noted in your tolerated stay permit or residence permit, you must submit an application to change the residence restriction. You may not move to Stuttgart without the consent of the Stuttgart Foreigners' Registration Office.

The application to change the residence requirement can be submitted either to your current foreigners authority or directly to the foreigners authority of the city of Stuttgart. You can submit the application via the  digital contact form (opens in a new tab) of the LHS Stuttgart, with the purpose "I am in possession of a residence permit / tolerated stay with residence restriction and would like to move to Stuttgart".

Until a decision has been made on the application, your current foreigners authority remains the responsible foreigners authority for all questions and measures under immigration law, including the extension of the residence permit or tolerated stay. Reasons for an application to change the residence requirement may be the establishment of a household community of spouses, registered partners, parents and their underage unmarried children or other humanitarian reasons of comparable weight.

Please also enclose the relevant evidence with your application:

You must apply for a residence permit under the right of residence according to § 104c of the Residence Act.

Further information and the application form can be found at Opportunity right of  residence

As soon as the new passport is available, you can go to the Foreigners' Registration Office. The Servicepoint team will transfer the residence permit or settlement permit to the new passport ("transfer").

Please bring the following documents with you:

• expired and new valid passport
• electronic residence permit (eAT) and supplementary sheet if applicable
• Current biometric photo
• Current job center notice, if applicable
• Money for fees

With a fictitious certificate in accordance with Section 81 (4) of the Residence Act, you can leave and re-enter Germany without any problems. Most countries accept this fictitious certificate for travel, but prior clarification with the respective destination country and any transit countries is recommended.

A fictitious certificate in accordance with Section 81 (3) of the Residence Act does not have this effect. The same applies to a residence permit or a tolerated stay permit.

Further general information can also be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office:  FAQ Foreign Office (opens in a new tab)