How to apply for a German residence permit

By Nicolas Bouliane

You might need a residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) to live, work and study in Germany.

With a residence permit, you can…

  • Live anywhere in Germany
  • Bring your family to Germany
  • Visit other Schengen countries without a visa
  • Become a permanent resident after 21 to 60 months
  • Become a citizen after 5 years

Who needs a residence permit?

Most people need a residence permit to live in Germany, but there are exceptions.

These people don’t need a residence permit:

Do I need a residence permit?

Types of residence permits

Find the right visa or residence permit

For work

If you have a job offer:

  • Work visa – How to apply
    For working in Germany. You need a job offer. You might need previous professional training.
  • Blue Card – How to apply
    For working in Germany. You need a job offer. You need a university degree or IT specialist training. There is a minimum salary requirement.
  • Family reunion visa
    For spouses and children of German residents. You can work for any employer. There is no income or education requirement.20
  • Working Holiday Visa
    For citizens of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan and Uruguay. You must be between 18 and 30 years old. The Working Holiday Visa allows you to work in Germany. It’s valid for up to 1 year. It’s easier to get than the work visa or Blue Card.
  • Youth Mobility Visa
    For Canadian citizens between 18 and 35 years old. This residence permit allows you to work and travel in Germany. It’s valid for up to 1 year. It’s easier to get than the work visa or Blue Card.
  • Internship visa
    For university students. Do an internship in Germany for up to 6 months.
  • Au pair visa
    For people who want to be a helper (au pair) for a host family in Germany. You need an au pair contract. You must be under 27 years old.6 It’s valid for up to 1 year. Your income must be over 280€ per month. There is no education requirement.
  • Permanent residence – How to apply
    You can already take any job. You don’t need permission from the Ausländerbehörde.
  • Other residence permits
    Check your Zusatzblatt to see if you are allowed to work.

If you don’t have a job offer:

For self-employment

Other residence permits sometimes allow self-employment:

For studying

  • Student visa
    For people who want to study in Germany. You must be enrolled in a German university. You can work during your studies. You can work while you study.
  • Internship visa
    For university students.7 This residence permit allows you to do an internship in Germany. It’s valid for 6 to 12 months.8
  • Family reunion visa
    For spouses and children of German residents. It allows you to study.
  • Permanent residence – How to apply
    You can already study. You don’t need permission from the Ausländerbehörde.

For your family

  • Family reunion visa
    For spouses and family members of German residents. This is how you can bring your family to Germany. With a family reunion visa, your spouse and your children can work, study or start a business in Germany.

How to get a residence permit

There are two ways to get a residence permit:13

How to apply for a Blue Card

How to apply for a work visa

How to apply for a freelance visa

How to apply for permanent residence

How to apply in Germany

You can only apply in Germany if…

If you can’t apply in Germany, you must apply in your home country.

The instructions below are for Berlin only. Other immigration offices have different rules and wait times. If you don’t live in Berlin, find your local immigration office and apply there.

1. Prepare your application

Come to Berlin and start preparing your residence permit application.

Before you apply for a residence permit…

While you wait for an Ausländerbehörde appointment, you should also…

There might be more requirements. Check the requirements for the Blue Card, work visa, freelance visa or permanent residence.

2. Send your application

Submit your application to the Ausländerbehörde. They will check your documents and invite your for an appointment. This is the only way. You can’t go to the Ausländerbehörde without an appointment.

There are 3 ways to apply:

If are a citizen of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom or the United States, you have 90 days to apply after you arrive in Germany.3

If you already live in Germany, apply before your current visa or residence permit expires.45 Apply 8 weeks before it expires, not sooner.27

3. Wait

The Ausländerbehörde will process your application. There is no way to track your application. You must wait for their response. It takes a few months, but they approve 99% of applications.42 If you wait more than 3 months, you can sue the Ausländerbehörde, but it might not help.

They might ask for more documents. If you can’t reply to their email, use the contact form again.

When they have everything, they will email you an appointment date. The appointment might be months later. If they can’t reach you, they will post the information here.

While you wait, your current National Visa or residence permit might expire. It’s extended until the Ausländerbehörde processes your application.

Your current National Visa or residence permit might allow you to work, study or start your business already. Check your Zusatzblatt. If not, you must wait for your new residence permit.

If your visa or residence permit expires

4. Go to your appointment

The Ausländerbehörde will email you an appointment date. If you get an appointment, you are almost guaranteed to get your residence permit.55 Follow the instructions in the email. You might need to send extra documents, or bring them to your appointment.

When you go to your appointment, bring…

  • Your appointment confirmation
    You can’t enter the Ausländerbehörde without it. They check at the door. You can have it on your phone or print it.29
  • Passport photo (35 × 45 mm)
    You do not need to cut the photos yourself; they have a tool for this. The photo should be less than 6 months old.38
    • Passport of your spouse, parent or child (if applicable)
      If you apply for family reunion visas, bring everyone’s passports.
  • Cash, Visa, Mastercard or Girocard
    You must pay the application fee. You must sometimes pay later, when you pick up your residence permit. This fee is tax-deductible, so keep the receipt.
  • Other required documents
    Read the email carefully. The Ausländerbehörde might ask you to bring more documents.
  • Your family
    If you apply for family reunion visas, or for residence permanent residence for a spouse, your family must come with you.39
  • A translator (optional)
    Many Ausländerbehörde employees only speak German. If you don’t speak German, bring an interpreter or a German-speaking friend. It’s not required, but it helps. I recommend Red Tape Translation.

Go to the correct Ausländerbehörde. Arrive early. You need enough time to find the correct waiting room. If you are late, they might refuse to help you.52

Inside the Ausländerbehörde, find the right office, floor and room. This information is on your appointment confirmation. The security staff can help you.

Berlin Ausländerbehörde appointment room

Sit in the correct waiting room. Wait until the television shows your number. Go to the office number (Platz) you see on the television. The appointment takes a few minutes. You must give your documents and answer a few questions.

If documents are missing, ask if you can email them. You will pay the fee and give your fingerprints, so you don’t need another Ausländerbehörde visit.54

If they approve your residence permit, you must pay the application fee at the payment machines.

They must print your plastic residence card. This takes around 8 weeks. They will give you another appointment to pick up the card. They do not mail the card to you.

You will get a document that confirms that your residence permit was approved. With that document, you can start working or studying.46 It’s not a valid travel document, so you can’t use it to leave and re-enter Germany.

Ask for a Fiktionsbescheinigung. It allows you to travel with an expired residence permit. If you already have a Fiktionsbescheinigung, they might extend it until your second appointment date.

5. Pick up your residence card

Go to your second Ausländerbehörde appointment. Bring your passport and your old residence permit. You will get a plastic residence card and a paper Zusatzblatt.

If you pick up a residence permit for a child, they don’t need to come with you.53

Check if the information on your card is correct. The Ausländerbehörde sometimes makes mistakes.

You will also get a letter in the mail. It’s the activation code for your eID. You need it to activate the eID function of your residence card. This lets you use your residence permit to log into online government services.

How to activate your eID

What to do next

How to apply in your country

You can apply in your country before you move to Germany.43 This is cheaper and safer, because you can start working or studying as soon as you arrive in Germany. You don’t need to wait in Germany without an income.30

For most people, this is the only option.

To apply in your country:28

  1. If your residence permit requires a job offer, find a job first. If you don’t have a job offer, get an opportunity card.
  2. Prepare your National Visa application.
  3. Get an appointment at the German embassy or consulate in your country. At some embassies, you can apply online, so you don’t need an appointment.
  4. Go to your appointment.
  5. Receive your National Visa.
  6. Come to Germany and start working or studying.
  7. Convert your National Visa into a residence permit.

To get a residence permit faster, use the fast-track procedure (Beschleunigtes Verfahren). It costs 411€.40 In India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and many African countries, it takes months to get an embassy appointment. The fast-track procedure really helps, especially if you bring your family with you.41

1. Find a job

If you apply for a Blue Card, you need a job offer before you apply. Your job offer must meet the Blue Card requirements.

If you apply for a work visa, you need a job offer before you apply. Your job offer must meet the work visa requirements.

If you don’t have a job offer, get an opportunity card. It allows you to come to Germany and look for work. If your spouse is a German resident, you can get a family reunion visa instead.

How to find a job

2. Get your education recognised

If you apply for a work visa, Blue Card or opportunity card, you might need a recognised university degree or vocational training. You must get your education recognised.

Blue Card requirements

Work visa requirements

The process depends on your profession.33 It takes a few weeks to a few months.34 There might be an interview or a competence test, and you might need to pay for it.35 You can do this in advance, or after you get your job offer.

How to get your education recognised

If you use the fast-track procedure (Beschleunigtes Verfahren), skip this step. You submit all your documents at once, and the embassy or consulate takes care of it.36

If you are a citizen of Albania, Australia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada, Israel, Japan, Kosovo, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, San Marino, Serbia, South Korea, the United Kingdom or the United States, you don’t need a degree or vocational training. Skip this step.

If you have a lot of work experience, you might not need a degree or vocational training. See the work visa and Blue Card requirements.

If you graduated in Germany, your education is already recognised. Skip this step.

3. Get an appointment at the German embassy or consulate

Get an appointment at the German embassy or consulate in your country. It can take a long time to get an appointment.4 At most embassies, you can only book an appointment a few weeks in advance.

In some countries, you can apply for a National Visa online, so you don’t need an appointment. They process your application, then send you a link to book an appointment.

Find your German embassy or consulate

Do not apply for a Schengen visa. Schengen visas are for tourism, not immigration. You can’t convert a Schengen visa into a residence permit.10

4. Prepare for your appointment

Before your embassy or consulate appointment, you must…

  • Find a place to live in Germany
    Some embassies and consulates ask for it.17 It’s really hard to find an apartment before you arrive in Germany. Find a temporary place like a hotel room or a furnished apartment to get your National Visa.18 After you arrive in Germany, find an apartment where you can register your address.
  • Get health insurance
    You need valid health insurance. Ask a health insurance broker to help you choose the correct health insurance.
  • Prepare the required documents
    The required documents are different in each country. Find your German embassy or consulate, and use their list of required documents.
  • Save money
    If you apply at the embassy or consulate, they might need proof that you have savings in your bank account. Each place has different requirements. They usually ask for around 10,000€ in savings.25

If you apply for a work visa or a Blue Card, you must…

If you bring your family to Germany, you can apply for their family reunion visa at the same time. Prepare these documents too.

5. Go to your National Visa appointment

Go to your appointment at the embassy or consulate, and give your documents. If you have all the required documents, it only takes a few minutes.

6. Receive your National Visa

In a few months, you must go to the embassy or consulate again.26 They will give you a National Visa. It allows you to come to Germany.

7. Move to Germany

After you arrive in Germany, register your address, get a tax ID and open a bank account. Your National Visa allows you to start working or start your business as soon as you arrive.31

How to move to Berlin

How to start a new job

How to start a business

8. Convert your National Visa

Your National Visa is only valid for up to 12 months.37 Before it expires, you must convert it into a residence permit at the Ausländerbehörde.

In Berlin, you must convert your National Visa 8 weeks before it expires, not sooner.27

If you will leave Germany before your National Visa expires, you don’t need to convert it.32 For example, if you have a 12 month National Visa for a 9 month internship, you don’t need to convert it into a residence permit.

To convert your National Visa into a residence permit:

  1. Contact the Ausländerbehörde
    Write to the Ausländerbehörde around 8 weeks before your National Visa expires. They take a really long time to reply. When they reply, they will give you an appointment. If your National Visa expires, you can stay in Germany and keep working or studying.
  2. Go to your appointment
    During the appointment, they take your fingerprints for your freelance visa. It takes around 15 minutes. You get a second appointment around 8 weeks later to pick up your residence permit.
  3. Pick up your residence permit
    Go to your second Ausländerbehörde appointment to collect your residence permit. Bring your passport and your old residence permit.

After you get your permit

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Read your Zusatzblatt

Your residence permit comes with a Zusatzblatt. It describes the conditions of your residence permit. It tells you what kind of work you can do.

How to read your Zusatzblatt

Bring your family to Germany

The family reunion visa allows you to bring your family to Germany. If they have a family reunion visa, your family members can work, study, freelance or start a business in Germany.

You can apply for it at the same time as your residence permit.

Activate your eID

You can use your residence permit to log into online government services. For example, you can use it to change your address or apply for unemployment benefits. You must activate this feature at the Ausländerbehörde. Activate your eID before you need it.

How to activate your eID

Make a tax declaration

Your immigration expenses are tax-deductible, so keep all your receipts and proofs of payment. Include them in your tax declaration. You will pay a little less income tax. If you hire a lawyer or a relocation consultant, their fee is also tax-deductible.

How to renew a residence permit

Your residence permit is valid for 6 months to 4 years. The expiration date is written on the card.

When it’s about to expire, you must renew it at the Ausländerbehörde. In Berlin, you must renew your residence permit 8 weeks before it expires, not sooner.12 It takes a few months to renew a residence permit.

The Ausländerbehörde will check if you still meet all the requirements of your residence permit. You need a few documents to prove this. Start preparing them in advance.

How to renew a Blue Card

How to renew a freelance visa

You might also qualify for permanent residence or citizenship. It’s better than a residence permit.

Permanent residence requirements

Citizenship requirements

If you change or lose your job

When you change jobs, tell the Ausländerbehörde. You might need their permission to work for a different employer.

If you lose your job, your residence permit stays valid. Tell the Ausländerbehörde as soon as you can. In Berlin, they give you 6 months to find another job. While you are unemployed, you can usually get unemployment benefits.

What happens to your residence permit

If you travel

Your residence permit allows you to travel in the Schengen area without a visa.

If you travel outside Germany for more than 6 months, your residence permit expires.23 The Blue Card lets you travel for 12 months.

If you have German permanent residence, you can travel 6 months outside of Germany. If you have the EU permanent residence, you can travel 12 to 24 months outside the EU, or 6 years in another EU country.22

To travel longer, you need permission from the Ausländerbehörde.

If your visa or residence permit expires

Your National Visa or residence permit expires after 6 to 48 months. You must renew it at the Ausländerbehörde. The process is almost the same as when you apply for a new residence permit.

It can take a few months. While you wait, you can usually stay in Germany, even if your visa or residence permit expires.44

If you have a National Visa or a residence permit

You can stay in Germany after it expires if…

  • You have applied to renew or change your residence permit
  • and you sent a complete application before your visa or residence permit expired51
  • and you are waiting for the Ausländerbehörde

You can keep working or studying while you wait. The conditions of your current National Visa or residence permit still apply. Some employers don’t know that. Check your Zusatzblatt to know what you are allowed to do.

You should not leave Germany. You might be unable to re-enter Germany with your expired residence permit or National Visa. Citizens of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom or the United States can usually travel. Others need a Fiktionsbescheinigung.

Travel with an expired residence permit

Everyone else

If you are a citizen of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom or the United States, you can stay 90 days in Germany without a visa.49 If you apply for a residence permit, you can stay in Germany until the Ausländerbehörde processes your application. You must apply within 90 days of entering Germany.50

While you wait for your first residence permit, you can’t work or study.

If you have a Schengen visa, you must leave Germany before it expires. Schengen visas are for tourism, not immigration. You can rarely extend it. You can rarely convert it into a residence permit.48 You can’t get a Fiktionsbescheinigung.

Travel with an expired residence permit

How the Fiktionsbescheinigung works

Need help?

An immigration lawyer or a relocation consultant can take care of everything. It costs 500 to 2,000€.15 Your employer might pay for it, or hire someone to help you. Some organisations can also help you for free.

Where to ask immigration questions

Sources and footnotes

  1. Wikipedia ⤴

  2. berlin.de, arbeitsagentur.de ⤴

  3. §41 Abs. 3 AufenthV ⤴

  4. Touring Artists, DARE Consulting (page 14) ⤴

  5. existenzgruendungsportal.de (February 2021), tu-freiberg.de (February 2024), City of Munich (December 2024), Nürnberg does not allow it (December 2024) ⤴

  6. §12 BeschV ⤴

  7. Make it in Germany ⤴

  8. berlin.de ⤴

  9. Berlin.de (December 2024), Berlin.de (December 2024) ⤴

  10. Auswärtiges Amt, §3 AufenthG ⤴

  11. Red Tape Translation ⤴

  12. Berlin.de, Berlin.de ⤴

  13. Touring Artists ⤴

  14. Touring Artists ⤴

  15. Multiple relocation consultants (November 2023) ⤴

  16. §41 AufenthV, Berlin.de, Make it in Germany (December 2024) ⤴

  17. Emily at Archer Relocation (November 2023) ⤴

  18. Multiple relocation consultants (November 2023), German embassy (US), visaguide.world, Facebook (2023) ⤴

  19. fachanwalt.de (November 2024) ⤴

  20. berlin.de (December 2024) ⤴

  21. VAB A2.4 (July 2024) ⤴

  22. §51 Abs. 2 AufenthG, se-legal.de (July 2024), Berlin.de (July 2024), Hamburg (July 2024) ⤴

  23. §51 Abs. 1 AufenthG, Berlin.de ⤴

  24. Elliot Herman (October 2023), multiple relocation consultants (October 2023) ⤴

  25. Multiple relocation consultants (July 2024) ⤴

  26. Touring Artists ⤴

  27. Berlin.de, Elliot Herman (October 2023), Anja Kunzke (October 2023) ⤴

  28. DARE Consulting (page 8), Make it in Germany ⤴

  29. Berlin.de (December 2024) ⤴

  30. Berlin.de, Multiple relocation consultants (October 2023) ⤴

  31. Berlin.de (December 2024) ⤴

  32. Padcha, Thai Embassy in Berlin (December 2024) ⤴

  33. DARE Consulting (page 9), BAMF ⤴

  34. DARE Consulting (page 9), BAMF ⤴

  35. BAMF ⤴

  36. German embassy (December 2024), Charlotte Forestier, immigration consultant (December 2024) ⤴

  37. Ina Bozhilova at Noah Mobility (July 2023), Berlin.de ⤴

  38. It depends on the case worker. Multiple relocation consultants (November 2023) ⤴

  39. Berlin.de (June 2024) ⤴

  40. §47 Abs. 1 AufenthV ⤴

  41. Debora Aust at DARE Consulting (December 2024), Simon Wilkinson at Expats in Wonderland (January 2024) ⤴

  42. LEA fact sheet (December 2024) ⤴

  43. make-it-in-germany.com (December 2024) ⤴

  44. Berlin.de, Berlin.de, §81 Abs. 3 AufenthG, Reddit.com ⤴

  45. Berlin.de (December 2024) ⤴

  46. VAB A81.5a.2 (December 2024) ⤴

  47. Multiple relocation consultants (December 2024) ⤴

  48. Berlin.de (December 2024), se-legal.de (December 2024), se-legal.de (December 2024), Auswärtiges Amt (December 2024), Fem.os (September 2019), Berlin.de (December 2024) ⤴

  49. §41 Abs. 1 AufenthV ⤴

  50. §41 Abs. 3 AufenthV ⤴

  51. Berlin.de (December 2024) ⤴

  52. c/o Germany (2019) ⤴

  53. Facebook (November 2024) ⤴

  54. Kathleen Parker at Red Tape Translation (December 2023) ⤴

  55. Kathleen Parker at Red Tape Translation (July 2023), Sebastian Hoffmann at Touring Artists (July 2023), Emily Archer at Archer Relocation (November 2023) ⤴