Residence permit; application for reasons of international law, humanitarian or political reasons

Foreigners who have been recognized by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees as eligible for asylum, refugee or subsidiary protection, or for whom a ban on deportation has been established, can apply for a residence permit.

For each asylum application, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) checks whether one of the four forms of protection applies on the basis of the Asylum Act. The following positive decisions are possible:

• Recognition of refugee status in accordance with the Geneva Refugee Convention (Section 3 (1) Asylum Act),
• Recognition as a person entitled to asylum (Article 16a (1) of the Basic Law),
• Granting of subsidiary protection (Section 4 (1) Asylum Act),
• Determination of a ban on deportation (Section 60 (5) or (7) Residence Act).

Further information on the individual forms of protection can be found under "Further links".
If you have a positive BAMF decision with an entitlement to protection, you can apply for a corresponding residence permit (Section 25 (1-3) Residence Act).

There must be one of the following reasons for issuing the residence permit:

• Recognition of refugee status
• Recognition as a person entitled to asylum
• Recognition as a person entitled to subsidiary protection
• Determination of a ban on deportation
• urgent humanitarian or personal reasons
• Exceptional cases of hardship
• Victims of criminal offenses according to §§ 232 to 233a of the German Criminal Code (StGB)

Among other things, the extension will take into account whether any obligation to attend an integration course has been fulfilled.

Many immigration authorities offer an online application procedure. Please check this option for your foreigners authority. If your foreigners authority does not offer an online procedure, please contact the foreigners authority by e-mail or speak to them in person.

If the application is approved, the immigration authority will commission the Bundesdruckerei to produce the electronic residence permit in the form of a cheque card.

The authority will inform you when your residence permit is ready for collection.

• The following documents - if available - should be submitted to the Foreigners' Registration Office for the application:
  
  • Identity document (passport, passport replacement document) or alternative proof of identity (e.g. birth certificate, ID card),
  • Current residence document and supplementary sheet (residence permit, visa, residence permit or tolerated stay),
  • Proof of power of representation if the application is made on behalf of another person (parents do not require this proof),
  • Proof of current employment,
  • Proof of means of subsistence (usually proof of income, notification of the granting of state benefits, declaration of commitment),
  • Proof of qualifications
  • Proof of the use of names with different spellings
    It is possible that you have documents in which a different name or spelling was used. In order to enable the clear assignment of verification documents to your person, you should inform the Immigration Office in a suitable form if you have different names or spellings of your name (e.g. by presenting the marriage certificate, certified transliteration of your name into the Latin alphabet, certificate of validity of the name declaration to the registry office).
  • Proof of financial or personal circumstances if there have been changes since the last contact with the authorities,
  • Proof of family relationship if the right of residence is derived from a family member or the application includes other family members,
  • Proof of sole custody, if this exists, and a declaration of consent to residence by the person with custody if the application includes underage children,
  • Proof of previous convictions
  • for persons who have entered Germany under a German admission program for persons seeking protection: Copy of the admission document (admission confirmation, admission notice or order).
  • for persons who have to stay in Germany temporarily for urgent reasons:
    • Evidence to justify the temporary stay,
    • proof of existing maintenance obligations.
  • for persons with a right of residence on opportunity (§ 104c Residence Act) and holders of a tolerated stay permit who wish to apply for a permanent residence permit:
    • Curriculum vitae,
    • Proof of school attendance or recognized school or vocational qualification,
    • Proof of independent means of subsistence (proof of income, scholarship),
    • Proof of health insurance cover,
    • Proof of existing maintenance obligations,
    • Proof of basic knowledge of the legal and social order,
    • Proof of knowledge of the German language,
    • Proof of the children's school attendance,
    • Proof of illness or disability, if applicable.
  • For the extension of a residence permit: Proof of participation in the integration course (certificate), if participation was mandatory.
• Depending on the individual case, the foreigners authority may ask you for further documents.

• Adults: 100,00 EUR
• Minors: EUR 50.00
• for refugees, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection and recipients of social benefits: none

Your foreigners authority will inform you about the respective fee amount.