Declaration of commitment; submission
If you want to enable a foreign guest or several foreign guests to stay in Germany, you can undertake to pay for his or her living expenses.
Stand: 13.05.2026. Link zum BayernPortal
Online procedure
Apply for a declaration of commitment
You can use this online application to apply for a letter of guarantee.
The purpose of submitting a declaration of commitment is to cover the costs of living for the benefit of a third-country national and enables them to prove in the administrative procedure that the economic requirements for the issue of a residence permit with regard to Section 5 (1) No. 1 AufenthG are met.
Citizen-friendly and digital: Simply complete this online application directly via your internet browser. In many cases, this will save you a trip to the authorities.
Are you a German or foreign national with the right of residence and would like to enable a third-country national who requires a visa to enter the country to stay in Germany for a short or long period of time because they are unable to provide the necessary proof of financial security for their stay (living expenses/health insurance cover) as part of the visa procedure?
Then you, as a third (legal) person, have the option of submitting a declaration of commitment. With this declaration, you undertake to accommodate the third-country national, to finance their living expenses for the duration of their stay and to ensure that they have adequate health insurance cover. The declaration of commitment does not create a direct obligation towards the third-country national, but does give the state the possibility of recourse in the event that public funds have to be used for the foreigner's living expenses, including housing and care in the event of illness.
Regional Supplement (Editorially responsible: City of Erlangen)
To submit a declaration of commitment, please use our online service (see below). As a rule, the following documents must be uploaded as PDF files in the online application:
- Identity card or passport of the sponsor,
- at least the last three proofs of income of the person providing the commitment,
- the rental agreement of the person making the commitment,
- if applicable, the guest's health insurance certificate (not mandatory); you are welcome to attach further documents, e.g. a cover letter or similar, at this point in the online application.
Sufficient creditworthiness of the guarantor.
Regional Supplement (Editorially responsible: City of Erlangen)
Please also refer to our information sheet Declaration of commitment
Many immigration authorities already offer the submission of a declaration of commitment as an online service, which saves you having to go to the authority. Please check this option for your immigration office. If your aliens' registration office does not offer an online service, you should go to the aliens' registration office in person and fill out the form available there.
The foreigners authority in the district of the third-country national's planned place of residence is responsible. If the future place of residence of the foreigner is still unknown or if the person declaring the obligation (inviting party) does not have a habitual residence at the planned place of residence of the foreigner (guest), the foreigners authority in whose district the person declaring the obligation has his/her habitual residence is responsible.
The foreigners authority will check whether you are financially able to fulfill the obligation (creditworthiness) and certify your signature.
You send the original of the notarized declaration of commitment to the third-country national concerned, who then submits it to the diplomatic mission abroad.
- The documents to be submitted may vary considerably.
Please enquire at your local immigration office. As a rule, however, the following documents are required:
- Identity card or passport of the person making the commitment
- Proof of income from the guarantor
- Further documents if necessary
- Rental agreement of the guarantor
- 29 EUR
§ Section 66 Act on the Residence, Employment and Integration of Foreigners in the Federal Territory (Residence Act - AufenthG)
§ Section 47 (1) no. 12 Residence Ordinance (AufenthV)
Regional Supplement (Editorial responsibility: City of Erlangen)
Regional Supplement (Editorially responsible: City of Erlangen)
Permanent stays
Anschrift
Öffnungszeiten
Telephone availability:
Tuesday: 13:30 - 15:00
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Thursday: 13:30 - 15:00
Immigration and Naturalization
The opening hours of the Immigration Office’s Welcome Desk are currently reduced. However, appointments that have already been scheduled may still be kept.
The Citizenship Office will be closed from Monday, September 7, through Friday, September 25. During this period, no cases will be processed and no appointments will be available. The office will also be unreachable by phone or any other means. During this time, incoming applications, inquiries, etc., will not be processed. The department asks that you generally refrain from submitting applications, documents, status inquiries, etc., during this period. This is due to extensive and urgently needed internal adjustments, as well as data entry and data cleansing.
- Residence for the Purpose of Training, Study, or Employment
- Residence for reasons of international law, humanitarian grounds, or political reasons
- Residence for the purpose of family reunification with foreign nationals: Temporary residence, permanent residence, humanitarian residence
- Residence for the purpose of family reunification with German nationals
- Declaration of Commitment
- Integration
- Naturalization and Citizenship Law (Click here for the Naturalization Quick Check)
Anschrift
Öffnungszeiten
Phone Hours:
Tuesday: 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Thursday: 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.