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IMPORTANT: Select a location.To obtain application forms, location-specific information and contacts, select a town or zip code.

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Which place to enter?

The location is used to determine the responsible office for the selected administrative service. In most cases you can enter your place of residence to find the competent authority. However, there are also cases in which a different location must be specified. Here are some examples:

Birth certificateYou want to get married and need a birth certificate. You live in Hanover, but you were born in Celle. You must therefore state your place of birth, i.e. Celle.

Business registrationYou would like to register a business in Braunschweig. Your place of residence is Hanover. You must therefore state the location of your future business, i.e. Braunschweig.

Apply for a building permitYou would like to build a house in Wunstorf and therefore apply for a building permit. Her place of residence is currently Hanover. You must indicate the place where the house is to be built. In this case it is Wunstorf.

Apply for a residence permit on urgent humanitarian or personal grounds

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You are seeking a temporary stay in Germany, for example to temporarily care for a seriously ill family member, to undergo urgent medical treatment or to complete vocational training. to undergo urgently required medical treatment or to complete vocational training. You are staying in Germany and are not obliged to leave the country.

In this case, you can be granted a residence permit by the Aliens Department as long as urgent humanitarian or personal reasons or considerable public interests require your temporary continued presence in the Federal territory.

The residence permit does not entitle you to gainful employment. It can be granted on application by the Aliens' Registration Office.

A residence requirement may be imposed on you.

You are entitled to benefits according to the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act.

Family reunification is excluded.

They are not entitled to participate in an integration course. They can only be admitted to participate in courses if there are places available.

Who should I contact?

Locally competent foreigners authority

Requirements

  • Existence of an application for a residence permit
  • Foreigner who is not compulsorily obliged to leave the country
  • Urgent humanitarian or personal reasons or substantial public interests must require temporary presence in the Federal territory
  • Fulfilment of the general conditions for the granting of a residence permit
  • There must be no grounds for refusal (no interest in deportation, no prohibition of entry or residence)

Applications / forms

You will receive the following from your local immigration office

Online procedure possible: no

Personal appearance required: yes

Which documents are required?

  • Current biometric photo
  • Proof of identity, if available, e.g. passport, ID card, birth certificate, marriage certificate; citizenship certificate
  • If applicable, employment contract or binding job offer
  • Proof of health insurance
  • Rental contract

What are the fees?

Fee for the issuance of the residence permit: 100 Euro

For minors: 50 Euro

Exemption from fees when receiving social benefits

Fee: 100,00 EUR
Payment in advance: no

Fee: 50,00 EUR
Payment in advance: no

Process flow

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

  • Make an appointment with the local Foreigners' Registration Office. You can also find out about the application process and which documents you need to submit and in what form on the respective website of the Foreigners' Association.
  • Your fingerprints will be taken during your appointment.

If your application is approved, the Foreigners' Registration Office will instruct the Federal Printing Office to issue the electronic residence permit. The residence permit takes the form of a credit card with additional electronic functions.

For information on the duration of the procedure until the residence permit is issued, please contact the responsible Foreigners' Registration Office.

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

Validity of the residence permit:

  • a maximum of 6 months if you have not yet resided legally in Germany for at least 18 months (continuously)
  • up to three years if you have already resided legally in Germany for more than 18 months.

Processing duration

You will usually be informed of the duration of the procedure (about 6 to 8 weeks) when you apply for a residence permit by the competent Aliens' Registration Office.

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

Legal basis

Section 5 Residence Act

§ 25 para. 4 sentence 1 AufenthG

Section 12 Residence Act

Section 29 subsection 3 AufenthG

§ 44 Residence Act

§ 78 Residence Act

§ 78a Residence Act

Section 45 AufenthV

Section 53 AufenthV

Section 1 AsylbLG

Appeal

An appeal against a negative decision of the Foreigners' Registration Office can be brought before the competent administrative court.

A preliminary procedure (opposition) does not take place in Lower Saxony.

Detailed information can be found in the rejection notice.

Source: Serviceportal Niedersachsen (Portalverbund des Bundes und der Länder)

Further Links

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Single points of contact of the state of Lower Saxony, Single points of contact of the countries of Europe, advice and assistance for EU citizens and their families.
Access information on the single point of contact for the state of Lower Saxonyvisit Website Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEsVisit advice and assistance for EU citizens and their families