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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.

Applying for an extension of a residence permit for the purpose of employment in the public interest

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The residence permit for employment in which there is a public interest, in particular a regional, economic or labor market policy interest, is issued for a limited period. It can be extended if the employment is to be continued beyond the period of validity of your residence permit.

Apply for the extension of your residence permit at the foreigners authority responsible for your place of residence at least eight weeks before the expiry of the time limit.

The same conditions apply to the extension as to the issuance. In particular, there should still be a public interest in your employment. A public interest in employment can be justified, for example,

  • if there is a regional or supra-regional public interest in the products or services of an employer or if there is an undersupply of certain goods or services at the employer's location (regional interests). Supply or municipal policy reasons may also play a role here.
  • if considerable investments and/or a significant number of jobs are created or secured; if the establishment of the enterprise is associated with a sustainable improvement in the sales or market opportunities of domestic enterprises or if it involves the establishment of a manufacturing plant for technically high-quality (future-proof) and/or particularly environmentally compatible products (economic interests).
  • if the employment preserves or creates jobs (labor market policy interests).

The private economic, operational interest of an employer alone is not sufficient to establish a public interest in employment.

Your qualification is not decisive for the extension of your residence permit.

When your residence permit was first issued, the Federal Employment Agency gave its consent. If the validity of the consent has expired, it must be granted again for the extension of your residence permit.

Under certain circumstances, you were obliged to participate in an integration course when your residence permit was first issued. If this is the case, this must be taken into account when extending your residence permit. If you have not yet taken part in an integration course, the Foreigners' Registration Office may reject your application for an extension of your residence permit. If you have not yet completed the integration course, your residence permit will generally only be extended for one year at a time until you successfully complete it or provide proof that you have been integrated into social life in some other way.

In the case of an extension, your residence permit will be limited again. The duration of the time limit depends on the duration of your employment contract or the period of validity of the approval of the Federal Employment Agency.

As a rule, the residence permit cannot be extended if this was already ruled out when the residence permit was issued or last extended.

Who should I contact?

The foreigners authority responsible for the applicant's place of residence

Requirements

  • You have a recognized and valid passport or passport replacement and a valid residence permit for employment in the public interest.
  • The period of validity of your residence permit will expire in the near future.
  • There is no interest in deportation against you.
  • Your stay does not endanger or impair the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany.
  • You have a new employment contract or a new binding job offer with the same or another employer.
  • There is still a public interest in your employment, in particular a regional, economic or labor market interest.
  • You can continue to secure your livelihood and health insurance coverage independently without recourse to public benefits.
  • The approval of the Federal Employment Agency for taking up employment is available or has been renewed (the approval is usually obtained from the Foreigners' Registration Office). For the approval, among other things, your working conditions (especially salary) must be comparable to those of a German employee in the same position.

Applications / forms

  • Forms: Declaration of employment relationship (standardized nationwide); other forms specific to the authorities can be obtained from your foreigners authority; these may also be offered online.
  • Online procedure possible in some cases
  • Written form required: yes
  • Personal appearance required: yes

Which documents are required?

  • Valid passport
  • Current residence permit
  • Original of your employment contract or a binding job offer (please use the nationwide standardized form Declaration of Employment Relationship for this purpose )
  • Current biometric photo
  • Current certificate of registration
  • Proof of your health insurance
  • Rental contract

What are the fees?

Extension of residence permit:

  • for a further stay of up to three months:
    EUR 96
  • for a further stay of more than three months:
    EUR 93

Under certain conditions a fee reduction or fee exemption can be considered.

Note: The residence permit in the form of the electronic residence title must be reissued for the extension. The fee for reissuing the card body is EUR 67.00.

Fee: 96,00 EUR
Payment in advance: no

Fee: 93,00 EUR
Payment in advance: no

Fee: 67,00 EUR
Payment in advance: no

Process flow

You must apply for the extension of your residence permit at the aliens' registration office responsible for your place of residence. The procedure is as follows:

  • Depending on the foreigners authority and your concerns, it may be possible to apply via the Internet. Find out whether your foreigners authority offers electronic application for the residence permit.
  • If the application is only possible in person, make an appointment with the Aliens' Registration Office.
  • During the appointment, your application will be received and your supporting documents will be checked (bring them with you to the appointment). For the renewal of the electronic residence permit (eAT card) your fingerprints will be taken.
  • In the case of an electronic application, the Aliens' Registration Office will contact you after receiving your application to schedule an appointment at the Aliens' Registration Office. During the appointment, your supporting documents will be checked (bring them with you to the appointment) and your fingerprints will be taken for the renewal of the electronic residence permit (eAT card).
  • If your application is granted, the Aliens' Registration Office will arrange for the eAT card to be produced.
  • After about six to eight weeks, you can pick up the eAT card at the Aliens' Registration Office.
  • The eAT card must always be collected in person.
  • There are fees for the extension of the residence permit. The time as well as the form of payment varies depending on the authority

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

  • The extension should be requested no later than eight weeks before the expiry of your valid residence permit.
  • In the event of an extension, the new residence permit will again be issued for a limited period of time. The validity depends on the period of validity of your employment contract and the approval of the Federal Employment Agency.

Processing duration

about six to eight weeks.

You can also get free advice on the topics of entry, residence and work from the "Hotline Working and Living in Germany" of the Federal Government's portal for skilled workers from abroad.

Phone: 030 1815-1111

Service hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Legal basis

§ 8 Para. 1 in conjunction with. § Section 19c (3) Residence Act

§ Section 19c paragraph 3 Residence Act (AufenthG)

§ 39 Paragraph 3 Residence Act (AufenthG)

§ Section 35 Employment Ordinance (BeschV)

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