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

For an area outside of Lower Saxony and foreign languages, some menu items and functions are not available. Please go to the service page of the respective country.

Please specify an area.

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 to participate in the Federal Volunteer Service

Who should I contact?

The authority responsible for processing the application is the foreigners authority responsible for the applicant's place of residence.

You can find out which one this is online here:

https://bamf-navi.bamf.de/de/Themen/Behoerden/

What are the fees?

Process flow

  • Before entering Germany, you must usually apply for a national visa for Germany in your home country. In addition to EU and EEA citizens, nationals of Australia, Great Britain, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand and the United States of America do not require a visa.
  • After entering the country, you must then apply for a residence permit. The residence permit must be applied for before your visa or visa-free stay or your current residence permit expires.
  • Find out whether your immigration office allows you to apply online or has a special application form.
  • If the application can only be submitted in person, make an appointment with the foreigners authority responsible for your place of residence. If you apply online, the foreigners authority will contact you after receiving your application to arrange an appointment.
  • During the appointment, your identity and documents will be checked (please bring your original documents with you to the appointment). Your fingerprints and signature will also be taken for the electronic residence permit (eAT card).
  • You will receive notification by post that your application has been approved and that Bundesdruckerei has been commissioned to produce the eaT card, or that your application has been rejected.
  • You will receive information by post that you can collect the eAT card from the Foreigners' Registration Office. As the eAT card is linked to an online ID function, you must collect it in person.

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

Application deadline: The residence permit should be applied for at least 6 to 8 weeks before the expiry of your visa, your visa-free stay or your valid residence permit - but in any case in good time before the start of your voluntary service.

Period of validity: The residence permit is issued for the duration of the Federal Volunteer Service, which can last between six and 18 months.

Legal basis

Appeal

  • An appeal against a negative decision by the immigration authority can be lodged with the competent administrative court.
  • There is no preliminary procedure (objection) in Lower Saxony.
  • Detailed information can be found in the negative decision.

Supporting institutions

Author

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

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