Applying for a residence permit on urgent humanitarian or personal grounds
Service description
You are seeking to stay in Germany for a limited period, for example to provide temporary care for a seriously ill family member, to undergo urgently required medical treatment, or to complete vocational training. You are currently in Germany and are not required to leave the country.
In that case, the Immigration Authority may grant you a residence permit, provided that urgent humanitarian or personal reasons, or significant public interests, necessitate your continued temporary presence in Germany.
The residence permit does not entitle you to take up gainful employment. Permission to do so may be granted by the Immigration Authority upon application.
A residence requirement may be imposed on them.
You are entitled to benefits under the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act.
Family reunification is not permitted.
You are not entitled to take part in an integration course. You may only be admitted to the course subject to places being available.
Procedure
You will usually need to apply for your residence permit in person.
- Arrange an appointment with your local immigration office. You can also find out about the application process and which documents you need to submit and in what form on the relevant immigration authority website.
- Your fingerprints will be taken during your appointment.
If your application is approved, the Foreigners’ Registration Office will instruct the Federal Printing Office to produce the electronic residence permit. The residence permit takes the form of a debit card with additional electronic functions.
For information on how long the procedure takes until your residence permit is issued, please contact the relevant immigration authority
Who should I contact?
Contact the foreigners authority.
Prerequisites
- Existence of an application for a residence permit
- They are not subject to an enforceable order to leave the country
- Urgent humanitarian or personal reasons, or substantial public interests, must necessitate temporary presence on German territory
- Fulfilment of the general requirements for grant
- There must be no grounds for refusal (no grounds for deportation, no entry or residence ban)
Which documents are required?
- current biometric photo
- Proof of identity, if available, e.g.
- Pass,
- ID card,
- Birth certificate,
- Marriage certificate,
- Certificate of Nationality
- Where applicable, an employment contract or a binding job offer
- Proof of your health insurance
- Rental agreement
What fees are incurred?
Fee for issuing a residence permit: 100 euros
For minors: 50 euros
Exemption from charges for recipients of social security benefits.
What deadlines do I have to observe?
Validity of the residence permit:
- a maximum of 6 months if you have not been legally resident in Germany for at least 18 months (without interruption)
- up to 3 years, if you have already been legally resident in Germany for more than 18 months
Processing time
When you apply for a residence permit, the relevant immigration authority will usually inform you of the duration of the procedure (approximately 6 to 8 weeks).
Note: The residence permit is issued as an electronic residence permit.
Legal basis
Section 5 of the Residence Act
Section 25(4), first sentence, of the Residence Act
Section 12 of the Residence Act
Section 29(3) of the Residence Act
§ Section 44 Residence Act
§ Section 78 Residence Act
§ Section 78a Residence Act
Section 45 of the Residence Regulation (AufenthV)
Section 53 of the Residence Regulation (AufenthV)
Section 1 of the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act (AsylbLG)
Legal remedy
- Appeal against the decision of the immigration authority within one month of notification.
- Action before the court named in the notice of objection if the objection is not upheld.
Applications / Forms
You can obtain this from your local foreigners authority.
Personal appearance required: yes