Skip to content
Home » Checklist » Arriving in Germany » Residence Permits » Applying for residence

Applying for residence

A visa allows you to enter Germany, but if you plan to stay longer than 90 days, you must apply for a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) from the local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde). 
You can only apply for a residence permit after registering your address at the local registration office (Bürgeramt).
📍 Important: You must complete this Anmeldung (address registration) within 14 days of moving into your new residence. Learn more about registering your address here
Once registered, you should contact your local Ausländerbehörde as soon as possible to apply for your residence permit. In most cases, this should be done within the first 90 days of your stay in Germany. 
If you entered Germany on a national visa (Type D), it is typically valid for 90 days. During this time, you are expected to transition to a proper residence permit for the purpose of your stay (e.g. work, study, family reunification).  
Do not overstay your visa, apply for residence as soon as you can.

Where must you apply

You apply at the immigration office (Ausländerbehorde)
Depending on where you live, this can be in your city (Stadkreis) or at the district office (Landratsamt).

You can use the Ortdienste website to find your local office. Click on the Bundesländer and zoom in from there.
Another website to use is Melderegister

You can also search online for Ausländerbehörde and your town e.g. Ausländerbehörde Leinfelden.
In smaller towns, the Bürgeramp and the Ausländerbehorde are in the same building but this may not be the case in bigger cities. 

Documents needed

  • Valid passport
  • Proof of income, e.g. employee contract
  • Proof of medical insurance
  • Registration certificate (Anmeldebescheinigung) that you get from the Bürgeramt after registering with them. This will be your new proof of residence, but take your rental agreement with you just in case.
  • Completed application form
  • Biometric photos
  • the rest will depend on the purpose of stay e.g for work, study etc.

Vocabulary

Proof of residencedie Wohnungsgeberbestätigung
Obligation to registerdie Meldepflicht
Residence permitdie Aufenthaltserlaubnis
Registration certificatedie Anmeldebescheinigung

What do you get

Your first Residence card will be temporary, valid depending on your situation and conditions, for example, the period of your studies, Family reunification or work situation. Again, depending on your situation, you can apply for permanent residence after a certain amount of time. 
Proof of residence is in the form of a physical chip card. Read more about what it offers and how to use it here.

Temp Aufenthalt

Residence in Germany

A Visa allows you to enter Germany, and stay for no more than 90 days in a 180-day cycle.When you want to stay in Germany for longer than 90 days, you will need to apply for the correct visa in your home country and once you are in Germany, apply

Related cotent

Checklist after arriving in Germany

Checklist after arriving in Germany Your first days in Germany can be very overwhelming and confusing. The forms you must fill in and the administrative tasks you must do will depend on your reason for being in Germany. A student will have a different to-do list from someone who comes here to work. The following lists the general things that everyone needs to do.  Arriving at the airport The only direct flights between SA and

Temporary proof of German Residence

Temporary proof of German Residence To stay in Germany longer than 90 days in a 180 period, you will need a residence permit. Qualifying for a residence permit will depend, among other things, on the type of visa you applied for. Your long-stay visa allows you to travel to Germany. Within two weeks after arrival in Germany, you need to register at your local town office and  Immigration authority. See Registering at the local town office.

German laws and regulations

German laws and regulations The Bundesamt für Justiz publishes laws and regulations on the Gesetze im Internet website. The main site is in German, but there are translations available, with the following notice: “Translations of these materials into languages other than German are intended solely as a convenience to the non-German-reading public. Any discrepancies or differences that may arise in translations of the official German versions of these materials are not binding and have no

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Email

🇿🇦 Feeling a little homesick?

We’ve got a taste of home waiting for you.
From South African concerts to casual meetups across Germany—check out what’s happening near you.