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. You will receive a Meldebestätigung (Certificate of registration at the main residence)

After registering at the relevant immigration authority (Ausländerbehorde), you will be issued a Residence permit.

Fiktionsbescheinigung

A Fiktionsbescheinigung is temporary proof of your residence status.
Due to circumstances, it can take longer than expected to receive your residence permit card. The current process is that the Ausländerbehorde send your papers to the Staatsdrükerei in Berlin, who has to print your Residence card. This is then sent back to the Ausländerbehorde and they will contact you to come pick it up.

If you need proof of residence, for example, to travel, you can request a fictional certificate or Fiktionsbescheinigung at the Ausländerbehörde, which they can issue immediately,

This document is seen as proof of your residence permit and will have the same restrictions as your residence permit.
A single entry for example, will mean you are not permitted to travel back to Germany unless otherwise indicated.
A fictional certificate cannot be issued to holders of a Schengen visa for short-term residence (Category C).

There are currently 3 variations of a Fiktionsbescheinigung

The rules applicable to you will be marked clearly on your Fiktionsbescheinigung

Variation 1: § 81 Abs. 4 AufenthG

The Fortgeltungsfiktion applies to foreign nationals who already hold a valid residence permit and are either waiting for their residence card, have applied for an extension of their current residence title, or have applied for a different residence title before their existing one expires.
As long as the application was submitted on time, the previous residence permit remains valid with all its associated rights and obligations until a decision is made on the application.
A certificate issued under § 81 (4) of the Residence Act (AufenthG) also entitles the holder to travel. Departure and re-entry are permitted. Nevertheless, it is advisable to consult with the relevant embassy in the destination country to ensure that entry and exit with a Fiktionsbescheinigung will be accepted without issues, and to check if any additional documents may be required.

This does not apply to visas issued in accordance with section 6 (1). If the application to issue or extend a residence title was filed too late, the foreigner’s authority may order that the previous residence title remains valid in order to avoid undue hardship. – Gesetze im Internet

From Service Berlin
“If a currently valid residence permit (temporary residence permit or national visa for long-term durations – Category D ) is available, a fictional certificate according to § 81 Section 4 of the Residence Act will be issued. In this case, the residence permit and all supplementary regulations (also regarding the stipulations concerning gainful employment) remain in force until a decision has been made in relation to the application. Journeys abroad and re-entry into the area of the Republic are possible with a valid fictional certificate in accordance with § 81 Section 4 of the Residence Act. “

Variation 2: § 81 Abs. 3 Satz 1 AufenthG

The Erlaubnisfiktion under § 81 (3) sentence 1 of the Residence Act (AufenthG) applies to certain nationals who do not need a visa for short stays. If these individuals apply for a residence title in Germany for the first time, their stay is considered legal until a decision is made by the immigration authorities. It is crucial that the application for the residence title is submitted before their current legal stay expires. However, traveling is not permitted with an Erlaubnisfiktion under § 81 (3) sentence 1 of the Residence Act. If theapplication is filed too late, deportation is deemed to be suspended from the time of application up to the time of the decision by the foreigners authority. – Gesetze im Internet

From Service Berlin
If the male or female applicant is lawfully resident without a visa in the Federal Republic, because he or she is entitled to be by virtue of his/her nationality, the fictional certificate will be issued in accordance with § 81 Section 3 of the Residence Act.
This permits residence in the area of the Federal Republic until a decision has been made regarding the application. This fictional certification, however, does not permit re-entry into the territory of the Federal Republic. It also does not permit the commencement of gainful employment.

Variation 3: § 81 Abs. 3 Satz 2AufenthG

The Duldungsfiktion also applies to certain nationals. It is required that the foreign national does not already hold a residence title. In cases of Duldungsfiktion, the application was not submitted on time. In such cases, the stay is not considered legal, but deportation is temporarily suspended. Therefore, the late applicant is granted a form of “fictitious toleration” (Duldung).

Gesetze im Internet

Types of Residence permits

Temporary Residence

Temporary Residence A Visa allows you to enter Germany, but your stay is limited to no more than 90 days in a 180-day cycle.If you want to stay in Germany for longer than 90 days, you will need to apply for the correct visa in your home country. Once in Germany, you must apply for the subsequent residence permit (Aufenhaltstitel) at the competent Aliens Authority in Germany. It will also regulate what you are allowed to do in Germany, such as weekend work while on a study visa. A temporary residence title (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) is granted for a limited time and a specific

Permanent Residence

A permanent residence in Germany is called a Niederlassungserlaubnis and may be granted as a Settlement permit or Permanent EC residence permit. Very important!! Your residence card has an expiration date that corresponds to your passport. Your residence card is linked to your passport number see the PASS field. See the remarks section on the card as well as nr. 7 below. Germany has a “Passpflicht” law. Photo Symbol for the electronic CHIP Surname and Names Your Aufenthalts number Your Nationality /”Staatsangehörigkeit” your date of birth The valid date for the Card, not your residence. This is usually linked to the validity of

Legal basis

Section 81 Aufenhaltsgesetz – AufenthG (Act on Residence, Economic Activity and Integration of Foreigners in the Federal Territory)

Legalising Documents

Depending on your needs, you may require documents to be authenticated, certified, or have certified copies made Document authentication South Africa and Germany are both members of the Hague Apostille Convention. This means that if you need to authenticate a South African document for use in Germany, you can have it Apostilled. You can find the full list of participating countries here. It’s important to note that Apostille and Notarisation are not the same. They serve different purposes and are used in different situations. Here is a summary of the differences between Notarised, Apostilled, and Legalised: Authenticating South African Documents in

Police Clearance Certificate

If you need to register your Profession (Beruf) for the first time in Germany, you might need a South African police clearance, otherwise, you do not need one. These will typically be for professions like Doctors, Pharmacists or Attorneys.If you apply for a new job in Germany, the new employer might request a German Führungszeugnis. South African Police Clearance Certificate In South Africa, you can apply for a Police clearance certificate at your local police station.The process can take up to six months. The official documentation you can find at the South African Police Service.They have an online application

Registering at the Local Town Office

If you plan to stay in Germany for longer than 3 months, you will need to register at your local Bürgeramt (Town office).This is called a Meldepflicht and is compulsory. More about the law can be found in BMG (in German) or in EnglishIt must be done within two weeks after moving into your residence. ” Anyone who moves into a residence shall register with the registration authorities within two weeks of moving in. (2) Anyone who moves out of a residence and does not move into another residence in Germany shall deregister with the registration authorities within two weeks of moving out. Deregistration shall be