Extend your residence permit in Germany

Residence permits in Germany are issued for a fixed period, and you must apply to extend yours at the Ausländerbehörde before it expires. Appointments are scarce, so start early — if your permit runs out before the office can see you, ask for a Fiktionsbescheinigung, which keeps your stay and usually your right to work legal in the meantime.

⏱️Fee typically ~€93–100. Apply 6–8 weeks before expiry; big-city appointment waits can be much longer.

Good to know — wherever you live

• ✓Book the extension appointment as soon as you can — many your city offices are booked weeks or months ahead, so don't wait until the permit is nearly expired.
• ✓If the appointment falls after your permit expires, request a Fiktionsbescheinigung: it bridges the gap and preserves your legal status and work rights.
• ✓Bring current proof of the purpose of your stay — job contract and payslips, enrolment certificate, or marriage documents — plus your passport, Anmeldung and a biometric photo.
• ✓Changed jobs, finished studies or married since your last permit? Flag it early, because it may change which permit you should now hold.
• ✓Never let your permit lapse without either an extension or a Fiktionsbescheinigung — an illegal gap can jeopardise future applications, including permanent residence.