Apply for a residence permit in Germany

Non-EU newcomers apply for their residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) at the Ausländerbehörde in Germany. Appointments are scarce and the bar for a complete file is high — turn up missing one document and you usually start over with a new appointment weeks later.

⏱️Fee typically ~€100. Appointment waits can run weeks to months in big cities.

Good to know — wherever you live

• ✓Book your appointment as early as possible — many people request one before they've even finished their Anmeldung, then bring the certificate along.
• ✓If your permit expires before your appointment, ask explicitly for a Fiktionsbescheinigung — it keeps your stay (and usually your right to work) legal in the meantime.
• ✓Blue Card holders get a faster route to permanent residence and easier family reunification — mention it if your job and salary qualify.
• ✓Bring printed copies of everything plus the originals; clerks often keep the copies and check against the originals.