German residence permit after arrival

Who this guide is for

• People who entered Germany with a national visa (type D) for work, study, family or job search.
• Nationals of countries that may enter visa-free and apply for their permit from inside Germany.
• Anyone whose visa is about to expire while their residence permit is still being processed.

What you need

• A valid passport with your national visa or your entry stamp.
• A completed address registration and the Meldebestätigung.
• Proof of German health insurance.
• Evidence for your purpose of residence: employment contract, enrolment letter, family documents or proof of funds.
• A recent biometric passport photo and the fee for your permit category.

Step-by-step process

1. 01

   Confirm which route you are on

   Most non-EU nationals need a national visa before entering for a long stay. Nationals of a defined group of countries — including Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States — may enter without a visa and apply for the residence permit from inside Germany. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a residence permit at all. If you are unsure which group you are in, check the Federal Foreign Office list before making plans.

2. 02

   Register your address first

   Address registration is the anchor for everything else: it determines which foreigners' authority is responsible for you, and it triggers your tax ID. Federal law gives you two weeks after moving in. Foreigners' authorities generally expect to see the registration certificate when you apply.

3. 03

   Sort out health insurance

   Proof of health insurance is a standard requirement for a residence permit. Travel or incoming policies are designed for the visa stage and short stays; authorities normally expect full German cover once you live here. Arrange this in parallel with registration so it does not become the blocking item.

4. 04

   Find the responsible authority and its process

   Immigration is administered locally. Depending on the city the office is called Ausländerbehörde, Ausländeramt, Landesamt für Einwanderung or part of the Bürgeramt. Some accept online pre-applications, some work by email, some by postal form, some by appointment only. Read the page of your own city rather than following advice written for another one, and see the appointment document checklist before you book.

5. 05

   Apply before your visa expires

   Start as early as your city allows, because appointment waiting times are the least predictable part of this process. Submit a complete file: an incomplete application usually means a second appointment weeks later. Keep every confirmation email, reference number and receipt.

6. 06

   Attend the appointment and give biometrics

   At the appointment your documents are checked and your fingerprints, signature and photo are recorded for the card. You pay the fee for your category. The card is produced centrally, so it is not handed over on the day — plan for a wait of several weeks and for a second visit or a postal delivery, depending on the office.

7. 07

   Collect the card and check what it says

   The eAT states your permit type, its validity and whether and how you may work. Check that the employment note matches what you actually intend to do, and note the expiry date. Extensions are applied for before expiry, not after.

Documents checklist

• Valid passport with your national visa or entry stamp
• Completed application form of your local authority
• Registration certificate (Meldebestätigung)
• Proof of German health insurance
• Recent biometric passport photo
• Employment contract, job description or enrolment letter, depending on your purpose
• Qualification documents or recognition decision where required
• Proof of funds or accommodation where required
• Marriage or birth certificates for family cases, with translations where required
• The fee for your permit category

Common mistakes

• Treating the national visa as a residence permit and letting it expire.
• Waiting for an appointment instead of submitting a pre-application or written application in time.
• Applying before registering your address, so the authority cannot process the file.
• Bringing travel insurance instead of German health insurance.
• Travelling abroad on a provisional certificate without checking what it permits.
• Following a checklist written for a different city, and arriving with the wrong forms.
• Missing translations or certified copies for foreign civil-status documents.

What happens next

• You receive your provisional certificate or confirmation of receipt, and your electronic residence title later.
• You check the employment note and expiry date on the card.
• You keep the card with your registration certificate, tax ID and insurance proof.
• You apply for a renewal well before expiry, and report a change of address or employer as required. If the process is taking longer than expected, see the guide on delayed residence permit applications.
• Family members apply for their own permits with their own documents.

How Burokrat helps

Frequently asked questions

Is my national visa the same as a residence permit?

No. A national visa allows entry and a limited first period of stay. To stay longer you apply for a residence permit at the foreigners' authority responsible for your registered address, before the visa expires.

How soon after arriving should I apply?

As soon as you are registered and insured. Because appointment waiting times vary widely between cities, treat the visa expiry date as your deadline and start early.

What is a Fiktionsbescheinigung?

A provisional certificate that many authorities issue when an application is pending, documenting that your stay continues to be lawful. What it allows in terms of work and travel is written on the certificate itself.

Can I work while my application is being processed?

It depends on your case and on what your provisional certificate states. Ask the issuing authority explicitly rather than assuming your previous permission continues.

Can Burokrat get me an appointment?

No. Burokrat prepares you for the appointment with an ordered checklist and reminders. Booking is done by you through your city's own system.

Do EU citizens need a residence permit?

No. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a residence permit, though they still have to register their address like everyone else.

Official sources

• Make it in Germany: applying for a visa and residence permit
• Federal Foreign Office: entry and visa requirements by nationality
• BAMF: residence titles and the electronic residence title (eAT)

Related guides

Browse every guide in the bureaucracy guide hub, or go back to the Burokrat homepage.