Hamburg Welcome Center

Apply for an extension of your residence permit to work in Germany at the Hamburg Welcome Center for Professionals

Prerequisites

• You belong to the group of people entitled to benefits.
• You have a recognized and valid passport or passport replacement.
• There is no interest in deporting you.
• You have a job or a job offer.
• You can secure your livelihood and health insurance coverage from your income without relying on public benefits.
• Your stay does not endanger or impair the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Further requirements depend on the specific circumstances and the reason for your stay. The responsible authority can inform you accordingly.

Documents required

• valid passport or passport replacement of your country of origin
• current biometric passport photo in digital form
  • You can have your passport photo taken on-site. A photo booth is available.
  • You can also have a passport photo taken by a photographer or a drugstore. It can be retrieved electronically from there during your appointment.

You may be required to submit additional documents. You'll learn more when completing the online service or from the relevant office.

Please note

The Hamburg Service is responsible for:

• People participating in the Federal Voluntary Service or the European Voluntary Service
• People looking for a job after completing vocational training at school or in a company
• People seeking employment with a recognized foreign vocational qualification
• Self-employed persons and freelancers
• Self-employed persons who have already been recognized as refugees (or similar) in another EU country
• Self-employed former scientists and researchers

Deadlines

Submit your application no later than 8 weeks before your current residence permit expires.

Procedure

• You use the provided online service “Residence Permit Hamburg” to apply for the extension of a residence permit and upload the required documents.
• The responsible office will then send you an appointment for an interview.
• Please bring all required documents, preferably in original, to the appointment.
• The responsible authority will check your identity and documents.
• The competent authority shall involve other authorities where necessary.
• You pay the necessary fees.
• If your application is approved, your fingerprints, signature and a biometric photo will be taken to produce the electronic residence permit (eAT).
• The responsible authority commissions an external agency, the Federal Printing Office, to produce your eAT.
• Once the eAT is ready, you can pick it up in person from the responsible office. The responsible office will schedule an appointment for you.
• If your application is rejected, you will receive a rejection notice with the reasons for the rejection.

Processing time

Processing will take place directly at the appointment if all documents are complete.


The delivery time for the electronic residence permit from the Federal Printing Office is usually 2 to 4 weeks.

Fees

96.00 EUR for a further stay of up to 3 months


93.00 EUR for a further stay of more than 3 months


Certain groups of people may be exempt from the fee. The responsible authority can provide further information.

Legal remedies

Contradiction


Lawsuit before the Administrative Court

Legal basis

Residence Act (AufenthG); Section 4; §§ 18 - 21


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/BJNR195010004.html#BJNR195010004BJNG000601310