Department of Home Affairs and Sport

Apply for a residence permit to change your residence regulations at the Office for Migration of the Department of the Interior and Sport (BIS)

Does your residence permit contain restrictions on your place of residence? Learn how to apply for a change to the ancillary conditions at the Office for Migration of the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Sport (BIS) here.

Detailed description

You must apply to amend the supplementary provisions if your residence permit contains regulations regarding your place of residence and you wish to move to another federal state.


The Migration Office of the Department of the Interior and Sport (BIS) is responsible for:

  • Individual admissions for reasons of international law or urgent humanitarian reasons,
  • Admissions from abroad by the highest state authorities (only for new arrivals and persons subject to enforceable deportation orders)
  • Hardship cases and exceptional hardship cases
  • Persons seeking temporary protection
  • Asylum seekers, refugees, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection
  • Persons for whom a deportation ban exists
  • Persons subject to enforceable deportation orders, where humanitarian, personal or other legal or factual reasons make departure impossible
  • Victims of certain crimes (human trafficking, undeclared work or illegal temporary employment)
  • Integrated foreign nationals and certain family members with close family ties in Germany

Further information can be found in the "Links" section.

 

Information

Prerequisites

  • You belong to the group of eligible persons.
  • You have a residence permit with a regulation regarding your place of residence.
  • You want to move to another state.
  • You are employed in a job subject to social insurance contributions (at least 15 hours per week and a net income of at least €966.00 (as of June 2025)) or have an income that secures your livelihood.
  • You have a training or study place.
  • Your spouse, your life partner or your minor child live at the desired place of residence.
  • You have a job, a training or study place, or a course or qualification measure at the desired place of residence.
  • You will receive youth welfare services or measures at your desired place of residence that are not available at your current place of residence.
  • You have urgent personal reasons for which another federal state has agreed to accept you.
  • You are in a similar situation that entails unreasonable restrictions for you.

Documents required

The required documents depend on the specific reason for your move. Please provide the documents to demonstrate which of the requirements are met. These may include, but are not limited to:

  • Employment contract or job offer
  • Training contract or certificate of study
  • Registration certificate of your family member
  • marriage certificate
  • Birth certificate of your minor child
  • Detailed explanation
  • Medical certificate
  • Certificate of participation in an integration course, a professional language course, a qualification measure lasting at least three months leading to professional recognition, or a further training measure in accordance with Book III of the Social Code

You may be required to submit additional documents. Contact the relevant authority for further details.

Please note

The Hamburg Service is responsible for you in:

  • Admissions from abroad by the highest state authorities (not for new entries and persons who are legally obliged to leave the country)
  • Recordings in cases of particularly strong political interests

Deadlines

You need approval before you can move.

Procedure

  • You make an appointment with the responsible office.
  • Please bring all required documents, preferably in original, to the appointment.
  • You apply to change the ancillary conditions of your residence permit.
  • The responsible authority will verify your identity and your documents.
  • The competent authority shall involve other authorities where necessary.
  • The responsible authority will decide on your application.
  • You will receive a notification.

Processing time

The processing time depends on the individual case.

Fees

The fee payable is


50.00 euros; if you receive social benefits, this application is free of charge.

Legal remedies


  • Contradiction

  • Lawsuit before the Administrative Court

Legal basis

Section 12 paragraph 2 Residence Act (AufenthG)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__12.html


Section 12a Residence Act (AufenthG)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__12a.html

Related services

Links on hamburg.de

Address and contact information

Department of Home Affairs and Sport

Depending on the individual circumstances of the case, you must submit your application in Hamburg to the Department of the Interior and Sport (Amt M) or to a local Hamburg Service location.

Mon-Tue 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Thu-Fri 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and by appointment - closed on Wednesdays

Due to the pandemic spread of the disease COVID-19 caused by the pathogen SARS-CoV-2 ("Corona virus"), personal visits in the service building in Hammer Straße are not required and should only take place in emergencies or by appointment.



The following procedures therefore apply until further notice:

  • Holders of residence permits, residence permits, tolerations or other documents relating to residence law (e.g. fiction certificates) whose validity is about to expire will receive a certificate confirming the continuation of legality. At the same time, with this certificate, you will be given a preliminary appointment in a few weeks.
  • The certificate is currently sent by letter
  • If the residents' central office is visited due to the expiry of the validity of the previously valid document, the certificate will be issued in the entrance area
  • The previous document on the right of residence in the federal territory is only valid in connection with the certificate until the preliminary interview.
  • This also applies to all ancillary provisions to your document (e.g. type and scope of permitted employment).
  • Travel abroad and re-entry into the federal territory are only possible with a still valid residence permit.

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Keywords: move § 23 Residence Act § 25 Residence Act § 25a Residence Act § 22 Residence Act § 24 Residence Act § 23a Residence Act Change of residence

Last updated: 10.06.2026