Department of Home Affairs and Sport

Apply for a residence permit for humanitarian or political reasons under international law at the Office for Migration

Are you staying in Germany for international law, humanitarian, or political reasons? Find out when and how you can apply for a residence permit at the Office for Migration of the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Sport (BIS) here.

Detailed description

If you cannot return to your home country for international, humanitarian, or political reasons, you can obtain a residence permit after the asylum procedure has been completed and a legally binding decision has been issued. This residence permit allows you to stay and work in Germany for a certain period of time. In Hamburg, the responsible office depends on the specific circumstances of your application: The Office for Migration of the Ministry of the Interior and Sport (BIS) is responsible for:

  • Individual photographs for reasons of international law or urgent humanitarian reasons
  • Admissions from abroad by the highest state authorities (only for new entries and persons who are legally obliged to leave the country)
  • Hardship cases and exceptional hardship cases
  • Persons seeking temporary protection
  • Asylum seekers
  • refugees
  • Persons entitled to subsidiary protection
  • Persons for whom deportation is prohibited
  • Persons who are legally obliged to leave the country and for whom humanitarian, personal or other legal or factual reasons make leaving the country 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.
 

Information

Prerequisites

  • You belong to the group of people entitled to benefits.
  • You have clarified your identity where possible or have cooperated in doing so.

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

Documents required

  • Valid proof of identity such as an identity card, passport, substitute travel document or other personal documents from your country of origin.
  • biometric passport photo in electronic form
    • You can have a passport photo taken on site. A photo booth is available.
  • You may be required to submit further documents.

Please note

The Hamburg Service is responsible for:

  • 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

If you belong to this group of people, you will not have to go through an asylum procedure beforehand.

Deadlines

Depending on the individual circumstances, the residence permit is limited to a period of 6 months to 3 years.

Procedure

  • The prerequisite for granting a residence permit on humanitarian or political grounds under international law is a positive decision by the BAMF (conclusion of the asylum procedure).
  • You will receive an appointment invitation for eAT registration from the arrival center / ZEA.
    Please bring all required documents in their original form to this appointment.
  • The responsible authority will verify your identity and documents; your fingerprints and signature for the production of the electronic residence permit (eAT) will be taken on site. A biometric photograph can be taken on site or brought by you in electronic form (QR code).
  • Your eAT is produced by the Federal Printing Office.
  • You will be notified of an appointment to collect your eAT when your data is recorded.

Processing time

Processing will begin immediately at the appointment if all documents are complete. The delivery time for the electronic residence permit from the Federal Printing Office is typically two to four weeks.

Fees

Before the age of 18: 50.00 EUR


From the age of 18: 100.00 EUR


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

Sections 22 ff. of the Residence Act (AufenthG)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__22.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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Last updated: 10.06.2026