Apply for an extension of a residence permit for humanitarian or political reasons under international law

Do you have a residence permit for international, humanitarian, or political reasons? Find out how to apply for an extension of your residence permit here.

Detailed description

If you have a residence permit for international, humanitarian, or political reasons, it is temporary. If you wish to extend your residence permit, you must submit an application to the relevant authority. Which authority in Hamburg is responsible for your application depends on your case.



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

  • Hardship cases (first-time extension only)
  • Exceptional hardship cases
  • Persons seeking temporary protection
  • 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)
  • Persons who are in possession of a work permit

The Hamburg Service is responsible for:

  • Individual photographs for reasons of international law or urgent humanitarian reasons
  • Recordings from abroad by the highest state authorities
  • Recordings in cases of particularly political interests
  • Resettlement of asylum seekers
  • Hardship cases (only from the second extension)
  • Asylum seekers
  • refugees
  • Persons entitled to subsidiary protection
  • Persons for whom deportation is prohibited
  • Integrated foreign nationals and certain family members with close family ties in Germany.
  • Persons for whom humanitarian, personal or other legal or factual reasons make leaving the country impossible

Further information can be found in the “Links” section.

 

Information

Documents required

Which documents you need to submit depends on the individual case. Further information can be found in the "Links" section or from the responsible office.

Deadlines

 

Processing time

 

Fees

The costs involved depend on the individual case. Further information can be found in the "Links" section or from the responsible office.

Legal remedies

 

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Keywords: asylum Moonlighting refugee Family reunification Hardship human trafficking Temporary employment protection seekers deportation Resettlement subsidiary Obligation to leave the country

Last updated: 15.02.2026