Department of Home Affairs and Sport

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

Do you have a residence permit for international, humanitarian, or political reasons? Learn how to apply for an extension of your residence permit at the Office for Migration of the Federal Agency for the Interior and Sport (BIS) 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 office 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
  • Persons who have lodged an appeal against the decision of the competent authority in the asylum procedure
 

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 provide you with detailed information.

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 for a fee. A photo booth is available.
    • You can also have a passport photo taken at a photographer's office or a drugstore. It can then be retrieved electronically from there when you appear for your passport photo (QR code).
  • You may be required to submit further documents. You can find out more when completing the online service or from the responsible authority.

Please note

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.

Deadlines

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


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

Procedure

  • They are applying for an extension of their residence permit.
  • The relevant authority will then send you an appointment for a consultation.
  • Please bring all required documents in their original form to the appointment.
  • The responsible authority will involve other authorities if necessary.
  • 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 electronic residence permit (eAT) when your data is recorded. Please remember to bring your previous eAT and, if applicable, your travel document to this appointment.

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: 46.50 EUR


From the age of 18: 93.00 EUR


Fee for passport photo on site for all persons: 6.00 EUR to be inserted


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.

Haven't found the right one yet?

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Keywords: asylum refugee Family reunification Hardship protection seekers Resettlement subsidiary § 24 Residence Act Section 25 para. 4b Residence Act Section 25 para. 4a Residence Act Section 25b paragraph 6 Residence Act § 23a Residence Act first extension Section 25 para. 5 Residence Act first extension Section 25 para. 5 Residence Act second extension

Last updated: 15.02.2026