Apply for an extension of your residence permit for humanitarian or political reasons under international law at the Hamburg Service

Prerequisites

• You belong to the group of people entitled to benefits.

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 passport or passport replacement of your country of origin
• Visa, if required for entry
• biometric passport photo in electronic form
  • You can have your passport photo taken on-site. A photo booth is available.
  • You can have a passport photo taken at a certified photo studio. The studio will then make the photo available electronically to the relevant authority via a cloud storage system.

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 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

Deadlines

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

Procedure

• You use the provided online service to apply for the extension of your 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 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


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