Hamburg Welcome Center is an official city authority office that provides a wide range of services for highly-skilled newcomers in Hamburg, including registration, recognition of qualifications and integration into the Hamburg labour market.
Residence permits and registration services
Assisting and counselling qualified foreign workers and management personnel as well as their family members is a high priority at the Hamburg Welcome Center. In particular our service is designed for foreign self-employed persons and researchers as well as freelancers and employees whose minimum income complies with section 2, paragraph 2, sentence 1 of the Employment Regulation (until March 1st, 2020: section 2, paragraph 18b, sentence 2 of the Residence Act) (currently 43,056 EUR).
This includes assistance concerning:
- Registration and changing of residence
- Issuing, extending and transferring of residence permits
- Visa extensions for business travellers
- Acceptance of declarations of commitment in accordance with section 68 of the Residence Act
- Application for certificates of good conduct
Please book an appointment prior to your visit!
You can make an appointment at the Hamburg Welcome Center if you are a foreign employee or freelancer and your anticipated income exceeds the minimum stated in section 2, paragraph 2, sentence 1 of the Employment Regulation (until March 1st, 2020: section 2, paragraph 18b, sentence 2 of the Residence Act) (currently 43,056 Euro).
Picking up your electronic residence permit is possible without prior appointment. Please note the special opening hours for such a pickup.
Of course you can alternatively visit your Customer Centre and District Immigration Authorities for these services.
KapitelübersichtNewcomers Service
We are here to help new citizens with any questions or issues they wish to raise, whether they are from abroad or from elsewhere in Germany. You can contact or visit us to obtain initial information about living and working in Hamburg, e.g. brochures and personal advice about topics like accommodation and employment, family and childcare, schooling and studying or culture and leisure opportunities.
We also offer consultation for companies and their staff who consider relocating to Hamburg.
Please book an appointment in advance!
KapitelübersichtIntegration into the Hamburg job market
The joint project of the Hamburg Welcome Center with the institution “Arbeit und Leben Hamburg” supports foreign skilled workers with the integration into the Hamburg job market as well as companies looking for qualified staff. More information can be found at the website of your way: make in in Hamburg.
your way:make it in Hamburg is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.
Kapitelübersicht
Advice and information on the recognition of foreign education, professional qualifications and degrees
A law governing the recognition of foreign qualifications came into effect in April 2012, granting everyone the opportunity to apply for recognition or evaluation of their certificates. Nevertheless, the path to obtaining recognition is not always easy to understand. For more information please consult the website of "Zentrale Anlaufstelle Anerkennung (ZAA)“ (German only).
To make an appointment for your personal consultation, or to receive the form for a written consultation, you can reach us by telephone or mail:
The Counselling Centre for Recognition of Qualifications is funded by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the European Social Fund and gets support from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Federal Employment Agency.
It is additionally co-financed by the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. Since February 2015, the Counselling Centre for Recognition of Qualifications is a part of the Hamburg Welcome Center.
