Applying for a residence permit for urgent humanitarian or personal reasons

How do I apply for a temporary residence permit for urgent humanitarian or personal reasons or significant public interests?

They are seeking a temporary stay in Germany, for example to temporarily care for a seriously ill family member, to provide urgent medical treatment or to complete vocational training. You are staying in Germany and are not obliged to leave the country.

In this case, you may be granted a residence permit by the Foreigners' Registration Office as long as urgent humanitarian or personal reasons or significant public interests require you to remain temporarily present in Germany.

The residence permit does not entitle you to gainful employment. It can be permitted upon application by the Foreigners' Registration Office.

You may be subject to a residence requirement.

You are entitled to benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act.

Family reunification is excluded.

You are not entitled to participate in an integration course. They can only be admitted to participate within the limits of available course places.

Locally competent immigration authority of your independent city or district.

• current biometric photo
• Proof of identity, if available, e.g. passport, ID card, birth certificate, marriage certificate; Citizenship card
• If applicable, employment contract or binding job offer
• Proof of your health insurance
• Lease

Obtain from your local immigration authority

Online procedure possible: no

Personal attendance required: yes

• Existence of an application for a residence permit
• Non-enforceable foreigners who are obliged to leave the country
• Urgent humanitarian or personal reasons or substantial public interests must require temporary presence in the Federal territory
• Fulfilment of the general conditions for grant
• There must be no grounds for refusal (no interest in expulsion, no entry and residence ban)

§ 44 Residence Act

§ 78 Residence Act

§ 78a Residence Act

As a rule, you must apply for your residence permit in person.

• Make an appointment with the locally responsible immigration authority. You can also find out about the application process on the respective website of the Ausländerbörde and which documents you have to submit in which form.
• During your appointment, your fingerprints will be taken.

If your application is approved, the Foreigners' Registration Office will instruct Bundesdruckerei to produce the electronic residence permit. The residence permit takes the form of a credit card with additional electronic functions.

With regard to the duration of the procedure until the handing over of the residence permit, please contact the responsible immigration authority.

Validity of the residence permit:

• 6 months at the latest, if you have not yet been legally resident in Germany for at least 18 months (continuously)
• up to three years if you have already resided legally in Germany for more than 18 months

As a rule, you will be informed by the competent immigration authority of the duration of the procedure (about 6 to 8 weeks) when applying for a residence permit.

Note: The residence permit is issued as an electronic residence title.

Fee for issuing a residence permit: 100 euros

For minors: 50 euros

Exemption from fees for social benefits