Residence permit for spouses, parents and children of German citizens at the location Berlin Immigration Office, Friedrich-Krause-Ufer

Residence permit for spouses, parents and children of German citizens

Issuance or extension of a residence permit for the

• Spouses
• Same sex life partners,
• Parents and
• Children

Prerequisites

• In-person visit
  • For a recognized marriage or registered same-sex civil partnership, the personal interview of both spouses / partners is required.
  • In the case of minors, the personal interview of the family (parents with child) is required.
• Of majority of both spouses or same sex life partners
  Both spouses or same-sex partners must have completed their 18th birthday.
• Simple German language skills
  The foreign spouse or same-sex partner usually has to have basic German language skills.
• Main residence in Berlin
  A second home in Berlin is not sufficient.

Documents required

• Application form (filled out)
  See the “Forms” section.
  Please fill in one form for each person who wishes to apply for a residence permit.
  (not required for the extension of the residence permit)
• Valid passport
  A passport must be submitted for each member of the family. For German spouses / same sex civil partners, the personal identity card (Personalausweis) is also sufficient.
• Kinderausweis (Child's identity card)
  For German children, a children's ID (Kinderausweis) is required. (if available)
• 1 current biometric photo
  The photograph must be current. It must also fulfill the photograph requirements for electronic passports. The photo sample page (Foto-Mustertafel) of the German Federal Printing Office (Bundesdruckerei)includes the individual requirements.
• Marriage certificate/ partnership certificate
  For spouses or same sex civil partners (not required for the extension of the residence permit)
• Birth certificate for underage children
  For a German child or a foreign child with a German parent (not required for the extension of the residence permit.)
• Certificate regarding legal custody
  A certificate regarding legal custody must always be presented if
  

  • the foreign father is not married to the child's mother and the residence permit application affects care and custody

  or
  

  • an under-age, foreign child applies for a residence permit and one of the parents is not resident in Germany.
• Proof of recognition of paternity (Vaterschaftsanerkennung)
  A paternity recognition must always be presented if the parents are not married under the German law (not required for the extension of the residence permit).
• For all foreign documents: translation, possibly with an additional apostil or confirmation of authenticity
  • Please provide an authenticated translation of all foreign documents.
  • Depending on your country of origin, you may also need an apostil or confirmation of authenticity (issued by a German consular official) for your document(s). More on the topic in the section "More information".
• Confirmation from the Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt)
  If the foreign father of a German child applies for a residence permit without being accompanied by the child's mother, confirmation (not older than 14 days) is required from the Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt) regarding the degree of contact he has with his child.
• Current certificate of school attendance
  For children who are required to attend school, no matter if they have the German or a foreign citizenship. The certificate must not be older than 14 days.
• Language certificate (Only required for the foreign spouse / same sex civil partner)
  An A1 language certificate (about simple knowledge of the German language) must be submitted.
• All certificates showing participation in the integration (Only in case of extension).
  If you were required to attend an integretion course by the Registration Office for Foreigners you have to show all certificates showing participation in the integration course.
• Proof of main residence in Berlin
  • Certificate of registration at the main residence (Meldebestätigung) or
  • lease and written confirmation of occupancy from the landlord

Forms

• Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels (Application for Issuance of a Residence Permit) - in German, English, French, Italian
• Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels (Application for Issuance of a Residence Permit - in German, Greek, Turkish, Serbo-Croatian
• Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels (Application for Issuance of a Residence Permit - in German, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian

Fees

Legal basis

• Section 28 Aufenthaltsgesetz - AufenthG

Average time to process request

More information

• Certificate of registration at the main residence (Meldebestätigung)
• Example: confirmation of occupancy from the landlord
• Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt): International recognition/Legalisation of documents