Residence permit for foreigners with a long-term residence in an EU member state at the location LEA, Zum Business Immigration Service (BIS)

Residence permit for foreigners with a long-term residence in an EU member state

Foreigners who are entitled to posses the legal status of a long-term resident in an EU member state will be granted a residence permit if their stay within the territory of the Federal Republic shall last longer than three months.

Foreigners entitled to long-term residence are those who hold a residence permit (under EU Directive 2003/109/EG of 25.11.2003) bearing the designation "permanent residence EG" or "permanent residence EU" in the respective official language of the issuing EU member state.

Excluded from this are holders of a residence title issued by Great Britain, Denmark and Ireland, since these EU member states do not apply the corresponding EU directive 2003/109/EG dated 25.11.2003.

The general prerequisites for issuing a German residence permit, such as a secure livelihood, apply without restriction.

The residence permit allows gainful employment dependent upon the predominant purpose for which the residence shall serve (e.g. studies, employment, self-employed activity). The §§ 16-21 of the residence law shall be applied analogously.

Prerequisites

• The legal status of a person with long-term residence entitlement in another EU member state
  • The right to claim a residence permit exists as a matter of principle only then when in another EU member state a residence permit has already been issued (pursuant to the EU directive 2003/109/EG dated 25.11.2003) bearing the wording "permanent residence EG" or "permanent residence EU" in the respective official language.
  • As a rule, a temporary residence permit without this additional note is insufficient.
  • Only in exceptional cases can the status of long-term residence entitlement be proved by written confirmation issued by the competent authorities of the other EU member state. The residence permit may only be granted on a discretionary basis.
• Main residence in Berlin
• A personal interview is required
  The interview should, if possible, take place by appointment.

Documents required

• Form “Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels" (Application for Issuance of a Residence Permit)
  verfügbar in den Sprachen Deutsch, Englisch, Französisch, Italienisch, Griechisch, Türkisch, Vietnamesisch, Spanisch, Portugiesisch, Russisch, Serbisch und Bosnisch;
  nur bei erstmaliger Beantragung auszufüllen
• Valid passport with long-term residence ("permanent residence EU" or "permanent residence EG") of the other EU member state
• 1 current biometric photo
  35mm x 45mm, frontal shot with neutral facial expression and closed mouth, looking straight into the camera, light background
• Proof of Income
  e.g.
  

  • lease,
  • for students: escrow account at a German Bank or submission of a declaration of commitment by a third party on an official form,
  • bank statements of the last 3 months
• Documentation regarding the intended purpose of stay (original)
  e.g. certificate of enrolment, employment etc.
• In certain circumstances: Form "Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis" (filled out)
  As a rule, a temporary residence permit for the purpose of employment may only be granted if the Federal Employment Agency has agreed to this.
• Health insurance
• Proof of main residence in Berlin
  • Certificate of registration at the main residence or
  • lease and written confirmation of occupancy from the landlord

  More on the topic in the section "More information".

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, Vietnamese
• Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels (Application for Issuance of a Residence Permit) - in German, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian
• Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels (Application for Issuance of a Residence Permit) - in German, Serbian, Bosnian
• Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis (job description)

Fees

Legal basis

• Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) § 38a
• EU Directive 2003/109/EG of 25.11.2003

Average time to process request

More information

• Certificate of registration at the main residence (Meldebestätigung)
• Example: confirmation of occupancy from the landlord