Aufenthaltserlaubnis für den Nachzug eines ausländischen Ehegatten zu einem Deutschen: Verlängerung beantragen

As a third-country national with a residence permit for family reunification with a German spouse or civil partner, you can apply to extend your residence permit as long as your marriage or civil partnership continues.

As the spouse or partner of a German citizen, you can have your residence permit issued for family reunification extended if you wish to continue living together with your partner in Germany.

The same requirements must be met and the same documents submitted for the extension of the residence permit as for the initial issue of the residence permit.

If your residence permit is extended, you are still entitled to pursue gainful employment.

• Recognized and valid identity document (e.g. passport or passport substitute)
• Current biometric photo in passport format (45 x 35 mm)
• If you are obliged to attend an integration course: proof that you have completed an integration course or that you have been integrated into society and social life in some other way. If no integration course has yet been completed, the Aliens' Registration Office may refuse to extend the residence permit or may only extend the residence permit for one year until the course has been successfully completed or proof has been provided that integration into social and community life has taken place in another way.

The documents and information must always be submitted in German. In individual cases, the foreigners authority may require less or further proof.

If necessary, you must provide the immigration authority with further proof of the continuation of your marriage or civil partnership (e.g. marriage certificate).

In principle, the same requirements must be met for the extension of the residence permit as for the initial issue of the residence permit. This means that

• The period of validity of your current residence permit will expire in the near future.
• You wish to continue your stay in Germany with your German spouse or partner.
• Your marriage or civil partnership with the German national continues.
  Please note: The marriage no longer exists if it has been divorced, annulled or declared invalid by an incontestable decision of a competent body.
• Your German spouse or partner continues to have his/her habitual residence in Germany (i.e. his/her center of life is not only temporarily in Germany).
• You continue to live with your spouse or partner in a family relationship (e.g. shared home). If you do not live together in a shared home, you may be considered to be living in a family relationship if you maintain regular contact with each other that goes beyond mere visits.
• You can at least communicate in a simple way in German (level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). This may be waived if no German courses are offered in your country of origin, if they are too expensive or if you are unable to attend them for other reasons.
  Please note: under certain circumstances, the immigration authority may oblige you to attend an integration course. This will then be noted on your residence permit.
• There is no interest in deporting you.
• Your stay does not jeopardize or impair the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Additional fees may apply for the issue of a new residence permit in the form of an electronic residence permit (eAT card), which can also be used as electronic proof of identity.
The time and form in which fees are charged and paid vary depending on the authority.
In certain cases, fee reductions or exemptions may apply (e.g. for persons entitled to asylum or recognized refugees). Lower fees may apply for Turkish nationals.

• Find out whether your foreigners authority allows you to apply online or has a special application form.
• If the application can only be submitted in person, make an appointment at the immigration office. If you apply online, the immigration office will contact you after receiving your application to arrange an appointment.
• During the appointment, your identity and documents will be checked (please bring your documents to the appointment, in the original if possible).
• If your application is approved, your fingerprints will be taken to produce a new electronic residence permit (eAT card).
• The Foreigners' Registration Office will commission the Bundesdruckerei to produce the eAT card. After completion, you will receive information and can collect the eAT card from the responsible office. The eAT card must always be collected in person.
• If your application is rejected, you will receive a notice of rejection.

approx. 6 weeks to 8 weeks

Note for further information on processing times:

The processing time may vary depending on the workload at the immigration office.

The production of the electronic residence permit by the Bundesdruckerei takes about 4 to 6 weeks.

Application deadline: 6 weeks to 8 weeks

Note (for further information on the deadline):

The extension of the residence permit must be applied for before the validity of the current residence permit expires. The application should be received by the immigration authority at least six to eight weeks before the residence permit expires.

Period of validity:

In the case of an extension, the residence permit is issued for at least one year.

• Securing a livelihood is generally not required for family reunification with Germans.
• A residence permit is excluded if the marriage or civil partnership
  • was forced or
  • has only been entered into for the purpose of reunification in Germany.
• If polygamy is permitted in the country of origin, only the spouse or partner of the first marriage is entitled to join the family.
• After three years of holding a residence permit for the family reunification of a foreign spouse with a German, a permanent residence permit (settlement permit) can be applied for under simplified conditions (see information on "Issuing settlement permits for reunited family members of Germans").
• The procedure at the Foreigners' Registration Office is usually conducted in German.
• All information provided to the Foreigners' Registration Office should be correct and complete to the best of your knowledge and belief so that your application can be processed without major delays.
• Incorrect or incomplete information can slow down the procedure and be detrimental to the person concerned. In serious cases, incorrect or incomplete information that is not completed or corrected in good time vis-à-vis the immigration authority can result in the revocation of previously granted residence rights, a fine, a prison sentence of up to three years or expulsion from the federal territory.
• Due to the complexity of residence law, this description is for information purposes only and is not legally binding.

• Appeal against the decision of the immigration authority within one month of notification
• Legal action before the court named in the objection notice if the objection is not upheld

• Residence permit for family reasons; extension for family reunification of a foreign spouse with a German national
• In principle, the same requirements must be met for the extension of the residence permit as for the initial granting of the residence permit.
• The validly concluded marriage/life partnership between the third-country national and the German national continues to exist.
• The German national continues to have his or her habitual residence in Germany (i.e. the center of life is not only temporarily in Germany).
• There is still an actual cohabitation between the spouses with mutual responsibility for each other (e.g. shared home or regular contact that goes beyond mere visits).
• German language skills at level A1 have been proven.
• If the obligation to attend an integration course was stated when the residence permit was issued, proof must be provided that this obligation has been fulfilled. If the integration course has not yet been completed, the immigration authority may refuse to extend the residence permit or only extend it for one year until the course has been successfully completed or proof has been provided that integration into social life has taken place in another way.
• The residence permit will be extended for a limited period.
• Responsible: the foreigners authority responsible for the applicant's place of residence

The foreigners authority responsible for the applicant's place of residence is responsible for processing the application.

The foreigners authority responsible for the applicant's place of residence is responsible for processing the application.

Forms available: No
Written form required: No
Informal application possible: Yes
Personal appearance necessary: Yes