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Nationwide information sheet on the use of the nationwide form of the declaration of commitment

If you want to make it possible for a foreigner from a non-EU country to stay in Germany (usually temporarily), you can commit to paying for his or her living expenses.

People from third countries who want to enter or stay in Germany usually need a visa or a residence permit. When applying for a visa or residence permit, they must prove that they are able to support themselves as long as they are in Germany.

People from third countries are people from countries that do not belong to the European Union (EU), not the European Economic Area (EEA) and not Switzerland.

If you want to invite people from third countries to Germany and enable them to enter or stay in Germany, you can undertake to bear the living expenses of the person or persons invited. In addition to food, housing and clothing, subsistence also includes care in the event of illness and need for care. The payment obligation also includes the assumption of any costs of repatriation to the home country. Before you submit the declaration of commitment, you must describe your own economic situation and prove your solvency.

The declaration of commitment enables third-country nationals to prove that they have fulfilled the economic conditions for the issuance of a residence permit or a Schengen visa.

A declaration of commitment can be made by natural or legal persons (e.g. companies, charitable associations).

• Identity card or passport
• Identity card with online ID function (for online submission)
• eID card (for online submission)
• Residence permit
• Electronic residence permit (for online submission)
• In case of representation: power of attorney
• Proof of one's own economic situation and solvency
• for salaried persons: for example, bank statements, salary statements or salary statements, proof of income, proof of pension
• in the case of self-employed persons: for example, a certificate from the tax advisor on net income or an extract from the trade register or printout from the commercial register

• You must have legal capacity as a declarant and be at least 18 years of age.
• If you represent a natural or legal person, you must have and present a power of attorney or proof of your power of representation.
• You must submit the declaration of commitment to the Foreigners' Registration Office at the foreign guest's future place of residence or to the Foreigners' Registration Office responsible for your place of residence.
• If you do not know the future whereabouts of your guest, you must submit the declaration of commitment to the Foreigners' Registration Office.
  • at your main place of residence, or
  • at the registered office or principal place of business of your company or organisation

give off.

• You must be financially able to pay for the living expenses and expenses incurred by the foreign guest or guests. The assessment of your creditworthiness depends on the number of persons living in the household or persons liable for maintenance, the number of declarations of commitment submitted and the purpose of your stay.

You can submit the declaration of commitment at the Foreigners' Registration Office or online.

If you submit the declaration of commitment to the Foreigners' Registration Office:

• For the submission of your declaration of commitment, an official, nationwide form is used, which is provided by the Foreigners' Registration Office or Citizens' Advice Office and filled out on the basis of your information and evidence.
• You must provide the Foreigners' Registration Office with the required data in advance in the form specified by it.
• As part of the procedure, the Foreigners' Registration Office checks your creditworthiness, i.e. the extent to which you are economically able to secure your guest's livelihood or to meet financial obligations that arise later. To do this, you must provide proof of your economic situation.
• If the Foreigners' Registration Office has all the documents and assesses your creditworthiness as sufficient, the Foreigners' Registration Office will accept your declaration.
• You pay the administration fee. If the declaration of commitment is not recognized, you will have to pay a processing fee of the same amount.
• You must sign the declaration of commitment in the presence of an employee of the Foreigners' Registration Office.
• You will receive the original of the declaration of commitment to be passed on to the guest and used in the visa procedure. A double remains at the Foreigners' Registration Office.
• This concludes the proceedings.
• You are bound by your declaration for a period of five years from the date of your guest's entry.

If you submit the Declaration of Commitment online:

• You submit the online form electronically to the competent immigration office. You have two options:
  • 1. Complete electronic handling of the procedure (with electronic authentication)
  • 2. Semi-electronic handling of the procedure (online preparation, without electronic authentication)

If you carry out the procedure entirely electronically (1):

• You carefully read the information
• If you don't understand the information, you won't be able to make the statement online. In this case, please contact the competent immigration authority in person.
• You confirm that you have understood the information.
• Open the online form and log in to the Confederation user account if you are a natural person and would like to submit the declaration as a private individual.
• Follow the explanations for authentication using the activated online ID function (eID function) of your identity card, your ID card (EU nationals) or your electronic residence permit
• You log in to the organization account if you want to make the declaration as a representative of a company, association or other organization and have a power of attorney.
• Follow the explanations for authentication using the ELSTER certificate of your company or association.
• Part of your personal data will be automatically included in the form.
• You provide information about your creditworthiness.
• You provide information about your guest or guests.
• You upload the proofs to prove your creditworthiness or the creditworthiness of the company, association or organization you represent.
• As a representative for a company, association or other organization, upload the power of attorney.
• You choose whether you would like to have the certificate sent by post or whether you would like to pick up the certificate in person at the Foreigners' Registration Office.
• You pay the administration fee online and, if you wish to deliver by post, the postal charges.
• You click on "Submit".
• You have made the legally binding declaration.
• The Foreigners' Registration Office will send you the certificate in paper form by post.
• The procedure is over.
• You are bound by your declaration for a period of five years from the date of your guest's entry.

If you are partially handling the procedure electronically (online preparation) (2):

• They carefully read the information.
• If you don't understand the information, you won't be able to make the statement online. In this case, please contact the responsible immigration authority in person
• You confirm that you have understood the information.
• You make deeds to your person or, in the case of representation, with power of attorney for a company, association or organization.
• You provide information about your creditworthiness.
• You provide information about your guest or guests.
• You upload the proofs to prove your creditworthiness or the creditworthiness of the company, association or organization you represent.
• As a representative for a company, association or other organization, upload the power of attorney.
• You pay the administration fee online.
• You click on "Submit".
• You have prepared the submission of the declaration of commitment electronically.
• To pick up the certificate, you must visit the Foreigners' Registration Office and, in the presence of an employee of the Foreigners' Registration Office, sign the document by hand and receive it in paper form.
• The procedure is over.
• You are bound by your declaration for a period of five years from the date of your guest's entry.

The processing time varies depending on the workload of the Foreigners' Registration Office and can therefore be different.

• Declaration of Commitment Acceptance
• Natural or legal persons undertake to provide for the livelihood of a foreign person or persons invited by them during their stay in Germany.
• Prerequisite:

• Economic performance (creditworthiness)
• Credit check by the authority.

• In cases where invitees are unable to finance their stay with their own funds, persons who have made a declaration of commitment must pay for all costs incurred by them in Germany, including the costs of any medical treatment and repatriation to their home country.
• The obligation is valid for five years from the date of entry of the foreigner.
• The declaration of commitment serves as proof of the fulfilment of the economic requirements for the issuance of a residence permit or a Schengen visa.
• The declaration of commitment applies only to invitees from third countries.
• Countries that belong to the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland are not third countries.
• Declaration online with electronic proof of identity or in writing.
• Responsible: Immigration authorities of the future place of residence of the invitee(s). If the whereabouts are not known, the Foreigners' Registration Office in whose district the declarant lives or has his registered office is responsible. The declaration of commitment can also be made to a diplomatic mission.

The Foreigners' Registration Office (district or larger city) at the place of residence of the obligor is responsible for receiving the declaration of commitment.

Forms available: Yes

Written form required: Yes

Informal application possible: No

Personal appearance required: Personal appearance is required for written applications and online preparation