My permit expires in two months – when and where do I apply for an extension?
Two months is exactly the right time to act. The responsible authority is always the Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde) where you live – it's organized at the local level and is called different things depending on the city:
- Munich: Kreisverwaltungsreferat (KVR)
- Berlin: Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA)
- Hamburg: Amt für Migration
- Frankfurt, Cologne, Nuremberg, Dortmund, Duisburg, Karlsruhe: each has its own local Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde)
Only one thing really matters: your extension application must reach the authority before the permit expires. Since available appointments are often booked weeks in advance, you should take action 6–8 weeks before expiry. Many cities (e.g. Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt) offer online appointment booking or an online portal; sometimes it's enough to submit the application online before you get an appointment.
Practical tip: If you can't get an appointment before the expiry date, submit the application in writing, via an online form, or by email anyway to meet the deadline, and get confirmation of the date it was received. What counts is the date you submitted the application, not the appointment date.
I can only get an appointment after my permit expires – what happens to my residence status?
If you submitted the application in time before expiry, you're protected – even if the authority decides later. Under § 81 para. 4 sentence 1 AufenthG, your previous residence permit is considered to remain valid from expiry until the Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde) makes its decision. This so-called continued-validity fiction (Fortgeltungsfiktion) keeps your stay legal while the authority reviews your case.
This is why the timing of your application matters so much: the appointment itself can be after the expiry date – but the application cannot. Keep the confirmation of receipt of your application in a safe place.
What is a Fiction Certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung) – and can I work and travel with it?
The Fiction Certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung) is a document from the Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde) that proves to others that you submitted your application on time and that your stay continues to be valid. Its legal basis is § 81 para. 5 AufenthG. It is not a residence permit in its own right, but confirms the effect of your application. It usually has a limited validity period (often 3–6 months) and is extended if the authority has not yet made a decision.
Working: If your previous permit allowed you to work, this permission generally continues under the continued-validity fiction. Be sure to check the relevant entry on the certificate – employers pay attention to this. If the note is missing, ask the authority.
Traveling: Caution is needed here. A Fiction Certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung) is not recognized everywhere abroad, and depending on the type of fiction, leaving the country could jeopardize your return. Before any trip abroad, ask your Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde) whether you're allowed to re-enter with your specific certificate. If in doubt, don't travel until you have clarified this in writing.
What documents do I need for the extension?
The exact documents required depend on your purpose of stay (work, study, family, protection). But almost every Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde) expects this core set:
- Valid passport (not close to expiring)
- Previous residence permit (electronic residence permit, eAT)
- Completed application form from the relevant authority (often available as a PDF online)
- Current biometric passport photo
- Registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) or proof of housing / rental agreement
- Proof of health insurance
- Proof that you can support yourself financially (e.g. employment contract, payslips, bank statements)
- Depending on purpose: Enrollment certificate, proof of marriage/family, possibly a certificate of good conduct (Führungszeugnis)
A common cause of delays is missing or incomplete documents. Check the current checklist on your authority's website before attending your appointment.
How much does the extension cost?
Fees are regulated by the Residence Ordinance (Aufenthaltsverordnung, AufenthV). For extending a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis), § 45 AufenthV sets the following:
| Process | Fee |
|---|---|
| Extension of up to 3 months | €96 |
| Extension of more than 3 months | €93 |
| Change due to a change in the purpose of stay (incl. extension) | €98 |
| Fiction Certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung) (§ 47 para. 1 no. 8 AufenthV) | €13 (minors €6.50) |
Reductions and exemptions apply to several groups:
- Minors – reduced rates apply to them.
- Turkish nationals with association rights – under § 52a AufenthV, a reduced fee applies, equal to the fee for a German identity card.
- Recognized refugees and certain other groups – they may be exempt from fees.
Ask your authority about your specific case.
I missed the deadline and my permit has expired – what should I do?
Act immediately, don't wait. Book an appointment right away and submit the application – even a late application is better than none. At the same time, seek advice immediately (see below).
If the application is late, the continued-validity fiction does not apply automatically. The Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde) may grant continued validity under § 81 para. 4 sentence 3 AufenthG only to avoid unreasonable hardship – this is at its discretion. As long as neither a permit nor the fiction applies, your stay is at risk. That's why every day counts here: the sooner you apply, the better your position.
Does receiving Citizen's Allowance (Bürgergeld) or Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) harm my extension?
This depends on your residence permit – there's no general answer. For many permit types, being able to support yourself financially is a requirement; receiving Citizen's Allowance (Bürgergeld) or Social Assistance (Sozialhilfe) can then be a disadvantage when extending your permit or later applying for a settlement permit. Housing Benefit (Wohngeld) is assessed differently.
It's important to distinguish:
- Unemployment Benefit I (Arbeitslosengeld I) is based on your own contributions and is usually not a problem for immigration purposes.
- Citizen's Allowance (Bürgergeld) / Social Assistance (Sozialhilfe) can become relevant for extension and for a settlement permit.
- Child Benefit (Kindergeld) and Parental Allowance (Elterngeld) are generally not considered a harmful benefit.
- Exceptions apply for recognized refugees and people with a settlement permit.
Since so much depends on your specific permit, you should get advice before applying for any benefit. Applying too hastily can make a later extension more difficult.
Does the authority automatically approve the extension?
No. The same requirements generally apply to an extension as to the initial permit (§ 8 para. 1 AufenthG): the purpose of your stay must still apply, and depending on the permit type, other conditions must be met. The relevant Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde) decides on a case-by-case basis, and much of this is at its discretion. If the requirements are met, the permit is usually extended – but it's not automatic.
Frequently asked questions
When do I need to extend my residence permit?
The extension application must reach the responsible Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde) before your permit expires. Recommendation: book an appointment 6–8 weeks in advance, because appointments are often hard to get.
What is a Fiction Certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung)?
It confirms that you submitted an extension application on time. Under § 81 para. 4 AufenthG, your previous permit is then considered to remain valid until the authority makes a decision.
Am I allowed to keep working with a Fiction Certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung)?
If your previous permit allowed you to work, this permission generally continues under the continued-validity fiction. Check the entry on the certificate, and only travel after checking with the authority.
How much does extending a residence permit cost?
Under § 45 AufenthV, extending a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) costs €96 (up to 3 months) or €93 (more than 3 months). The Fiction Certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung) costs an additional €13 (minors €6.50).
I missed the deadline – what now?
Submit your application immediately and seek advice right away. If the application is late, the continued-validity fiction does not apply automatically; the authority can only grant it to avoid an unreasonable hardship.
Does Citizen's Allowance (Bürgergeld) harm my extension?
This depends on your residence permit. For many permit types, being able to support yourself financially is a requirement; Citizen's Allowance (Bürgergeld) can then be a problem, while Child Benefit (Kindergeld) and Parental Allowance (Elterngeld) are not considered harmful. Get advice before applying.
Next steps
There is no nationwide standard form for the extension itself – your local Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde) is responsible. These topics often overlap:
- Registering your address – you'll usually need the registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) for the extension too.
- Applying for Child Benefit (Kindergeld) – Child Benefit (Kindergeld) is generally not considered a harmful benefit.
- Applying for Citizen's Allowance (Bürgergeld) – Note: for many residence permits, being able to support yourself financially is a requirement. Whether Citizen's Allowance (Bürgergeld) harms your extension depends on your permit – get advice beforehand.
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Real advice (free and independent):
- Migration Counseling for Adult Immigrants (MBE)
- Youth Migration Services (JMD) – for young people
- Welfare organizations
- Specialist lawyer for immigration law
This is general, carefully researched information (as of 26 July 2026) and does not replace legal or official advice. Immigration decisions depend on individual cases and are at the discretion of the responsible Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde); laws and administrative practice can change at short notice. Amounts and deadlines may change; the Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde) responsible for where you live decides in each individual case. For binding information, contact the Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde) responsible for where you live, a migration counseling service (MBE/JMD), or a lawyer. If a deadline is about to pass or you face a rejection, seek legal help immediately (a specialist lawyer for immigration law) or contact a migration counseling service. We cannot guarantee completeness or accuracy.
Sources
- § 81 AufenthG – Applying for a residence permit (gesetze-im-internet.de) (accessed 26 July 2026)
- § 45 AufenthV – Fees for the residence permit (gesetze-im-internet.de) (accessed 26 July 2026)
- § 47 AufenthV – Fees for other immigration-related official acts (gesetze-im-internet.de) (accessed 26 July 2026)
- Fiction Certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung) – Chancen NRW (Ministry for Children, Youth, Family, Equality, Refugees and Integration of North Rhine-Westphalia) (accessed 26 July 2026)
- Information sheet on the continued-validity effect and Fiction Certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung) (Hesse Ministry of the Interior) (accessed 26 July 2026)