Documents Required For Residence Permit In Germany

There are several different types of residence permit, dependent on the individual’s reason for being in Germany.

Each type holds its own specific requirements (with German immigration authorities reserving the right to request further requirements based on the applicant’s circumstances), but generally speaking, in order to get a residence permit, the following prerequisites apply:

• The applicant must hold a valid visa as required for their nationality and purpose for residing in Germany.
• The applicant must have visited their local citizens’ office (Bürgeramt) to attend a registration appointment (Anmeldung) and have been successfully granted a temporary citizens’ registration certificate (Anmeldebescheinigung).

• The applicant must hold valid health insurance. In most cases, this must be German health insurance rather than a policy taken out internationally.
• (Where the applicant is required to demonstrate their financial means) The applicant must have opened a German bank account and hold sufficient funds within it to prove there will be no reliance on state benefits.
• (Where the applicant has no income in Germany) The applicant must have opened a German bank blocked account (Sperrkonto). This allows for a lump sum transfer and monthly withdrawals to prove there will be no reliance on state benefits.

Applicants must attend their local immigration office to apply for and receive a residence permit and must do so in person within the first 30 days of their time in Germany. A pre-booked appointment must be made. At the date and time of the appointment, the applicant must take with them all required supporting documents as well as means to pay the residence permit fee.

Overview

During the application process for your residence permit, there are several items of supporting documentation to be provided. Immigration authorities in Germany reserve the right to request further documents dependent on an applicant’s individual circumstances, but as standard, the following are to be provided:

• A completed application form for issuance of a residence permit (Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels).
• A valid passport.
• A recent biometic photograph (of passport size and standard; a frontal shot with neutral expression and plain background).
• Any valid visa information.
• A temporary citizens’ registration certificate (Anmeldebescheinigung).
• Proof of a German bank account or blocked account (or, for a residence permit extension, bank statements from the last six months for this account).
• Proof of valid health insurance (statutory health insurance is considered sufficient but for private insurance policies, minimum coverage requirements apply).
• Proof of main residence in Germany (usually a tenancy agreement or hotel bill/reservation).

These are the standardised supporting document requirements. Additional document requirements vary by the visa type, and therefore type of permit required. The three main class of permit are as follows:

Employment Residence Permit: Document Requirements

When an individual is moving to Germany to work for a specific employer, they must already have a job offer and contract in place in order to demonstrate to the Federal Employment Agency that they’re of sufficient skilled status to enter the country. The visa application process heavily involves the employer and so most of the required documents are prepared as part of this.

As well as the documents listed above, the applicant must also provide:

• Proof of income that matches the minimum threshold required for the visa and matches with the salary noted on the employment contract
• Proof of employment. This is usually the employment contract itself
• A completed employment permission form (Antrag auf Erlaubnis einer Beschäftigung)
• A completed job description form (Stellenbeschreibung)

In some cases, the employment contract, employment permission form and job description form will be sent to the foreigners’ office by the employer direct and the employee will just have to take income proof. However, this doesn’t always happen and so you will need to check with your employer before the permit application appointment.

It is a legal requirement that everyone living in Germany has sufficient health insurance. There are two types of insurance: public (GVK, gesetzliche krankenversicherung) and private (PVK, private krankenversicherung).

Emergency medical treatment will be provided to anyone who needs it, but anything non-emergency will only be administered to those with insurance; or the individual will be personally liable to pay for care.

Most residents of Germany have GVK, but PVK does offer a wide range of coverage.

Employers will sign up their employees to GVK, but otherwise individuals must do so themselves.

Coverage includes, as standard, GP care, in-patient and out-patient treatment, basic dental care, prescriptions, pregnancy care, statutory sick pay (SSP) and family health insurance. A portion of everyone’s income in Germany contributes toward GVK.

PVK provides access to additional premium healthcare alongside further flexibility and customisation of treatment plans. However, not everyone is eligible for it. According to German law, residents must meet one of the following eligibility criteria to enrol in PVK:

• Be self-employed or a freelancer
• Be a civil servant
• Earn a qualifying monthly amount
• Be a student aged between 23-30 whose domestic insurance isn’t valid in Germany

The costs of PVK are dependent on an applicant’s personal characteristics rather than a percentage of their salary.

Both GVK and PVK can be combined under supplementary insurance policies, if desired.

Applicants are free to choose whichever health insurance policy they like but given the criteria, and the fact that overseas policies are rarely accepted, it is most common to opt for GVK.

Register at the local citizens’ office

The applicant must attend a Bürgeramt to register themselves. They will receive a Anmeldebescheinigung certificate, which will form part of the supporting documentation required at the residency permit appointment.

Obtain German health insurance

Sufficient coverage from a public or private German health insurance policy will need to be in place prior to application for a residence permit and so this must be arranged as soon as possible.

Open German bank account

Either a standard German bank account or blocked account will need to be arranged in advance to demonstrate the applicant’s financial means.

Attend local foreigners’ office to apply for residence permit

An advance appointment should be booked: usually as soon as possible upon arrival into Germany. A digital version of the residence permit application form can be downloaded and printed in advance ready for the interview. All supporting forms should be taken along with this form. At the interview, the application fee will also need to be paid. Not all foreigners’ offices accept cards and so the applicant may need to take cash with them.

Await application assessment

Depending on the office’s workload and the complexity of the case, it usually takes around four weeks to process a residency permit application but may be up to six weeks.

Collect residence permit

Once the applicant has been notified of their successful application, they will be issued with a PIN code by post. They must again attend the foreigners’ office with this PIN code to collect their permit.