When in Germany...  Getting a Residence Permit

German Visa and Residence Permit
Requirements for US Citizens

Also see the guest article about German Visas and
Residence Permits.

Requirements for American Citizens
The United States of America is one of the nations for which the Federal Republic of Germany has special regulations concerning entry visas and residence permits.

US citizens in possession of a valid US passport do not need a visa for tourist or business trips to Germany for stays of up to 90 days. The passport must not expire before the end of the scheduled trip. For stays lasting 91 days or longer, you need a residence permit in the form of a visa that is affixed to your US passport. The residence permit is also a work permit for people who wish to be employed in Germany. (A separate work permit is no longer issued, but you must meet the requirements for employment in order to work in Germany.) This combination visa, residence, and work permit (Aufenthaltstitel) indicates the following:

1. The length of time you are permitted to stay in Germany (indefinite or a limited time, “valid until”),
2. any conditions or restrictions on your stay, including whether you are permitted to work or not,
3. a color photo of you, the bearer, and
4. the seal and stamp of the Aliens Office of issue.

This is what a German residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) looks like, after being affixed to a page of your US passport:

  The visa photo requirements are very strict! Smiling is verboten.

When and Where to Apply
US citizens have the choice of applying for the residence / work permit (1) before traveling to Germany or (2) after arriving in Germany. (This also applies to citizens of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, and North Korea.) The visa fee (in Germany) for stays of less than a year is 50 euros; 60 euros for stays of more than a year (cash only). For minor children, the fee is reduced by half. Check with the German consulate or embassy for current fees in the US. (Note: Fees subject to change.)

1. Before You Leave
If you want to get your German residence permit in the US before traveling to Germany, you must do so in person at the German Embassy in Washington, DC or at one of the German consulates in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, or San Francisco. (Note: Each consulate serves specific states, counties, or regions of the US. See the Consulate Finder.) You must allow adequate time for your application to be processed. This can take from one to three months, because your application must be sent to the Aliens Office (Ausländeramt) in Germany that is responsible for your intended place of residence. See below for a list of the required documents and photos you need to present as part of your application.

2. After Arrival in Germany
In most cases it is easier to apply after you are in Germany, but you must obtain your residence permit before your 90-day, no-visa stay ends. You have to apply in person at the Ausländerbehörde (Aliens Authority) office for the German city or town where you reside. In Berlin and other larger cities it is possible (and a good idea) to get an appointment via email for a specific day and time.

Whether you apply in the US or in Germany, you must present certain documents and forms (some of which can be printed out in advance from PDF files online). For US citizens, the following items are required:

• A completed application form (two if applying in the US)
• Two passport photographs*
• A valid US passport (and a copy if applying in the US)
• An Anmeldebestätigung from the local authorities confirming that you have registered your German address (if applying in Germany; see the Anmeldung section below for more)
• Employment contract or letter of intent from your future employer (for a work permit) and a completed work permit application
• Tax returns, bank statements, and other documents proving that you have sufficient funds or income to live in Germany
• Proof of health insurance coverage valid in Germany
• The visa application fee (no checks or credit cards)
• Any other documents that the Aliens Office may require. They will list what you need to bring in the email setting up your appointment (in Germany).
• (See the PDF link to the actual application form below, under Web links.)

*Your visa photo must be a full frontal view looking directly into the camera with a neutral expression (no smiling!). Very specific dimensions are required. (Most German photo studios know the requirements.) See the website of your German Aliens Office for specifics, or the Visa, Passport, Legal page from Germany.info.

Anmeldung - Abmeldung
Before you can apply for your residence permit in Germany you have to register your address with the local authorities, usually at the city hall (Bezirksamt or Rathaus). As noted above, an Anmeldebestätigung is one of the documents required by the Aliens Office. Anyone residing in Germany is required to register (anmelden) his or her address within one week of moving into a house or apartment. When you move out, you’re required to deregister (abmelden). This applies to all German citizens as well, even if they are just moving across the street.

Health Insurance
Another requirement for a residence permit is proof of health insurance. Very few German doctors and hospitals accept US health insurance. Even if your US insurance covers you in Germany, usually you will be required to pay any medical fees yourself and get reimbursed later. Therefore, it is best to have a health insurance policy that is accepted by German healthcare providers. For shorter stays of up to a year or two, you can take out a special policy for that period. In some cases, your employer may provide health coverage.

For more about the legal and regulatory aspects of German residence permits see the guest article Getting a German Residence Permit.

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THE WEB

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• Germany.info - The website of the German Embassy in Washington, DC has a lot of good information for Americans traveling to Germany.
• PDF: Application for Residence Permit - The actual application form in German, English, French and Italian (in downloadable PDF format) from the Auswärtiges Amt (German Foreign Office).
• Legal Guide to Germany by German-American lawyer Alexander Baron von Engelhardt - in English. LG2G is the "expat's concise guide to officialdom in Germany."
• Aufenthaltstitel.de - Full information about the laws and regulations for a German residence permit - in German only
• Ausländerbehörde Berlin - The website for the Aliens Authority (ABH) in Berlin has PDFs of forms, helpful information, links, and appointment forms, but only very limited information in English.
• Ausländerbehörde München - The website for the Aliens Authority in Munich - in German.
• Auswärtiges Amt - The website of the German Federal Foreign Office also has useful information in English and Deutsch about working or studying in Germany.

NOTE: The information on this page and on this website is not intended as legal advice. You are advised to consult a lawyer concerning any specific legal concerns regarding a German residence permit or working in Germany.