ROUTE
Extending Your German Residence Permit
Step-by-step route to extending your Aufenthaltserlaubnis: when to apply, which documents to prepare, what it costs and how the Fiktionsbescheinigung works — including the emergency path if your permit has already expired.
✓ Checked: 17/07/2026
One date decides a residence permit extension: the date you file. If the application arrives before the permit expires, your rights continue automatically under §81 AufenthG — even when the appointment itself falls after that date. This route therefore follows a simple rule: file the application and hunt for the appointment in parallel.
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COSTS AND DEADLINES
What you pay for on this route
- Extension by more than 3 months§ 45 AufenthV; up to 3 months: €96€93
- Children under 18half the fee
- Fiktionsbescheinigung§ 47 AufenthV€13
Deadlines you cannot miss
- before your permit expiresExtension: Timing and Your Ausländerbehörde Appointmenthard deadline
- immediatelyPermit Already Expired: Act Immediatelyhard deadline
Amounts follow official fees as of each step’s verification date. Your city may charge a different rate — check the step itself.
› More about this route
The practical benchmark is eight weeks before expiry. In large cities free appointments are booked one to three months ahead, and waiting for one without filing anything is the most common and most expensive mistake. The application can be submitted in writing or online, and the proof of filing — a screenshot or acknowledgement of receipt — deserves to be kept alongside your passport.
On deadlines and money: the fee for an extension of more than three months is €93, half that for children under 18, and processing takes roughly four to eight weeks from your biometrics appointment. If the old permit expires before a decision, the authority issues a Fiktionsbescheinigung for €13 — full proof of legal status for the interim, not a stopgap.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
All possible documents for this route
- Valid passport (with remaining validity)
- Biometric photo 35×45 mm
- Completed application form of your ABH
- Employment contract + last 3 payslips (or other proof of income)
- Proof of health insurance
- Rental contract + Meldebescheinigung
- Current (expiring) residence permit
WHERE PEOPLE MOST OFTEN LOSE MONEY AND TIME
- Waiting for a free appointment instead of filing. Timeliness is set by the filing date, not the visit: a written or online submission preserves your rights even if the appointment is two months away.
- Not checking how much validity is left on your passport. It is part of the mandatory file, and a passport running short becomes a problem exactly when the decision is ready.
- Leaving the country while no decision has been made and the permit has expired. Without a new status or a Fiktionsbescheinigung permitting travel, the border is a risk rather than a formality.
- Not securing proof of filing. A screenshot of the booking, a receipt number, a copy of the submitted file — these are what show you applied in time if the case drags on or something goes missing when caseworkers change.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ROUTE
How long does the whole route take, from booking to the new card?▾
The appointment is the longest wait: one to three months in large cities. After biometrics the decision takes roughly four to eight weeks, then the PIN letter and collection notice for the eAT arrive, and the card is collected in person. So preparation starts two to three months before the permit expires.
What does an extension cost in total?▾
The main fee for an extension of more than three months is €93, half that for children under 18. If the permit expires during processing, add €13 for the Fiktionsbescheinigung. The rest is biometric photos and, where needed, certificates from your health insurer and employer.
How do I assemble the file so that no follow-up requests come back?▾
Strictly to your authority's checklist and as a single file with a table of contents: application, passport, proof of income, housing, insurance, photos. Every follow-up request costs weeks. Copies of the whole package and a couple of spare biometric photos save a second appointment if documents go missing during a caseworker change.
The card has arrived — what comes next?▾
The next goal is permanent status. A settlement permit is generally available after five years, after three for skilled workers, and after 21–27 months with an EU Blue Card depending on your German level. The B1 certificate pays off twice here: for permanent residence and later for citizenship.