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Foreign skilled workers and specialists living in Berlin can apply for the residence permit EU Blue Card online. Are you still in the asylum procedure? Or has your asylum application already decided? More information. Have you been living in Germany for a long time and are you interested in an permanent settlement permit? More information. more

LEA is fundamentally changing the procedure for allocating appointments with immediate effect. Appointments can no longer be booked via the previous Online Appointment System (OTV). The OTV, which was initially shut down for maintenance work, has now been permanently decommissioned. more

We inform, consult and support individually and in different languages. The Welcome Center offers consultation for newcomers, immigrants, people with a migration history and people without a German passport. Find out about the entire range of advisory services. More information. more

After completing training, professional recognition or research activity in Germany, a residence permit is issued upon application to search for gainful employment (employment or self-employment). The residence permit is intended for the following cases: more

Schengen visas (visa category C) can be issued for short-term stays of up to 90 days in the Schengen region, for instance, for tourist visits or visits for business purposes or for medical treatment. The consulates of the Schengen States are responsible for granting Schengen visas. more

Certificate confirming permission to reside (Aufenthaltsgestattung) – extension; Certificate confirming the temporary suspension of deportation (Duldung) – extension more

Have you been admitted by Germany as a resettlement refugee? Then you are usually granted a permanent settlement permit after a residence of 5 years. If you are well integrated linguistically and economically, you may be granted a permanent settlement permit after a residence of only 3 years. more

Do you need support in securing your stay? Then please make use of the advice offered by the Berlin welfare associations in the districts. more

For a recognized marriage or registered same-sex civil partnership, the personal interview of both spouses / partners is required. In the case of minors, the personal interview of the family (parents with child) is required. Both spouses or same-sex partners must have completed their 18th birthday. more

Need support in securing your stay? In the advisory centres of the social welfare organizations new immigrants will receive a lot of useful information. More information. Are you considering going back to your home country? Do you have questions regarding the funding of your permanent return? Are you undecided whether you want to return? more

Residence permits are granted for 1 year respectively and then extended in the case of research institutions that are not recognised by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) according to the Residence Act (AufenthG). more

Here you can get an overview to find your requested service. More information. Information on appointments for residence titles More information. Berlin.de is a service of the State of Berlin. more

From 7th September onwards Berlin Immigration Office will re-open for regular customer appointments. Please note: For reasons of protection against infection our primary focus remains on service by appointment. (in emergencies: see information below). non-contact temperature measurement taken on arrival. more

Units B 1, B 2 and B 3 are responsible for residence permits for qualified skilled workers, education and training programs, school attendance, studies, scientists and researchers and their family members. The service takes place only by appointment. more

We provide support and legal advice on migration law, offer counselling on hardship cases and social services, assist with questions regarding the recognition of professional qualifications from abroad and training and further education. more

As a rule, you do not have to come to us for the following services. We are only responsible in exceptional cases. Please read the sections “Prerequisites” and “Responsible authority” carefully in the description of the service selected . more

An important change to the naturalization procedure in Berlin: from January 01, 2024, the State Immigration Office (Landesamt für Einwanderung / LEA) will be the central responsible authority, instead of the districts as before. more

How can I register as an asylum seeker? If you want to seek asylum in Germany, you have to undergo a two-step registration process. more

It will shed light on the impact of the Common European Asylum System on European Cities (CEAS), their role in implementing the new regulations and their responsibilities in holding up a humanitarian and human rights based approach. The conference panels will focus on. more

Well over 100,000 citizens of the GDR tried to escape across the inner-German border or the Berlin Wall between 1961 and 1988. More than 600 of them were shot and killed by GDR border guards or died in other ways during their escape attempt. They drowned, suffered fatal accidents, or killed themselves when they were caught. more