When to apply: before your permit expires
A temporary residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) must be extended before it expires if you want to keep living in Germany. Apply as early as possible — up to four months before the expiry date, because Ausländerbehörde appointments are scarce. Many offices write to you beforehand asking for your extension documents. Applying on time is also what protects your legal status, as the next section explains.
The Fiktionsbescheinigung: staying legal while you wait
Processing often takes longer than the time left on your permit. If you applied before expiry, § 81(4) AufenthG says your existing permit is "deemed to continue" until the authority decides, and the Ausländerbehörde issues a Fiktionsbescheinigung — a certificate proving you remain legally resident (and, where applicable, may keep working and travelling) in the meantime. This is why an on-time application matters: miss the deadline and you lose this automatic protection.
How to apply
Extensions are handled by your local Ausländerbehörde, increasingly online-first: you submit an application (or book an appointment) through the authority's portal, then attend an in-person appointment with your original documents. In Berlin, for example, employment titles can be applied for digitally via the Landesamt für Einwanderung. Build your plan so everything is ready before the appointment.
Documents you'll need
The exact set depends on your permit, but typically:
- a valid passport and your current electronic residence permit (eAT);
- a recent Meldebescheinigung / proof of address;
- proof of a secured livelihood — an employer confirmation and recent payslips, or for the self-employed, tax and bank documents;
- proof of health insurance;
- a biometric photo.
Fees
Under § 45 AufenthV, extending an Aufenthaltserlaubnis costs €93 for periods over three months, or €96 for up to three months. The EU Blue Card follows the same schedule, and the initial issue of a permit is €100. Fees can be reduced or waived if you receive certain social benefits.
What changes by permit type
- Work / EU Blue Card: your employment must continue — expect an employer confirmation (usually dated within ~14 days) and recent payslips; the Blue Card salary threshold must still be met.
- Student: show continued enrolment and sufficient funds.
- Family: the family relationship must still exist (for example, that you still live together).
Once your stay stabilises, the renewal cycle eventually gives way to permanent residence.