Which Residence permit are affected?
The digital application applies to Residence permit in accordance with the following sections of the Residence Act:
- § Section 22 AufenthG (Admission for reasons of international law or urgent humanitarian reasons)
- § 23 AufenthG (admission within the framework of humanitarian programs or for special political interests)
- § Section 23a AufenthG (admission in cases of particular hardship)
- § 25, § 25a and § 25b AufenthGResidence permit for refugees, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection or well-integrated adolescents and young adults)
The travel document for foreigners, refugees or stateless persons can now also be extended via the portal. The procedure is not applicable for refugees from Ukraine with a residence permit in accordance with Section 24 of the Residence Act - they must use the special Ukraine portal.
Requirements for the online application
- Possession of a valid residence permit in accordance with the above paragraphs
- Main residence in Berlin (no secondary residence)
- Humanitarian reason still exists
- Presentation of a valid passport or passport substitute (exceptions for recognized refugees or stateless persons)
- Application at the earliest 8 weeks before the residence permit expires
- Active e-mail address for communication with the LEA
What documents are required?
- Valid passport or travel document
- Copy of the current residence permit
- Proof of livelihood (e.g. employment contract, payslips, tax assessment notice, social benefit notices)
- Proof of training or studies, if applicable
- Proof of health insurance
- When applying for children: documents relating to legal guardians and, if applicable, a declaration of consent from the other parent
How the application works in Berlin
The LEA emphasizes that in future, applications for the extension of humanitarian Residence permit can only be submitted via the online application in the Berlin Service Portal. Appointment requests via contact form, email or letter are not sufficient and will only be processed as a secondary priority.
All required documents can be uploaded as PDF, JPG, JPEG or PNG. The application can be saved temporarily and continued later.
After submitting the online form, applicants will receive a PDF document as confirmation. This serves as proof that the residence permit remains valid beyond the previous expiration date.
Please note: This only applies if the Residence permit has not yet expired on the day of application. The document should be saved and, if possible, printed out so that it can be presented to employers or authorities if required.
Online application: fees and processing
The application is then checked by the LEA. If fees are incurred, those affected will receive a request for payment by e-mail. Payment must be made within 14 days.
An appointment will be made after a positive review of the application. All original documents should be brought to the appointment. According to the LEA, it then takes an average of 4-6 weeks for the electronic Residence permit or a new travel document to be issued.
Due to the high number of applications, processing may take some time. The LEA expressly requests that you refrain from making inquiries during this time.
Families must apply for Residence permit separately
Those affected can find further information and direct access to the application in the Service-Portal Berlin.
Important: A separate application must be submitted for each spouse and children. A collective application for several family members is not possible.
