Aufenthaltstitel costs: application, renewal and replacement fees

A standard Aufenthaltstitel in Germany costs 100 EUR for a first application, 93–96 EUR for a renewal and 67 EUR for a replacement card, as of 2026. Fees may change, and you can verify the costs in the official German Residence Ordinance (Aufenthaltsverordnung). The exact amount depends on the residence title, your age and some exceptions – read on to find out how much money you need to prepare.

How much does an Aufenthaltstitel cost in Germany?

In 2026, a first issue costs 100 EUR, while the residence permit renewal costs 96 EUR for up to three months and 93 EUR for more than three months. The application fee and renewal fee depend on the type and length of the residence title. Reissuing an electronic residence permit costs 67 EUR. Find your service below:

*Niederlassungserlaubnis is a permanent settlement permit.

These are standard adult fees, which can change by the time you read this. Check official documentation like the German Residence Ordinance (Aufenthaltsverordnung) before applying.

Payment timing

You may pay the application fee or renewal fee online, at your Ausländerbehörde appointment or later, depending on your local rules. Payment methods also differ by office, so check what your local authority accepts before you go.

If your application is refused or if you withdraw it after the authority has already started processing it, you still have to pay the fee.

Once you settle down, you may need to send money from Germany to family, yourself or friends back home. Then, you can use the online transfer service Profee. We send money to over 90 destinations – and 95% of our transfers arrive within minutes, as of 2026 (transfer speed and availability may vary by destination and payment method). You can check the exchange rate, transfer fee and the exact amount your recipient gets on the transfer page or in the Profee app.

When are replacement or extra fees needed?

You pay 67 EUR for a new residence card if you lose the original one, get a new passport, change important personal details, or the card itself expires. Or when your current eAT can no longer be used for any other reason. Your stay authorisation itself may still be valid even if the physical card needs to be replaced.

If the chip stops working because the card was damaged, you may also have to pay for a new one. However, if it’s not your fault that the chip fails, it might be replaced for free.

Lost or stolen Aufenthaltstitel

If your residence card is lost or stolen, contact your Ausländerbehörde as soon as possible. A replacement eAT will cost you 67 EUR for an adult.

You may also need to report the loss to the police, especially if the card was stolen. If your passport was lost at the same time, you will need to replace it separately. In such cases, you’ll pay both the residence card fee and the passport replacement fee.

Extra fee to get your card faster

In urgent cases, you can pay 35 EUR extra for express production of your eAT. This only speeds up the production of the card itself. Ausländerbehörde will still review your application at its own pace; you can’t force it to do it faster.

There is also a separate fast-track process for skilled workers, costing 411 EUR. This is a different procedure which is started by an employer in Germany and may be linked to getting a work permit.

Who pays less for an Aufenthaltstitel?

Minors and several exempt groups pay less than the standard adult fee or nothing at all. The German government takes into account age, legal status and financial circumstances when deciding how much one pays.

Lower fees for minors

Minors pay 50% of the standard adult fee. For example, a 100 EUR first Aufenthaltserlaubnis would cost 50 EUR for your minor child. Similarly, a 67 EUR replacement fee would be reduced to 33.50 EUR in 2026. In some cases, a fee exemption can reduce the cost to zero. It’s worth mentioning once again that the fees are not set in stone and can change – you can check the fees in the documentation of the Federal Ministry of Justice.

Fee-free Aufenthaltstitel

Recognised refugees, people with subsidiary protection and some people receiving state benefits may not have to pay the Aufenthaltstitel fee. It covers people who depend on benefits under SGB II, SGB XII or the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act (as of 2026, regulations change).

“A modern country of immigration opens doors and hearts. It demonstrates a genuinely welcoming culture in everyday life with few bureaucratic obstacles.” – Hubertus Heil, former Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs.

However, you can’t simply come and say that you belong to a protected group. Your Ausländerbehörde may ask you to show proof, such as a benefits letter or documents confirming your status.

Fees for Turkish citizens

Turkish citizens who have residence rights under the EU–Turkey Association Agreement pay lower Aufenthaltstitel fees. The rule mainly covers Turkish workers in Germany and family members whose rights come from the agreement.

For example, a Turkish citizen who has legally worked for the same employer in Germany for at least one year may have rights under these rules, as long as they still have a valid job with that employer.

If the rules apply to you, issuing or extending your Aufenthaltstitel costs 27.60 EUR if you are under 24 and 46 EUR if you are 24 or older in 2026.

If you are not sure whether you have these EU–Turkey residence rights, check with your Ausländerbehörde before applying.

What other costs should you prepare for?

You may also need to pay for a biometric photo, certified translations, document copies, certificates or passport renewal.

Biometric photo. Germany now mostly uses digital biometric photos. You can take the photo at an approved provider or, sometimes, directly during your appointment. In Berlin, for example, an on-site digital photo costs 6 EUR in 2026.

Translations. If some of your documents are not in German, you may need a German translation done by a sworn or certified translator.

FAQ: Aufenthaltstitel costs and processes