How to renew your Aufenthaltstitel: documents, fees and processing times

To get through the residence permit renewal, you should submit an application before your current permit expires, pay 93-96 EUR, and wait for several weeks for a decision. Let’s break down this Aufenthaltserlaubnis renewal process together.

When should you renew your Aufenthaltstitel?

It’s recommended to apply around 6-8 weeks before your current permit expires, so don’t put it off for too long. In some cities, you can start the process even earlier. Berlin, for example, accepts applications from four months before the expiry of:

• student residence permits;
• EU Blue Cards;
• residence permits for qualified employment.

Other permit extension applications start later – check the service page for details.

Your approximate timeline:

To stay in Germany legally, you must apply before the expiry of your current permit.

More tips:

• Electronic Aufenthaltstitel explained: Biometric card, PIN and collection process.
• Deutschlandticket (D-Ticket): 2026 guide for expats in Germany.

What happens if your permit expires during processing?

If you submitted a proper application before your resident permit expires, you have a Fortgeltungsfiktion status and can continue:

• your current job;
• your current studies;
• any other activities allowed by your residence permit.

Fortgeltungsfiktion keeps your old rights, but doesn’t grant new ones. For example, if your permit is tied to one employer, you may need permission to change jobs.

You may also need a Fiktionsbescheinigung – the certificate that proves your Fortgeltungsfiktion status. It shows employers, authorities, airlines or border officers that your stay and existing rights remain valid while your application is being processed. In Berlin, a Fiktionsbescheinigung costs 13 EUR for adults and 6.50 EUR for minors (as of 2026), unless an exemption applies. In other cities, the fee may differ.

Which documents do you need?

The required documents for a residence permit renewal normally include identity documents, your current residence title and evidence that you still meet the conditions of your permit category. Some core papers are:

• a valid passport;
• the current residence card;
• the supplementary sheet, if issued;
• proof of registration at your German address;
• proof of health insurance;
• a biometric passport photo in the digital format accepted by the authority;
• the completed application;
• category-specific supporting documents.

Since May 2025, Germany has generally required digital photos for identity documents. You can usually take the biometric passport photo at the immigration office or have an approved photo studio send it digitally.

Examples of category-specific documents:

Requirements differ by authority, so verify the full list of documents before application.

Translations and apostilles

Some foreign documents may need a German translation, an apostille or another form of verification. Not every document needs an apostille, so check the official requirements first. If a translation is needed, it may have to be done by a qualified or sworn translator.

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How much does renewal cost?

The standard application fee is generally 93 or 96 EUR in 2026:

• an extension for up to three months costs 96 EUR;
• an extension for more than three months costs 93 EUR.

Fees for minors are half the adult fee (46.50 and 48 EUR as of 2026).

In some cases, the residence permit may still be issued as a sticker, which can have a different fee. In Berlin, some sticker renewals cost 49 EUR, but this fee doesn’t apply everywhere in Germany.

Some applicants may pay less or nothing, including certain people receiving public benefits or holding humanitarian residence permits.

Turkish nationals

Some Turkish nationals can pay a reduced application fee because of special rules connected with the EU–Türkiye association framework:

• 27.60 EUR for Turkish nationals under 24;
• 46 EUR for Turkish nationals aged 24 or over.

However, the final fee depends on your individual situation, so only the authority can tell you the final costs.

How to renew your Aufenthaltstitel: step by step

From finding where to apply to collecting your new card, here are eight main steps of the residence permit renewal:

1. Find the correct service. Use the website of the Ausländerbehörde responsible for your registered address and select your exact residence category.
2. Check the application window. Confirm when applications open and whether you must apply online, by post, by email or through appointment booking.
3. Prepare the documents. Collect the general required documents and the evidence needed for your employment, studies or business activity.
4. Submit before expiry. Complete the official Aufenthaltserlaubnis renewal application before your current title expires and keep the evidence of the date it was submitted.
5. Respond to requests. Check your email, post and online account regularly for requests from the immigration authority.
6. Request formal proof if necessary. Ask the authority how to obtain formal proof of your temporary status if you need it for work, study or travel.
7. Attend the appointment. Bring the requested originals and complete any identity, fingerprint, photograph or signature requirements.
8. Collect the new card. After approval, wait for the electronic residence permit to be produced and follow the authority’s collection instructions.

Fresh July 2026 update: Germany has recently approved new rules that will allow immigration authorities to reuse fingerprints, photos and signatures already on file for some residence permit renewals. The rules are not yet fully in force, so applicants may still need an appointment. Once implemented, they may remove the need to attend solely to provide biometric data.

FAQ about Aufenthaltserlaubnis renewal