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Apply for a residence title for the first time

Ausländerbehörde · Residence law

In personApplication partly online§ 81 AufenthG

If you enter Germany with a national visa (category D visa), you must apply for the residence title at the competent Ausländerbehörde (foreigners authority) before the expiry of the visa – the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz, AufenthG) grants it only on application (§ 81 AufenthG). It is issued as an electronic residence title (eAT): a chip card in bank-card format with a photograph, two fingerprints and an electronic identity function (§ 78 AufenthG).

Under the Ordinance Governing Residence (Aufenthaltsverordnung, AufenthV), the fee for issuing a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis), an EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte EU) or an ICT Card is a uniform €100.00 nationwide (§ 45 Nr. 1 AufenthV) – a fixed amount, not a minimum. For minors it is half, i.e. €50.00. The most important change: since 1 May 2025, only digital photographs have been accepted for the eAT; the Ausländerbehörde no longer accepts a paper passport photo that you bring along.

Last updated3 October 2026
Legal basis§§ 4, 5, 7, 78, 81 AufenthG · § 45 AufenthV
VerificationChecked against gesetze-im-internet.de
Written and reviewed byAndrés Sánchez Botta
Independent information website: we are not the Ausländerbehörde, not an authority and not a paid advice service – we do not submit applications on your behalf. All information comes from official sources and is explained here in plain language; binding information always comes from the competent body. Fees are regulated uniformly nationwide; procedures, appointments and waiting times differ from one Ausländerbehörde to another. All information is provided without guarantee. We are neither lawyers nor tax consultants: we document official procedures and check the information against the official source – this is information, not legal or tax advice.
Costs€100.00Fixed amount · €50 for minors
Processing timeapprox. 4 weeksCard production plus waiting time for an appointment
MethodIn personApplication partly online, biometrics on site
DeadlineBefore the visa expiresApplication under § 81 Abs. 4 AufenthG
Required documents

What you need to bring

Which documents the Ausländerbehörde actually requires depends on the purpose of residence. The basis, however, is always the same: § 5 AufenthG sets out the general requirements for issuing a residence title, and these are where applications most often fail in practice – secure subsistence, clarified identity and nationality, no public interest in expulsion and compliance with the passport requirement. Under § 5 Abs. 2 AufenthG, third-country nationals must also have entered with the required visa. Gather the following proof completely and in the original; submitting anything later usually costs you another appointment.

Valid passport in the original

No residence title is issued without a valid passport document: § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 4 AufenthG makes compliance with the passport requirement under § 3 AufenthG one of the requirements that must, as a rule, be met for issue. You must always present the original; copies, scans and mobile phone photos are not sufficient, and you must first have an expired passport renewed at your home country’s mission abroad. Residence law contains no nationwide rule that the passport must remain valid for six months beyond the requested duration of residence – that requirement comes from visa and Schengen law. The remaining validity required therefore depends on the competent authority; in practice, many Ausländerbehörde offices limit the title to the period of validity of the passport at most.

National visa (category D visa) or proof of visa-free entry

Under § 5 Abs. 2 AufenthG, third-country nationals must, as a rule, have entered with the visa required for the purpose of residence and must already have provided the relevant information in the visa procedure. Therefore, present your passport with the category D visa affixed by the German mission abroad. Under § 41 AufenthV, nationals of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States may also enter without a visa for longer stays and apply for the title only after entry. If you entered without the required visa, you risk refusal – the requirement to carry out the visa procedure retrospectively can be waived only at the authority’s discretion.

Digital biometric photograph – no more paper photos

Paper passport photos have no longer been accepted for the electronic residence title since 1 May 2025; the transitional period for exceptional cases ended on 31 July 2025. The photograph must reach the authority digitally: either a certified photographer or photo studio uploads the image in encrypted form to a secure cloud and you bring the Data Matrix code issued in the process to your appointment, or the photo is taken directly at a self-service terminal at the authority. A paper photo from a photo booth or picked up from a photographer is money wasted – it is simply not accepted. Whether your Ausländerbehörde operates a terminal and what it charges for it depends on the competent authority; for the identity card and passport, a nationwide charge of €6.00 applies to a photo taken at the terminal.

What the photograph must look like is not set out in residence law itself. § 60 Abs. 1 AufenthV only requires that photographs “meet the requirements laid down in § 4 of the Passport Ordinance …” and allow the foreigner to be identified beyond doubt — and that section of the Passport Ordinance (Passverordnung, PassV), § 4 PassV, now bears the heading “Production and transmission of the photograph by means of a secure procedure”: it governs exactly the digital route described above, not the appearance.

The biometric criteria are set out in § 16 PassV and its Annex 8, which is expressly written “for the passport” — they are the biometric standard that photo studios and authority terminals work to. § 16 Abs. 2 requires a full-face photo, without head covering, without covering of the eyes and without parts of a uniform; Abs. 1 of the same section requires a current photo in accordance with Technical Guideline TR-03121 of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI). And Annex 8 gives the values: the face takes up 70 to 80% of the height of the photo — for children 50 to 80%, with permitted deviations up to the age of ten — the facial expression is neutral, the gaze is directed straight into the camera, the mouth is closed, and the shadow-free background is of a single colour and contrasts clearly with the face and the hair. The Annex does not prescribe a colour — what is required is a single colour and contrast, not white or a particular grey. § 16 Abs. 2 PassV allows exceptions to the rule on head coverings in particular for religious reasons, and exceptions to the other requirements for medical reasons that are not merely temporary.

Meldebescheinigung or Anmeldebestätigung (proof of registration)

The competent Ausländerbehörde is the one for the place where you habitually reside, and it requires proof of your registration of residence (Anmeldung) for this. Therefore, register at the Bürgeramt (citizens’ office) first – the Federal Act on Registration (Bundesmeldegesetz, BMG) makes the Anmeldung mandatory within two weeks of moving in (§ 17 BMG), and it is free of charge. The Meldebestätigung (official confirmation of registration) handed to you at that appointment is usually sufficient; some authorities additionally require the tenancy agreement or the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (landlord’s confirmation). Without the Anmeldung, the authority lacks local jurisdiction and the application cannot be processed.

Proof of the purpose of residence

The residence title is always issued for a specific purpose, and this purpose must be documented. For employment, this means the employment contract and the completed “Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis” (declaration on the employment relationship), and for the EU Blue Card additionally proof of your university degree and of the minimum salary; for studies, the certificate of enrolment or the admission; for family reunification, the marriage certificate, the registered life partnership certificate or the birth certificate (Geburtsurkunde). Most authorities require foreign documents with a certified German translation and – depending on the country of origin – with an apostille or legalisation. The purpose also determines the period of validity of the title (§ 7 Abs. 2 AufenthG).

Proof of health insurance coverage

Adequate health insurance coverage is part of secure subsistence under § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 AufenthG and must exist without gaps from the start of your stay. Employees present the Mitgliedsbescheinigung (health insurance membership certificate) from their statutory health insurance fund (Krankenkasse); privately insured persons present the insurance confirmation (Versicherungsbestätigung) stating the scope of benefits. Travel health insurance alone is generally not recognised for a longer stay. Students need either the certificate from the statutory Krankenkasse or – if they are privately insured – the certificate of exemption.

Proof of secure subsistence

Under § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 AufenthG, issue generally requires that your subsistence is secured without recourse to public funds. Depending on the case, proof can be the employment contract and payslips, a blocked account (Sperrkonto) for students, confirmed scholarships or a declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) by a third person under § 68 AufenthG. Submit up-to-date documents: bank statements and salary statements older than three months are frequently rejected. If the proof is insufficient, this is the most common reason for refusal of all.

Application form and proof of identity

Every Ausländerbehörde provides its own application form, and in many federal states this is now also available as an online form. Fill it in completely and sign it – an incomplete form leads to queries and prolongs processing. § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 1a AufenthG also requires that your identity and nationality are clarified; if information is missing or contradictory, the authority can request further documents such as a Geburtsurkunde or national identity documents. In addition to all originals, bring a set of copies so that the documents can be placed on file straight away.

Step by step

How to proceed

  1. 1

    Find out which Ausländerbehörde is competent and book an appointment

    The competent authority is the Ausländerbehörde for the place where you habitually reside – depending on the federal state, it is called Ausländerbehörde, Landesamt für Einwanderung (State Office for Immigration), Migrationsamt or Bürgeramt with a foreigners’ affairs section. Almost all authorities allocate appointments through an online portal, and in large cities they are regularly booked up several weeks in advance. Therefore, book the appointment immediately after entering the country and completing your Anmeldung: the waiting time for the appointment does not count towards the production time of the card but is added to it. Important for your deadline: what counts is the submission of the application, not the appointment – many authorities therefore accept the application in advance in writing or electronically.

  2. 2

    Submit the application under § 81 AufenthG – before the expiry of your visa

    A residence title is issued only on application (§ 81 Abs. 1 AufenthG). Timing is decisive: if the application is submitted while the national visa or another lawful stay is still valid, then until the authority’s decision the visa is deemed by operation of law to continue to exist under § 81 Abs. 4 AufenthG, or, in the case of a visa-free stay, the stay is deemed permitted under § 81 Abs. 3 AufenthG. If you miss this point in time, you lose this effect and, from the day after the expiry of the visa, you are no longer staying lawfully in the federal territory. In several federal states, the submission of the application itself is already possible digitally: the Landesamt für Einwanderung Berlin accepts applications for issue and extension online – for employment purposes since 2 April 2025, on humanitarian grounds since 26 August 2025 and on family grounds since 23 March 2026.

  3. 3

    Get a digital photograph

    Plan this step before your appointment, because since 1 May 2025 only digital photographs have been processed. Two routes are provided for: a certified photographer or photo studio transmits the biometric image in encrypted form to a secure cloud and gives you a Data Matrix code with which the authority retrieves the image; alternatively, you have the photo taken directly at a self-service terminal at the authority. The code is valid only for a limited time – so have the image taken only shortly before your appointment. Also check your authority’s website in advance to see whether a terminal is available; otherwise you must take the photographer route.

  4. 4

    Appear in person and provide biometric data

    Even if the application was submitted online, you must appear in person for the eAT. The digital photograph, your signature and two fingerprints are recorded; under § 78 AufenthG, the fingerprints are stored on the card’s electronic storage medium. For children, fingerprints are taken only from the age of six. Bring all documents in the original and expect questions about the purpose of residence. If a piece of proof is missing, the case is usually not refused but put on hold – processing is suspended until you submit it.

  5. 5

    Pay the fee

    Under § 45 Nr. 1 AufenthV, issuing a residence permit, an EU Blue Card or an ICT Card costs a uniform €100.00 nationwide – regardless of whether the title is issued for up to one year or for a longer period. For minors, § 50 Abs. 1 AufenthV halves the fee to €50.00. The fee is charged for processing, not for success: under § 49 AufenthV, fees are also payable in the event of a refusal. Find out in advance which means of payment are accepted, because many Ausländerbehörde offices accept only EC card or cash, and some require payment in advance by bank transfer with a payment reference (Kassenzeichen).

  6. 6

    Collect the eAT, check the PIN letter and the Zusatzblatt

    The card is produced centrally by the Bundesdruckerei (Germany’s federal printing company); Bremen currently states waiting times of around four weeks for this, and it takes longer at authorities with heavy workloads. You will be notified and collect the card in person – a fingerprint check is often carried out at that point, and your previous visa is cancelled. Separately, the PIN letter with the PIN, PUK and blocking password for the online ID function arrives by post; keep it in a safe place, because a replacement PIN must be applied for at the authority. When you collect the card, immediately check the spelling of your name, the validity date and the ancillary provisions (Nebenbestimmungen) on the supplementary sheet (Zusatzblatt) – in particular the note on economic activity, because it determines whether and to what extent you are allowed to work. Details on collecting the eAT can be found in our separate guide.

Fee information

Costs and payment

Fees

Residence permit, EU Blue Card, ICT Card€100.00 (§ 45 Nr. 1 AufenthV)
Mobile ICT Card€80.00 (§ 45 Nr. 4 AufenthV)
Change in the purpose of residence (Zweckwechsel)€98.00 (§ 45 Nr. 3 AufenthV)
Extension€93.00 or €96.00 (§ 45 Nr. 2 AufenthV)
MinorsHalf, i.e. €50.00 (§ 50 Abs. 1 AufenthV)
Turkish nationals with rights under the EEC/Turkey Association Agreement€46.00 from age 24, €27.60 under age 24 (§ 52a AufenthV)
Fiktionsbescheinigung€13.00, for minors €6.50 (§ 47 Abs. 1 AufenthV)
Issuing a new eAT (e.g. after loss)€67.00 (§ 45c AufenthV)
Refusal of the applicationSubject to a fee (§ 49 AufenthV)
Means of paymentEC card, cash or bank transfer with a payment reference (Kassenzeichen) – depending on the authority

The fees for residence titles are laid down uniformly nationwide in the Ordinance Governing Residence and cannot be negotiated at local level. The statement “from €100” that circulates on many websites is misleading: § 45 Nr. 1 AufenthV sets €100.00 as a fixed amount, which is the same for a period of validity of up to one year as for a longer one. Deviations are only ever downwards. For Turkish nationals with rights under the EEC/Turkey Association Agreement, only the fee for a German identity card is charged under § 52a AufenthV; under the Ordinance on Identity Card Fees (Personalausweisgebührenverordnung, PAuswGebV), this fee was increased as of 7 February 2026 and has since been €46.00 from age 24 and €27.60 under age 24 (§ 1 Abs. 1 PAuswGebV) – the previously quoted €37.00 and €22.80 respectively are out of date. Under § 52 AufenthV, the official act is entirely free of charge in several cases, including for recognised refugees and persons entitled to subsidiary protection (Abs. 3) and for scholarship holders funded from public funds (Abs. 5). Under § 52 Abs. 2 AufenthV, Swiss nationals only pay the identity card fee for the residence permit issued as a chip card; § 52 Abs. 1 AufenthV only exempts spouses and minor unmarried children of Germans from the fee for the national visa. The fee is not refunded if the application is refused: § 49 AufenthV also makes a refusal subject to fees; it remains free of charge only in the case of a refusal on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction or lack of capacity to act, and in the case of withdrawal before substantive processing. In addition to the fee for the title, you should budget for the digital photograph and, where applicable, certified translations of your documents.

Good to know

Important notes

§ 5 AufenthG decides between success and refusal. The requirements that must be met as a rule are secure subsistence, clarified identity and nationality, the absence of a public interest in expulsion and compliance with the passport requirement; in addition, under § 5 Abs. 2 AufenthG, you must have entered with the required visa. The authority can depart from individual requirements, but there is no entitlement to this. If you cannot prove your subsistence, clarify this before your appointment – proof submitted later often prolongs the procedure by months.

The Fiktionswirkung (the legal effect deeming your previous status to continue) and the Fiktionsbescheinigung (provisional residence document) are two different things. Under § 81 Abs. 4 AufenthG – or, in the case of a visa-free stay, under § 81 Abs. 3 AufenthG – the effect arises automatically by operation of law: if you applied in good time, you are permitted to stay in the federal territory until the decision. The Fiktionsbescheinigung, on the other hand, is the paper that proves this effect – under § 81 Abs. 5 AufenthG it must be issued, but it does not arrive automatically by post, it costs €13.00 under § 47 Abs. 1 AufenthV and, in Berlin for example, requires you to appear in person. Without this document, you cannot prove anything to your employer, your bank or on re-entry; request it actively.

Plan the waiting time for an appointment and the production time separately. There is no statutory processing deadline in either the AufenthG or the AufenthV – the duration depends solely on the competent authority. For the card production itself by the Bundesdruckerei, Bremen currently states waiting times of around four weeks; before that, however, comes the waiting time for the appointment, which can be several weeks in large cities. Realistically, expect anything from a few weeks to around three months from booking the appointment to collection, and therefore submit the application as early as possible.

The period of validity depends on the purpose, not on a fixed range. § 7 Abs. 2 AufenthG provides that the residence permit is to be limited in time, taking into account the intended purpose of residence. There is an explicit rule for skilled workers: under § 18 Abs. 4 AufenthG, titles under §§ 18a, 18b, 18g and 19c AufenthG are issued for four years; if the employment contract is shorter, for its duration plus six months, but for no more than four years. Only the settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) and the EU long-term residence permit (Erlaubnis zum Daueraufenthalt – EU) are unlimited (§§ 9, 9a AufenthG).

The eAT is not a travel document. Under § 78 AufenthG, the card is a separate document with an electronic storage and processing medium that proves the residence title – it is not a passport substitute. The passport requirement under § 3 AufenthG continues to apply alongside it unchanged, so for every journey you still need your valid passport in addition to the card. If you travel with the eAT only, you risk refusal of entry at the border.

Age limits for biometrics and the online ID function. Under § 78 AufenthG, two fingerprints are part of the card’s chip, but they are only taken from the age of six – younger children receive the eAT without fingerprints, but they also need a digital photograph. The electronic identity function (eID), with which you can identify yourself online to authorities and companies, can only be used from the age of 16. Activate the function and change the transport PIN from the PIN letter to your own six-digit PIN.

The card can expire before the title. The eAT has a technical card service life of no more than ten years. If you hold an unlimited title, you must therefore have a new card issued after the expiry of this period, without the right of residence itself being re-examined; the same applies in the event of loss, theft or damage. Under § 45c AufenthV, issuing a new document costs €67.00. You should also report a loss to the Ausländerbehörde and the police without delay.

Apply online, but appear in person. The blanket classification “only possible in person” no longer applies: in several federal states, the submission of the application is possible digitally – in Berlin at the Landesamt für Einwanderung for employment purposes since 2 April 2025, on humanitarian grounds since 26 August 2025 and on family grounds since 23 March 2026. What remains unchanged, however, is the requirement to appear in person to provide your photograph, signature and fingerprints. Check the administrative portal of your federal state before you wait for an in-person appointment to submit the application.

Avoid these mistakes

Common mistakes

Bringing a paper passport photo. Since 1 May 2025, Ausländerbehörde offices have accepted only digital photographs for the eAT; the transitional period ended on 31 July 2025. A paper photo from a photo booth or picked up from a photographer is therefore useless, and without a Data Matrix code or a photo taken at the terminal, biometric enrolment cannot be completed – in the worst case, your appointment lapses and you have to wait several weeks again.

Waiting for the appointment instead of submitting the application. The Fiktionswirkung under § 81 Abs. 4 AufenthG is linked to the submission of the application, not to the appointment at the authority. If you let your visa expire while you are waiting for an appointment, you are then no longer staying lawfully in the federal territory – with consequences for employment, re-entry and later grants of residence titles. Therefore, submit the application in good time in writing or online and have its receipt confirmed.

Relying on an automatic Fiktionsbescheinigung. Nothing is sent to you: although the certificate must be issued under § 81 Abs. 5 AufenthG, it has to be applied for and collected at the authority, costs €13.00 and, in Berlin for example, requires you to appear in person. Without it, you lack proof of your permitted stay and of your permission to pursue economic activity – employers and banks do not accept an expired visa.

Subsistence not reliably proven. § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 AufenthG makes secure subsistence a requirement that applies as a rule; out-of-date bank statements, a vague employment contract or an insufficiently funded Sperrkonto lead to the application being put on hold or to refusal. The fee remains payable, because § 49 AufenthV also makes a refusal subject to fees – so you pay without receiving a title.

Turning up without an appointment or without originals. Ausländerbehörde offices work almost exclusively by appointment; if you come without an appointment, you will usually be turned away. Likewise, the appointment ends without result if documents are only available as a copy, scan or mobile phone photo. Both cost you the entire lead time, because the next available appointment in large cities is often weeks later.

Travelling with the eAT alone. The card only proves the residence title and, under § 78 AufenthG, does not replace a passport; the passport requirement of § 3 AufenthG continues to apply. If you travel without a valid passport, you risk refusal of entry and problems with airlines, which check documents and eligibility for carriage in advance.

Ignoring the ancillary provisions on the Zusatzblatt. Whether and to what extent you are allowed to work, be self-employed or change your place of residence is determined by the ancillary provisions to the title – not by the card alone. If you take up economic activity that is not permitted, you violate residence law and jeopardise the later extension of the title and the grant of a settlement permit.

Forgetting the Anmeldung. Without the Anmeldung at the Bürgeramt, the Ausländerbehörde lacks proof of its local jurisdiction, and the application is left pending. In addition, the Anmeldung is mandatory within two weeks of moving in (§ 17 BMG); if you miss the deadline, you commit a regulatory offence (Ordnungswidrigkeit) under § 54 BMG, which can be punished with a regulatory fine of up to €1,000.

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

What must the photograph for the eAT look like?
Residence law itself does not specify any dimensions. § 60 Abs. 1 AufenthV requires that photographs “meet the requirements laid down in § 4 of the Passport Ordinance …” and allow the foreigner to be identified beyond doubt; § 4 PassV now governs the production and transmission of the photograph by means of a secure procedure, i.e. the digital route. The biometric criteria are set out in § 16 PassV — a current photo in accordance with Technical Guideline TR-03121 of the BSI, a full-face photo without head covering, without covering of the eyes and without parts of a uniform — and in its Annex 8, which is written for the passport and provides the standard: face 70 to 80% of the height of the photo (for children 50 to 80%), neutral facial expression, looking straight ahead, mouth closed and a shadow-free background of a single colour that contrasts clearly with the face and the hair. No particular colour is prescribed.
How much does it cost to issue a residence title for the first time?

Under § 45 Nr. 1 AufenthV, issuing a residence permit, an EU Blue Card or an ICT Card costs a uniform €100.00 nationwide – the amount is the same for a period of validity of up to one year and for a longer period of validity. Deviations are only ever downwards: €50.00 for minors (§ 50 Abs. 1 AufenthV), €80.00 for the Mobile ICT Card (§ 45 Nr. 4 AufenthV) and, for Turkish nationals with rights under the EEC/Turkey Association Agreement, only the fee for a German identity card (§ 52a AufenthV).

Can I still bring a passport photo from a photographer?

No. Since 1 May 2025, only digital photographs have been permitted for the electronic residence title, and Ausländerbehörde offices no longer accept paper photos; the transitional period for exceptional cases ended on 31 July 2025. The photo is either uploaded by the photographer in encrypted form to a secure cloud – for which you receive a Data Matrix code – or taken directly at a self-service terminal at the authority.

What happens if my visa expires during processing?

If you submitted the application in good time, your national visa is deemed by operation of law to continue to exist under § 81 Abs. 4 AufenthG until the authority’s decision – this Fiktionswirkung arises automatically, but not in the case of a Schengen visa (§ 81 Abs. 4 Satz 2 AufenthG). The Fiktionsbescheinigung, by contrast, is a separate document: under § 81 Abs. 5 AufenthG it must be issued, but it is not sent to you automatically, it costs €13.00 under § 47 Abs. 1 AufenthV and in Berlin it requires you to appear in person.

Can I travel with the eAT?

Under § 78 AufenthG, the electronic residence title is a separate document that proves the residence title, but it is neither a travel document nor a passport substitute. The passport requirement under § 3 AufenthG continues to apply alongside it, so for travel you still need your valid passport in addition to the card.

How long is the residence title valid?

There is no general rule of one to four years. Under § 7 Abs. 2 AufenthG, the residence permit is to be limited in time taking into account the intended purpose of residence, so its duration depends on the purpose. Among other provisions, § 18 Abs. 4 AufenthG contains a specific rule: titles under §§ 18a, 18b, 18g and 19c AufenthG are issued for four years or, if the employment contract is shorter, for its duration plus six months, but for no more than four years.

How long does processing take?

There is no statutory processing deadline in either the AufenthG or the AufenthV; the duration depends solely on the competent authority. Distinguish between two periods: the waiting time for the appointment, which can be several weeks in large cities, and the production of the card by the Bundesdruckerei – Bremen currently states waiting times of around four weeks for this. In total, periods from a few weeks up to around three months are realistic.

Can I submit the application online?

That depends on the federal state and the authority. The Landesamt für Einwanderung Berlin accepts applications for issue and extension online: for employment purposes since 2 April 2025, on humanitarian grounds since 26 August 2025 and on family grounds since 23 March 2026. Appearing in person to provide your photograph, signature and fingerprints is still required even with an online application.

Does my child also have to give fingerprints?

Under § 78 AufenthG, the electronic residence title contains two fingerprints, but they are only taken from the age of six. Younger children receive the card without fingerprints; a digital photograph is nevertheless required. For minors, the fee under § 50 Abs. 1 AufenthV is half, i.e. €50.00, and the online ID function can only be used from the age of 16.

Will I get the fee back if my application is refused?

As a rule, no: § 49 AufenthV also provides for fees for the refusal of an application, so processing is subject to a fee regardless of the outcome. The matter remains free of charge only in narrow exceptions, for example if the refusal is based on lack of jurisdiction or lack of capacity to act, or if the application is withdrawn before the substance has been processed.

Related official procedures

Extend a residence title
Apply before expiry
€93–€96
Fiktionsbescheinigung
While an application is pending
€13
Settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis)
Unlimited residence title
€113–€147

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