Fiktionsbescheinigung 2026: €13, § 81 AufenthG explained

Costs€13.00Uniform nationwide (§ 47 AufenthV)

Processing timeImmediatelyIssued when you attend in person

MethodIn personDepending on the local authority, also by post or online

Required documents

What you need to bring

Valid passport or recognised passport substitute

The original is mandatory; copies or photos on your mobile phone are not accepted. The passport must be valid at the time of your visit: if it has expired, the Ausländerbehörde can neither properly record the application for the residence title nor issue the Fiktionsbescheinigung, because, as a carrier document, it is always linked to a valid passport. An expired passport is renewed by the competent consulate or the embassy of your home country – allow several weeks for this and still submit the application for the residence title on time.

Previous residence title (eAT card)

For every application for an extension, you must present your previous residence card, because only the card shows which rights continue to apply under § 81 Abs. 4 Satz 1 AufenthG – in particular the permission to pursue an economic activity and any ancillary provisions (Nebenbestimmungen). Also bring the supplementary sheet (Zusatzblatt) if your residence title has one, because conditions and employment permits are noted there. If the card has been lost, report this to the authority immediately; the loss does not change the deemed status (Fiktionswirkung), but it delays the processing of your case.

Proof of submission of the application

If you submitted the application beforehand in writing, by post or through an online portal, bring the confirmation of receipt, appointment confirmation or application confirmation. It shows the date of submission of the application, and precisely this date determines whether deemed continuation under § 81 Abs. 4 AufenthG or only deemed suspension of deportation under § 81 Abs. 3 Satz 2 AufenthG applies. Keep the confirmation even after your visit – it is your proof that you applied on time, in case the authority later assesses the date of receipt differently.

Recent biometric photograph

The Fiktionsbescheinigung is issued on a carrier form with a photograph, which is why most Ausländerbehörde offices require a recent photo suitable for biometric purposes. Whether you bring a printed photo or the picture is taken on site at the authority’s terminal depends on the competent authority – ask beforehand, because a missing photograph regularly forces a second appointment. Photos from booths without biometric specifications and private snapshots are rejected.

Documents for the underlying residence title application

The Fiktionsbescheinigung is not issued in isolation but as part of the application for the residence title – so the proof for that application belongs in the same folder. Depending on the purpose of residence, this means the employment contract or the Zusatzblatt with the declaration on the employment relationship, proof of health insurance, proof of income and residential space, a certificate of enrolment or a training contract. If key documents are missing, the authority will usually still record the application, but the decision will be delayed – and this extends the time during which you depend on the certificate.

Fee of €13.00 or proof of fee exemption

Have the fee ready in cash or on your EC card (debit card); credit cards are not accepted by many Ausländerbehörde offices. If you are exempt under §§ 52 Abs. 3 or 52a AufenthV, bring the relevant proof – for example the recognition notice from the BAMF (Federal Office for Migration and Refugees) for persons entitled to asylum, refugees and persons entitled to subsidiary protection, or proof of association rights (Assoziationsberechtigung) for Turkish nationals. Without this proof, the fee is charged as normal, and obtaining a refund later is tedious.

There is no list of documents for the Fiktionsbescheinigung that is binding under federal law: the Ordinance Governing Residence only regulates the fee, in § 47 AufenthV; which proof must be presented is determined by the competent Ausländerbehörde. As the certificate is typically issued in the course of the submission of the application, the documents are available anyway. Nevertheless, check your authority’s information sheet, because some local authorities also require a registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung), the completed application form or, in the case of representation, a power of attorney.

Step by step

How to proceed

1
Submit the application before the expiry of your residence title
The most important step happens before you even think about the certificate: the application for extension of the residence title must reach the Ausländerbehörde before the expiry date of your current title. Only then does deemed continuation under § 81 Abs. 4 Satz 1 AufenthG apply, under which your previous title, including the work permit, continues to apply unchanged. If the application arrives even one day late, § 81 Abs. 3 Satz 2 AufenthG only gives rise to deemed suspension of deportation – legally a completely different and much weaker position. Because appointments in large cities are allocated months in advance, the rule in practice is: submit the application in writing or through the online portal as soon as your title has three to four months left to run, and have its receipt confirmed.
2
Find out the competent Ausländerbehörde and the procedure
Only the Ausländerbehörde for your place of residence is competent; depending on the federal state (Bundesland), it is called the Ausländeramt, the Amt für Migration und Integration or – in Berlin – the Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA). How you obtain the certificate depends on the competent authority: Berlin requires you to attend in person for it to be issued and then hands over the document at one of the LEA locations, while other local authorities accept the application by post or through an online portal and send out the certificate. Clarify this point before booking an appointment, because the routes differ considerably – and some authorities require a separate appointment for the certificate, while at others it is issued in the same process as the application for the residence title.
3
Submit all documents and have the application recorded
Present your passport, previous residence card, photograph and the proof relating to the purpose of residence in the original. What matters is that the application for the residence title is actually recorded – only the submission of the application triggers the deemed status, which the certificate then merely documents. Have the date of receipt confirmed in writing, even if documents have to be submitted later: what counts for meeting the deadline is the time of submission of the application, not the time at which the file is complete. The process at the counter usually takes 15 to 30 minutes.
4
Have the Fiktionsbescheinigung handed over to you
Under § 81 Abs. 5 AufenthG, the foreigner must be issued a certificate on the effect of their submission of the application – this is an official duty, not a favour. It is normally prepared and handed over immediately at your visit, so you leave the appointment with the proof already in your hand. If you are given only an appointment confirmation or an application form instead, explicitly request the Fiktionsbescheinigung and refer to § 81 Abs. 5 AufenthG. Employers, banks and landlords do not usually accept a mere confirmation of receipt.
5
Check the ticked box and the note on economic activity
Check the document at the counter before you leave. The form has a ticked box showing whether the certificate is based on § 81 Abs. 3 Satz 1 (stay deemed permitted), § 81 Abs. 3 Satz 2 (deportation deemed suspended) or § 81 Abs. 4 AufenthG (previous title continues to apply). It also states whether economic activity is permitted; under § 81 Abs. 5a Satz 2 AufenthG, the economic activity that, in the case of a future title for training or economic activity, is deemed permitted from the time the issue of the document is initiated until the document is handed out must also be entered. Also check the spelling of your name, your date of birth and your passport number – a typo makes the paper worthless with employers and at the border and costs you a new appointment.
6
Pay the fee and plan the extension in good time
The fee of €13.00 under § 47 Abs. 1 AufenthV is charged directly by the Ausländerbehörde, and €6.50 for minors; claim an exemption immediately if it applies to you. Then make a note of the expiry date entered on the certificate: if no decision has been made on your application for the residence title by then, you must have the certificate extended, which costs another €13.00. As soon as the authority confirms that the title will be issued, the final step follows – collecting the eAT card, at which point the Fiktionsbescheinigung loses its function and must be handed in.

Fee information

Costs and payment

Fees

Fiktionsbescheinigung (standard case)€13.00 – § 47 Abs. 1 AufenthV

Minors under 18€6.50 – § 50 Abs. 1 AufenthV

Turkish nationals with rights under the EEC/Turkey Association AgreementFree of charge – § 52a AufenthV

Recognised persons entitled to protectionFree of charge – § 52 Abs. 3 AufenthV

Each further issue / extensionAnother €13.00 per certificate

Underlying residence title application€100.00 issue, €93.00–€96.00 extension (§ 45 AufenthV)

Place of paymentAt the Ausländerbehörde

Means of paymentEC card or cash (depending on the authority)

The fee for the Fiktionsbescheinigung is set uniformly nationwide and, contrary to a widespread assumption, does not vary from city to city or municipality to municipality: § 47 Abs. 1 of the Ordinance Governing Residence sets a fixed amount of €13.00 for issuing a certificate under § 81 Abs. 5 AufenthG. Deviations arise only from federal law and only downwards. For minors, § 50 Abs. 1 AufenthV reduces the fee by half, i.e. to €6.50. Turkish nationals with association rights pay nothing under § 52a AufenthV, and neither do recognised persons entitled to asylum, refugees, persons entitled to subsidiary protection and persons admitted under resettlement procedures under § 52 Abs. 3 AufenthV. The Landesamt für Einwanderung in Berlin lists exactly this scale and also exempts recipients of benefits under Book Two of the Social Code (SGB II, basic income support for jobseekers), Book Twelve of the Social Code (SGB XII, social assistance) or the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act (Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz) from the fee – whether such an exemption on grounds of equity is granted depends on the competent authority and should be asked about in advance. Do not confuse the €13.00 with the fee for the residence title itself: under § 45 AufenthV, issuance costs a fixed amount of €100.00, and an extension costs €96.00 for a period of up to three months and €93.00 for a longer period of validity. These amounts are charged in addition, and each new issue of the Fiktionsbescheinigung is charged at €13.00 again – anyone who has to extend it several times over the months pays the fee several times accordingly.

Good to know

Important notes

Everything depends on the ticked box. The Fiktionsbescheinigung looks the same in all cases but means fundamentally different things. § 81 Abs. 3 Satz 1 AufenthG (deemed permission, Erlaubnisfiktion) applies to persons who are lawfully staying in the federal territory without a residence title and apply for one in time – their stay is deemed permitted until the decision. § 81 Abs. 3 Satz 2 AufenthG (deemed suspension of deportation, Duldungsfiktion) applies if the application is late: from the submission of the application, only deportation is deemed suspended, and the stay itself is not permitted. § 81 Abs. 4 Satz 1 AufenthG (deemed continuation, Fortgeltungsfiktion) applies to an application for an extension made in time and is the strongest variant, because the previous title continues to exist with all rights. So first read which box is ticked.

The period of validity is not laid down by law. The Residence Act sets no time limit for the Fiktionsbescheinigung; how long it is issued for depends on the competent authority and is based on the expected processing time for the residence title application – in administrative practice, usually a period of a few months followed by an extension. The legal distinction is decisive: the deemed status (Fiktionswirkung) does not end on the printed date, but only with the decision on your application. Legally you therefore remain protected, but in practice you lack the proof – so have the paper extended before its expiry.

Travel: only the certificate under § 81 Abs. 4 carries a right of re-entry. Because the previous residence title continues to apply under deemed continuation, this variant, together with a valid passport, normally allows you to return to Germany. A certificate under § 81 Abs. 3 AufenthG, on the other hand, does not constitute a residence title: anyone who leaves the country with it risks being turned away at the border or even at check-in and having to apply for a new visa for re-entry – while the pending residence title application in Germany continues. Clarify any planned trip with the Ausländerbehörde in writing beforehand.

Economic activity from the time the issue is initiated (§ 81 Abs. 5a AufenthG). In addition to the continued validity of the previous work permit under § 81 Abs. 4 Satz 1 AufenthG, there is a second, often overlooked case: if the authority has already initiated the issue of a title for training or economic activity (Chapter 2, Divisions 3 and 4 AufenthG), the economic activity described in it is deemed permitted from that point until the document is handed out, and this must be noted on the certificate. This means that you do not have to bridge the waiting time for the card to be produced, which often lasts several weeks, without pay. Explicitly request the note and show it to your employer.

Late application: hardship order under § 81 Abs. 4 Satz 3 AufenthG. Missing the deadline does not leave you without rights: to avoid undue hardship, the authority can order that the previous title is nevertheless deemed to continue. To obtain this, you must explain the reasons for the delay plausibly and provide evidence – for example an illness, an appointment at the authority that demonstrably could not be obtained, or an error in postal delivery. Submit the application in writing, explicitly citing § 81 Abs. 4 Satz 3 AufenthG, and enclose proof; without this order, you remain with the weak deemed suspension of deportation.

No continuation for Schengen visas. Under § 81 Abs. 4 Satz 2 AufenthG, deemed continuation expressly does not apply to a visa under § 6 Abs. 1 AufenthG, i.e. the short-term Schengen visa. Anyone who entered with such a visa and wants to obtain a residence title on that basis therefore cannot rely on the visa continuing to apply during the procedure. Deemed permission under § 81 Abs. 3 Satz 1 AufenthG is not an option either: the Schengen visa is itself a residence title, and subsections 3 and 4 are mutually exclusive (Federal Administrative Court, BVerwG, judgment of 19 November 2019 – 1 C 22.18).

Expect acceptance problems in everyday life. Employers, HR departments, banks when you open an account, landlords and occasionally other authorities are not familiar with the Fiktionsbescheinigung or take it for a mere routing slip. Always carry the original together with your passport and your previous residence card, and if in doubt refer to § 81 Abs. 4 Satz 1 AufenthG, under which the previous title continues to apply unchanged. If the problems persist, a short informal letter from the Ausländerbehörde confirming the continued validity helps; many authorities issue such a letter on request.

The certificate is proof, not a requirement. The deemed status arises by operation of law on submission of the application – the paper only documents it. If the Ausländerbehörde delays issuing it, you do not lose your status, but you do lose the means of proving it. So insist on it being handed over, note the date, time and name of the caseworker and, if necessary, follow up your request in writing, citing § 81 Abs. 5 AufenthG. If the certificate has been lost, a new one can be issued – this costs another €13.00.

Avoid these mistakes

Common mistakes

Submitting the application for an extension only after the expiry of the title. This is the most serious mistake of all. Anyone who applies too late receives only deemed suspension of deportation under § 81 Abs. 3 Satz 2 AufenthG instead of deemed continuation under § 81 Abs. 4 Satz 1 AufenthG: deportation is deemed suspended, but the stay is not permitted and the previous work permit is not automatically revived. The consequences are unpaid leave or notice of termination from the employer, and a gap in lawful residence that can later affect the periods of prior residence required for a settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) and naturalisation.

Travelling abroad with a certificate under § 81 Abs. 3 AufenthG. It is not a residence title and carries no right of re-entry. Anyone who leaves the country anyway can be turned away by the airline at check-in or refused entry at the external border and must apply for a new visa in order to return – a procedure that takes months, while the job and the home in Germany continue to run. Only the certificate under § 81 Abs. 4 AufenthG, together with a valid passport, normally allows re-entry.

Continuing to work without examining the note on economic activity. Many people assume that every Fiktionsbescheinigung entitles them to work. In fact, only the ticked box counts: under § 81 Abs. 3 AufenthG, economic activity requires explicit permission. Anyone who works without it risks regulatory fine proceedings against the employer, the immediate end of the employment relationship and a negative entry in their immigration file, which can weigh against them in the decision on the pending residence title application.

Letting the Fiktionsbescheinigung expire without having it extended. Although the deemed status itself continues until the decision on the application, this cannot be proven to third parties. With an expired document, employers refuse continued employment, banks refuse to keep the account running and authorities refuse the processing of applications. So apply for the extension no later than two to three weeks before the printed date – each issue costs another €13.00.

Being fobbed off with a mere appointment confirmation or confirmation of receipt. Under § 81 Abs. 5 AufenthG, the Fiktionsbescheinigung must be issued ex officio; no application is required, but you do have an entitlement to it. Anyone who leaves the appointment with just a routing slip is left without recognised proof towards the employer, the bank and at checks, even though the deemed status has long since taken legal effect. Request the document explicitly and in writing if it is not handed over to you.

Not claiming an existing fee exemption. Recognised persons entitled to asylum, refugees and persons entitled to subsidiary protection (§ 52 Abs. 3 AufenthV) as well as Turkish nationals with association rights (§ 52a AufenthV) receive the certificate free of charge, and minors pay only €6.50 under § 50 Abs. 1 AufenthV. Anyone who does not present the proof pays the full €13.00 – and again with every extension, so that an avoidable sum builds up over a long procedure.

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

What exactly does the Fiktionsbescheinigung certify?

It documents the legal effect that your application has triggered: deemed permission (Erlaubnisfiktion) under § 81 Abs. 3 Satz 1 AufenthG, under which your stay is deemed permitted until the decision; deemed suspension of deportation (Duldungsfiktion) under § 81 Abs. 3 Satz 2 AufenthG, under which, after a late application, only deportation is deemed suspended; or deemed continuation (Fortgeltungsfiktion) under § 81 Abs. 4 Satz 1 AufenthG, under which the previous residence title continues to apply with all rights. In none of these cases is the certificate itself a residence title – what matters is always the box ticked on the form.

Am I allowed to work with a Fiktionsbescheinigung?

With deemed continuation under § 81 Abs. 4 Satz 1 AufenthG, the previous title continues to apply in full, including the permission to pursue an economic activity contained in it. With a certificate under § 81 Abs. 3 AufenthG, you may only work if economic activity is explicitly permitted and noted on the certificate; in addition, in the case of a future title for training or economic activity (Chapter 2, Divisions 3 and 4 AufenthG), § 81 Abs. 5a AufenthG permits the economic activity described in it from the time the issue is initiated until the document is handed out. So always check the ticked box.

Can I travel abroad with a Fiktionsbescheinigung?

The Fiktionsbescheinigung is not a travel document and does not replace a passport. The legal basis is decisive: only the certificate under § 81 Abs. 4 AufenthG, under which the previous residence title continues to apply, normally allows re-entry into Germany together with a valid passport. A certificate under § 81 Abs. 3 AufenthG does not constitute a residence title and carries no right of re-entry – in that case, departure can make it impossible to return to Germany.

How much does the Fiktionsbescheinigung cost?

The fee is a uniform €13.00 nationwide; it is set in § 47 Abs. 1 AufenthV and does not vary from city to city or municipality to municipality. For minors, it is reduced to €6.50 under § 50 Abs. 1 AufenthV; issuance is free of charge for, among others, Turkish nationals with association rights under § 52a AufenthV and recognised persons entitled to asylum, refugees and persons entitled to subsidiary protection under § 52 Abs. 3 AufenthV.

How long is the Fiktionsbescheinigung valid?

There is no period of validity laid down by law; the time limit depends on the competent authority and is based on the expected processing time for the residence title application. The distinction is decisive: the deemed status (Fiktionswirkung) itself does not end on the printed date, but only with the decision on your application. If the paper expires before then, have it extended in good time, because otherwise you will lack proof towards your employer, the bank and the authorities.

How long does it take to issue the certificate?

The certificate is almost always issued and handed over immediately when you attend in person, as soon as the residence title application has been recorded. Do not confuse this with the processing time for the underlying application for the residence title: depending on the authority and the circumstances of the case, that takes considerably longer, and it is precisely this waiting time that the Fiktionsbescheinigung bridges.

Do I have to apply for the Fiktionsbescheinigung explicitly?

No. Under § 81 Abs. 5 AufenthG, the foreigner must be issued a certificate on the effect of their submission of the application – issuing it is an official duty of the Ausländerbehörde, not something the individual has to apply for. You have an entitlement to it and should demand the document if it is not handed over to you on the authority’s own initiative; the deemed status itself arises by operation of law even without the paper.

What applies if I submitted my application for an extension too late?

If the application is late, deemed continuation under § 81 Abs. 4 Satz 1 AufenthG no longer applies. Instead, under § 81 Abs. 3 Satz 2 AufenthG, only deportation is deemed suspended from the submission of the application; this is neither a permitted stay nor a work permit. Under § 81 Abs. 4 Satz 3 AufenthG, the authority can order the continuation effect to avoid undue hardship, for which you must provide plausible evidence of the reasons for the delay.

Fiktionsbescheinigung

What you need to bring

How to proceed

Submit the application before the expiry of your residence title

Find out the competent Ausländerbehörde and the procedure

Submit all documents and have the application recorded

Have the Fiktionsbescheinigung handed over to you

Check the ticked box and the note on economic activity

Pay the fee and plan the extension in good time

Costs and payment

Fees

Important notes

Common mistakes

Questions and answers

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