Law and regulations - residence
There are different rules that apply for residence in Germany. They depend on the country you come from and the reasons for coming to Germany.
On this page you will find information on the various residence permits and information regarding family reunification or voluntary return to your home country.
Residence permit
What residence permits are issued in Germany? Different regulations apply, depending on the reasons for entry or the countries you enter from. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees provides an overview of the various residence permits:
When you come to Germany as part of an asylum procedure: Different regulations will apply, depending on the outcome of the procedure. You can find an overview of the various protection forms during the asylum procedure at the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees:
Family reunification
This page provides information on the legal framework, the prerequisites and support services revolving around family reunification. The page is available in German, English and many more.
Special regulations currently apply to Syrian refugees:
This page of the Federal Foreign Office provides information on family reunification. Here you will find general information regarding the procedure, information on how to report Syrian refugees within the prescribed period and helpful information on visa applications.
The page is available in German, English und Arabic (you can change the language with the box in the upper right corner).
Voluntary Return
Not all people want to stay in Germany permanently. If you are considering returning to your home country, you will find helpful information on the "Returning from Germany" page.
Apart from counselling centres, the support programmes are also presented and information on individual countries is regularly published.
The page is available in the following languages German, English, French, Serbian, Russian, Albanian, Arabic, Farsi und Pashto.
On-site advice is available at the Foreigners Authority and at the Integration Centre.
Procedure and content of the asylum procedure
Here you will find information on the procedure and content of asylum procedures in Germany. The Federal Office for Migration has published a brochure and a film that informs regarding this topic.
You can find the brochure here: German, English, Albanian, Farsi,
Further links:
Frequently asked questions about the right of residence:
The website of the Federal Ministry of the Interior answers frequently asked questions regarding the German right of residence. The page is only available in German.
Which rights do women have in Germany? The "Paritätische Gesamtverband" (Parity General Association) has published a brochure on this subject. Available in the languages: German, English, Kurdish, Arabic, Farsi, French, Turkish.
The Flüchtlingsrat Niedersachsen e.V. would like to support refugee women in particular with finding their way and living in Germany. This page provides general information on asylum procedures, family and domestic violence, separation/divorce, health/illness, language/work and plenty more. Available in German, English, French, Arabic, Farsi, Russian.