Applying for a residence permit in Hamburg

Before you start

• A registered address in Hamburg (see the guide to Anmeldung in Hamburg)
• Health insurance that covers you in Germany
• The documents for your purpose of stay, for example an employment contract, admission letter or proof of funds

Documents you need

• Valid passport

  required

• National visa

  optional

• Recent biometric photo

  The Welcome Center takes a photo, fingerprints and signature at the appointment; Hamburg Service offices have self-service terminals (€6 fee).

  optional

• Registration confirmation for your Hamburg address

  required

• Proof of health insurance

  required

• Employment contract or job offer (for work permits)

  optional

• Employer's declaration on the employment relationship

  optional

• Degree certificate and recognition or comparability statement

  optional

• University admission letter or enrolment certificate (for studies)

  optional

• Proof that you can support yourself

  optional

• Marriage or birth certificates (family members)

  optional

• Rental contract

  optional

Step by step

1. 1

   Step 1: Check your deadline

   • With a national visa: apply before your visa expires.
   • Visa-free entry: nationals of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States may enter without a visa and apply in Germany, but must apply within 90 days of entry (section 41 of the Residence Ordinance). Do not assume that visa-free entry allows you to work; whether and when you may start depends on the permit you apply for.
   • Extensions: the Welcome Center asks you to apply at least 8 weeks before your current permit expires.

   If you apply in time, your stay remains lawful with the same conditions while the office decides, according to the Welcome Center. If you apply late, you can lose this protection.

2. 2

   Step 2: Prepare your documents

   Collect your passport, registration confirmation, proof of health insurance and the documents for your purpose of stay (for example employment contract and employer declaration, degree and recognition documents, admission letter, proof of funds, marriage and birth certificates for family members). The online service lists what you need for your permit; the Welcome Center also publishes checklists.

   Scan everything as PDF files. Documents not in German may need translations.

3. 3

   Step 3: Apply online with "Residence Permit Hamburg"

   Open the online service (English and German). In three stages you answer a questionnaire to identify the right permit, enter your details and upload documents, and submit the application to the responsible office. According to the portal:

   • no registration is necessary;
   • filling in the form takes about 15 to 25 minutes;
   • the service itself is free, while the permit costs about €100 in fees;
   • processing takes several weeks.

   Save the confirmation. For help with the form, Hamburg Service offers support by phone (+49 40 42828 1228, Monday to Friday 8:00 to 16:00) or by email (eAT-Onlinesupport@service.hamburg.de).

4. 4

   Step 4: Wait for your appointment offer

   After checking your application, the responsible office sends you an appointment. The Welcome Center published these estimated waiting times from online application to appointment offer (2026):

   • first permit after entry: about 8 to 10 weeks;
   • renewal or change of purpose: about 8 to 10 weeks;
   • transfer to a new passport: about 4 weeks;
   • settlement permit or EU long-term residence permit: about 12 weeks.

   The Welcome Center asks applicants not to ask about the status of their application or to submit it twice, because this slows processing. To upload further documents or report changes, use the Serviceportal.

5. 5

   Step 5: Attend the appointment

   Bring all documents, ideally in the original. Your identity and documents are checked, and fingerprints, a signature and a photo are taken for the electronic residence permit card (eAT). If your file is complete, the Welcome Center can decide during the appointment.

   At Hamburg Service locations, self-service terminals record the photo, fingerprints and signature for a fee of €6 (2026). Fees there can be paid by card.

6. 6

   Step 6: Collect your card

   The eAT card is produced by the Federal Printing Office (Bundesdruckerei), which usually takes 2 to 4 weeks. You collect it in person at an assigned appointment. Put the expiry date in your calendar and plan the next extension early.

Urgent cases

Changing jobs or purpose

Permanent residence and citizenship

Help and advice

Watch out

Common mistakes

• Waiting for an appointment before applying. In Hamburg you apply online first; the appointment comes afterwards.
• Applying for an extension at the last minute instead of at least 8 weeks before expiry.
• Leaving out documents in the online application, which delays the appointment.
• Changing employer before the permit for the new job has been granted.

Tips

• Register your address first; the registration confirmation is part of most applications.
• Keep PDF copies of everything you upload and the confirmation of your online application.
• Note the expiry date of your eAT and set a reminder at least three months before.

Frequently asked questions

Editorial answers written by our team, based on the sources below.

Official links

In your plan

• Apply for your residence permit onlineAdd to plan
• Renew your residence permit before it expiresAdd to plan
• Plan your residence permit application after visa-free entryAdd to plan
• Note the end date of your visa or visa-free periodAdd to plan
• Attend your appointment and collect your residence cardAdd to plan
• Check that your permit will allow self-employmentAdd to plan
• Collect originals, apostilles and translationsAdd to plan
• Switch to an employment permit when you find a jobAdd to plan

Sources

Written and checked by HomiStart editorial against the official sources below. Next scheduled check: 6 Jan 2027.