Submit details for the issue of a residence card for family members of EU/EEA citizens (except Germany) and EEA citizens

Before travelling to Germany, you usually have to apply for a visa for Germany in your home country. Once you have entered the country, you can initially stay in Germany for three months without any further requirements. For longer stays, you must apply for a residence card.

You can provide the information required to obtain the residence card when you register at the registration office. Your details will then be forwarded from there to the Foreigners' Registration Office. In this case, you do not need to contact the Foreigners' Registration Office again. They will contact you.

If you wish to receive the residence card at a later date (after three months at the latest), please contact the foreigners authority. To do this, you must submit details to the immigration authority responsible for your place of residence.

The procedure is as follows:

• Depending on the foreigners authority, it may be possible to receive your details online. Find out whether your foreigners authority offers electronic receipt.

In the case of an electronic submission, the Foreigners' Registration Office will contact you after receiving your details to request additional documents if necessary and to arrange an appointment with you at the Foreigners' Registration Office. Your documents will be checked during the appointment (bring the originals with you to the appointment if you are asked to do so).

• If you can only submit your details in person, make an appointment with the immigration office. During the appointment, your details will be taken and your supporting documents checked (bring the originals with you to the appointment if you are asked to do so).
• Irrespective of the result of the immigration authority's check, you will immediately receive a certificate stating that you have provided the information required for the residence card to be issued in order to be able to prove that you are a legal resident.
• Once the examination has been completed, you will be issued either a residence card or a rejection notice within six months.
• The residence card is usually issued for five years, unless a shorter period of time results from the residence of your reference person from whom your right of residence is derived.
• The residence card is issued in cheque card format with additional electronic functions (eAT card). Your fingerprints will be taken at the Foreigners' Registration Office to issue the card. You must also provide a signature.
• After about six to eight weeks, you can collect the eAT card from the Foreigners' Registration Office. The card must always be collected in person.

Fees are charged for the issue of the residence card and the eAT card. The time and form of payment vary depending on the authority

• For the issue of a national visa before entering Germany: German diplomatic mission abroad (embassy, consulate)
• For the issue of a residence card after entry: The immigration authority responsible for the family member's place of residence

• You are a family member of an EU or EEA citizen residing in Germany, but do not have one of these nationalities yourself.
• You have a recognised or otherwise authorised, valid passport or passport substitute and - if this was required for entry - a visa.
• If required, you can provide the evidence and documents listed under "Required documents"

• Current biometric photo
• Consent of the person with parental authority to the planned stay if you have not yet reached the age of 18

The immigration authority may request the submission of the following documents:

• Recognised or otherwise authorised, valid passport or passport substitute
• Proof of the existence of the family relationship to the reference person (e.g. marriage certificate, birth certificate)
• Proof that the reference person has exercised their right to freedom of movement (e.g. confirmation of registration, employment contract or confirmation of employment, trade licence or proof of self-employment)

If you have recently entered the country, the immigration authority may also request that you provide

• Visa, if this was required for entry

If you are joining a reference person who is not gainfully employed, the immigration authority may also request that you join them:

• Proof of sufficient resources
• Proof of sufficient health insurance cover

If you are joining a reference person who is studying, the immigration authority may also request this:

• Admission of the university or certificate of enrolment of the reference person
• Proof of sufficient resources and health insurance

In individual cases, the foreigners authority may request further documents.

• § Section 5 (1) of the Freedom of Movement Act/EU (FreizügG/EU)
• § Section 2(2)(6) of the Freedom of Movement Act/EU (FreizügG/EU)
• § Section 3 of the Freedom of Movement Act/EU (FreizügG/EU)
• § Section 4 Freedom of Movement Act/EU (FreizügG/EU)
• § Section 5a (2) of the Freedom of Movement Act/EU (FreizügG/EU)
• § Section 12 of the Freedom of Movement Act/EU (FreizügG/EU)
• § Section 47 Residence Ordinance (AufenthV)

• Online procedure possible: Occasionally
• Written form required: Yes
• Personal appearance required: Yes

Special feature:

After the residence card has been issued, the existence or continued existence of the conditions under EU law may be reviewed for special reasons. If the conditions for the right of residence have ceased to exist or no longer exist within five years of establishing residence in the federal territory, the residence card may be revoked.

You can apply for a permanent residence card if you have resided legally in Germany with your reference person for five years.

Note for Swiss nationals and their family members:

Because Switzerland is not a member of the EU or the EEA, a different regulation applies to Swiss nationals. Swiss nationals and their family members are obliged to report their stay in Germany lasting longer than three months to the foreigners authority in their place of residence and then receive a "Swiss residence permit".

Notice for British nationals and their family members (Brexit):

The withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union was completed on 1 February 2020. For British nationals entitled to freedom of movement and their family members, the right to freedom of movement initially continued to apply until 31 December 2020.

The responsible immigration authority will provide information on which regulations will apply in individual cases from 1 January 2021 (grandfathering or application of the general residence law, in particular the Residence Act).

• Residence card for family members of Union citizens Issue
• Third-country nationals who are family members of EU and EEA citizens may move freely within the EU with the reference person, enter and reside in any Member State or EEA country, provided that the requirements under EU law are met.
• are family members:
  • Spouses, life partners and relatives in the direct descending line (e.g. children) and their spouses/life partners, provided they are under 21 years of age and
  • Relatives in the direct ascending and direct descending line of Union citizens entitled to freedom of movement (older children, grandchildren, parents and grandparents) or their spouses or life partners to whom the Union citizens or their spouses or life partners provide maintenance.
• If the reference person is staying in Germany as a student, only spouses and life partners as well as children (who are granted maintenance) are entitled to join them.
• A visa is required for entry, unless entry is possible without a visa.
• Three-month stay in Germany is not a prerequisite; a passport/passport replacement must be available and the person accompanying the child must be recognisable.
• For longer stays of more than three months, third-country national family members require a residence card
• Residence card is issued by the immigration authority ex officio and within six months
• No application required; only the information required for issuing the residence card must be provided; this can be submitted when registering at the registration office or later at the immigration office
• The immigration authority checks the conditions for freedom of movement and may request the following evidence in individual cases:
  • Valid passport or passport replacement,
  • Proof of family relationship,
  • Proof that the reference person is currently exercising their right to freedom of movement,
  • Proof of sufficient means of subsistence and adequate health insurance cover if the reference person is not gainfully employed.
• No language skills required
• Until a decision is made on issuing the residence card, residence is deemed to be legal.
• Residence cards are generally issued for five years, unless a shorter period of time results from the residence of the reference person
• For persons who have not yet reached the age of 18, the consent of a person with parental authority is required
• A permanent residence card can be issued after five years of permanent, legal residence with the reference person in the federal territory
• Depending on the foreigners authority, the information can be submitted online or in person
• Issuing the residence card is subject to a fee; the time and form of payment vary
• Responsible: the foreigners authority responsible for the family member's place of residence