Apply for an extension of your residence permit for conditional admission to a degree program or part-time study

• The application and the required documents can be submitted to us by email or mail. 
• If necessary, the Immigration Office will request additional documents.
• If your application is approved, you will receive an appointment to come in for an interview.

More information

• You are not entitled to a residence permit. It is at the discretion of the Immigration Office to grant the residence permit.
• Please ensure that your information is accurate and complete so that your application can be processed without delay.

Due to the complexity of residence law, this description is provided for informational purposes only and is not legally binding.

Passport photos are now accepted only in digital form. The passport photo must be taken using a registration system on-site at the Office of Migration, at a photo studio, or by a photo service provider. You cannot submit a digital passport photo from your cell phone. Further information is available on our website. For infants and young children, limited deviations from the biometric requirements are permitted.

A residence permit can only be issued for the duration of your national passport’s validity. Please apply for a renewal well in advance of your national passport’s expiration date.

If you do not have a valid national passport, you must provide evidence of your efforts to obtain one (for example: written confirmation from the embassy, reasons for any delays).

Legal Remedies:

• Appeal
• Lawsuit

• A current biometric passport photo
• Documents related to your studies:
  
  • Proof of financial support (e.g., restricted account, letter of financial commitment, etc.)
  • Certificate of enrollment
  • Proof of health insurance
  • Proof of proper progress in the program
  • Proof of the likelihood of success in the program
• Proof of enrollment in a preparatory program:
  
  • Proof of financial resources (e.g., blocked account, letter of financial commitment, etc.)
  • Proof of health insurance
  • Registration for the preparatory language course and admission to the degree program
  • Admission to the preparatory college

• Application for a residence permit (pdf, 233.6 KB)
  

96,00 EUR for extensions of up to 3 months
93,00 EUR if extended by more than 3 months
6,00 EUR in addition, for taking a digital passport photo at the on-site self-service terminal.

What deadlines must be paid attention to?

6 weeks to 8 weeks You should apply to renew your residence permit before your current one expires. Your application should be received by the Office of Foreigners no later than 6 to 8 weeks before your residence permit expires.
1 year to 2 years The residence permit will be extended for at least one year and up to two years. If you are participating in a European Union or multilateral program that includes mobility activities, such as the European Union’s ERASMUS+ program, or if you are covered by an agreement between two or more higher education institutions, your residence permit will be extended for at least two years. If your program of study lasts less than 2 years, the residence permit will be extended for the duration of the program.

How long does it take to process

Once we receive your application, we will need some time to process and review it. Once the review is complete, you will hear back from us.

• § 16b Absatz 5 Gesetz über den Aufenthalt, die Erwerbstätigkeit und die Integration von Ausländern im Bundesgebiet (Aufenthaltsgesetz - AufenthG)
• § 7 Gesetz über den Aufenthalt, die Erwerbstätigkeit und die Integration von Ausländern im Bundesgebiet (Aufenthaltsgesetz - AufenthG)
• § 8 Gesetz über den Aufenthalt, die Erwerbstätigkeit und die Integration von Ausländern im Bundesgebiet (Aufenthaltsgesetz - AufenthG)
• Section 16b(5) of the Act on the Residence, Employment and Integration of Foreign Nationals in the Federal Territory (Residence Act – AufenthG)
• Section 7 of the Act on the Residence, Employment and Integration of Foreign Nationals in the Federal Territory (Residence Act – AufenthG)
• Section 8 of the Act on the Residence, Employment and Integration of Foreign Nationals in Germany (Residence Act – AufenthG)

• Informationen des Auswärtigen Amtes zum Studium in Deutschland
• Informationen des Deutschen Akademischen Austauschdienstes e.V. (DAAD)
• Portal "Make it in Germany" der Bundesregierung für Studienbewerber aus dem Ausland
• The German Government’s ‘Make it in Germany’ portal for prospective students from abroad
• Information from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
• Information from the Federal Foreign Office on studying in Germany