§ 34 AufenthG: Right of Residence of Children
This text was rewritten into plain language (B1 level) automatically and may contain errors. Only the official German statute is authoritative — when in doubt, read the original text below or consult a lawyer.
Section 34 Residence Act: Children's right of residence
This section regulates how long a child with a residence permit may stay in Germany.
Extension of the residence permit for children
Do you have a residence permit as a child? Then you have a legal entitlement to an extension. The authority must extend your residence permit.
This applies even if other rules would require something different. This refers to Section 5 (1) No. 1 and Section 29 (1) No. 2 of the Residence Act.
You have this legal entitlement as long as one of the following conditions is met:
Condition 1: A parent with custody of you (a parent holding parental custody) holds a residence permit, a settlement permit, or an EU long-term residence permit. And you live together with this parent as a family. This is called a family unit (familiäre Lebensgemeinschaft).
Condition 2: You would have a right of return under Section 37 of the Residence Act if you were to leave Germany.
It is enough if one of the two conditions is met.
Independent right of residence upon reaching adulthood
Do you turn 18? Then your residence permit changes automatically. It becomes an independent right of residence. You do not need to do anything extra for this.
This means: your right of residence then no longer depends on family reunification.
The same thing happens in two further cases:
Case 1: You receive a settlement permit or an EU long-term residence permit.
Case 2: Your residence permit is extended under Section 37 of the Residence Act, applied by analogy.
In these two cases as well, your right of residence becomes independent and no longer depends on family reunification.
Extension in other cases: the authority's decision
Do you not yet meet the requirements for a settlement permit or an EU long-term residence permit? Then the authority may still extend your residence permit.
This is not a legal entitlement. The authority decides at its discretion, case by case.
(1) Die einem Kind erteilte Aufenthaltserlaubnis ist abweichend von § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 und § 29 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 zu verlängern, solange ein personensorgeberechtigter Elternteil eine Aufenthaltserlaubnis, Niederlassungserlaubnis oder eine Erlaubnis zum Daueraufenthalt – EU besitzt und das Kind mit ihm in familiärer Lebensgemeinschaft lebt oder das Kind im Falle seiner Ausreise ein Wiederkehrrecht gemäß § 37 hätte.
(2) Mit Eintritt der Volljährigkeit wird die einem Kind erteilte Aufenthaltserlaubnis zu einem eigenständigen, vom Familiennachzug unabhängigen Aufenthaltsrecht. Das Gleiche gilt bei Erteilung einer Niederlassungserlaubnis und der Erlaubnis zum Daueraufenthalt – EU oder wenn die Aufenthaltserlaubnis in entsprechender Anwendung des § 37 verlängert wird.
(3) Die Aufenthaltserlaubnis kann verlängert werden, solange die Voraussetzungen für die Erteilung der Niederlassungserlaubnis und der Erlaubnis zum Daueraufenthalt – EU noch nicht vorliegen.
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