Reviewed on March 3, 2026
Transfer Residence Document-GB to a New Passport
New passport, old Residence Document-GB? Get it transferred quickly and easily — we'll help you do it.
At a glance
What do you do when you have a new passport and hold a Residence Document-GB?
You hold a Residence Document-GB (Aufenthaltsdokument-GB) and got a new passport? Then your plastic card is no longer valid. It still references your old passport. Your residence title — the Residence Document-GB itself — remains valid, though. You have to get it transferred to your new passport.
You can have the transfer done at a Berlin Bürgeramt (citizens' office). Certain requirements apply for that. You must still have your old passport. The Residence Document-GB must have been issued by the Berlin State Office for Immigration (Landesamt für Einwanderung Berlin). No more than 12 months may lie between the expiry date of your old passport and the issue of the new one. In addition, you must not have left Germany continuously for more than 12 months. If you meet all of these requirements, you can book an appointment at any Berlin Bürgeramt.
If any of these requirements isn't met, the State Office for Immigration is responsible. That's the case, for example, if your old passport is no longer available. Or if your Residence Document-GB was not issued by the Berlin State Office for Immigration. In both cases, you must book an appointment there.
Note: Is your Residence Document-GB time-limited and expiring within at most 6 months? Then please go to the State Office for Immigration to extend it first. That saves you fees and time.
Note: Want to travel but can't get a short-notice appointment? That's no problem. You can still travel abroad. Re-entry to Germany is possible as long as your residence title is still valid. Take both your old and new passports along with your Residence Document-GB. But check the entry requirements of the destination country in advance, for example with the embassy of the destination country.
Requirements
Who qualifies?
- You can have your Residence Document-GB transferred at the Bürgeramt if you still have your old passport, the document was issued by the Berlin State Office for Immigration (Landesamt für Einwanderung Berlin), no more than 12 months lie between the expiry of the old and the issue of the new passport, and you haven't left Germany continuously for more than 12 months.
- If any of these conditions doesn't apply — for example because the old passport is missing or the document wasn't issued by the Berlin State Office for Immigration — you must have the transfer done directly at the State Office for Immigration.
Additional requirements
- You must have your main residence in Berlin and appear in person with an appointment.
How to apply
Check whether you meet all the conditions for the Bürgeramt: you still have your old passport, your Residence Document-GB was issued by the Berlin State Office for Immigration, no more than 12 months lie between the expiry of the old passport and the issue of the new one, and you haven't been outside Germany continuously for more than 12 months
Book an appointment — either at a Berlin Bürgeramt (if you meet all the conditions) or directly at the State Office for Immigration (if any condition doesn't apply)
Gather all the required documents: new passport, old passport, Residence Document-GB, and a current biometric passport photo — from 1 May 2025, the photo may only be created digitally at the authority or at a photo studio and submitted electronically; also bring the supplementary sheet if you received one, and if your old passport was stolen, the police report of the theft
Attend the appointment in person and bring all the documents with you
Done! Your Residence Document-GB will be transferred to your new passport
Since 01.05.2025 only digital photos are accepted. Learn more
Transfer Residence Document-GB to a new passport (up to age 24)
- Transfer Residence Document-GB to a new passport (from age 24)46,00 EUR
- Digital passport photo at the self-service terminal on site6,00 EUR
Good to know
The authority issues the Aufenthaltsdokument-GB to you ex officio. You do not need to apply for it separately. This applies to British nationals and their family members with a right of residence under the Withdrawal Agreement.
Britischen Staatsangehörigen und ihren Familienangehörigen oder nahestehenden Personen, die ein Aufenthaltsrecht nach dem Austrittsabkommen haben, wird von Amts wegen ein Aufenthaltsdokument-GB ausgestellt.
VAB C.9/C.16/C.11/C.3a, S. 759-793
Your Aufenthaltsdokument-GB can be valid longer than your passport. The usual link to passport validity does not apply. A transfer is only necessary when the eAT card or the title validity expires.
Die sonst übliche Kopplung der Kartengültigkeit an die Passgültigkeit entfällt. Die eAT können daher mit einer längeren Gültigkeit als der Passgültigkeit ausgestellt werden. Ein Übertrag des eAT ist erst bei Ablauf der eAT-Karte oder der Titelgültigkeit erforderlich.
VAB C.9/C.16/C.11/C.3a, S. 759-793
Do you need to travel or prove your right of residence before the new eAT is ready? You can receive a Fiktionsbescheinigung. The authority decides on this upon application.
Trägt ein Antragsteller vor, im Zeitraum zwischen Bestellung und Aushändigung des eAT Reisen zu müssen oder einen Nachweis über sein Aufenthaltsrecht zur Vorlage bei Arbeitgeber oder Sozialbehörden zu benötigen, kann eine Fiktionsbescheinigung ausgestellt werden.
VAB C.9/C.16/C.11/C.3a, S. 759-793
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Transfer Residence Document-GB to a New Passport
After the appointment, it takes approximately 4 weeks until the residence document for UK nationals is issued as an electronic residence title and can be collected.