Extend Humanitarian Residence Permit
Find out how to extend your humanitarian residence permit online.
At a glance
How do you extend your residence permit on humanitarian grounds?
You hold a residence permit on humanitarian grounds. You can have it extended. The requirement is that the humanitarian grounds still exist. The authority decides on a case-by-case basis.
Humanitarian grounds may include: You were admitted through a resettlement programme. Or the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees has recognised you as entitled to asylum or as a refugee. A deportation ban, an obstacle to departure, or a hardship case also count.
You submit the application exclusively online. You can submit it at the earliest 8 weeks before your residence permit expires. At the end you will receive a confirmation. This keeps your current residence permit valid beyond its previous expiry date. However, this does not apply if it had already expired on the day of the application.
Important for families: You must submit the application individually for each person. Your spouse and your children each need their own applications.
Note: If you hold a residence permit under Section 24 AufenthG for refugees from Ukraine, you cannot use this application. Please check the Ukraine portal of the Senate Chancellery instead.
Requirements
Who qualifies?
- You hold a valid residence permit on humanitarian grounds under Section 22, 23, 23a, 25, 25a, or 25b AufenthG and the humanitarian grounds still exist
- If you hold a residence permit under Section 24 AufenthG for refugees from Ukraine, you cannot use this application
Additional requirements
- You need a valid passport or passport substitute from your country of origin. Exception: You are recognised as entitled to asylum, as a refugee, or as stateless — then obtaining a passport is legally deemed unreasonable.
- You must have your primary residence in Berlin. A secondary residence is not sufficient. If your residence permit was issued by another foreigners authority with a residence obligation, the LEA cannot extend it.
- You can submit the application at the earliest 8 weeks before your residence permit expires.
- You need a current email address and consent to the electronic payment method (credit card or PayPal).
How to apply
Submit the online application "Residence permit on humanitarian grounds — extension" and upload all documents in PDF, JPG, or PNG format
Save the application confirmation as a PDF and print it if possible — it certifies that your residence permit remains valid
Wait for the review by the LEA and submit further requested documents if needed
Pay the fees within 14 days when you receive a payment request by email
Attend the assigned appointment in person and bring all required documents in original
Done! You will receive your extended residence permit if the humanitarian grounds still exist
Since 01.05.2025 only digital photos are accepted. Learn more
Extension of residence permit for adults
- Extension of residence permit for minors46,50 EUR
- Extension for Turkish nationals from 24 years of age37,00 EUR
- Extension for Turkish nationals up to 24 years of age22,80 EUR
- New issuance of travel document for foreigners from 24 years100,00 EUR
- New issuance of travel document for foreigners from 24 years (subsidiary protection/resettlement)70,00 EUR
- New issuance of travel document for foreigners up to 24 years97,00 EUR
- New issuance of travel document for foreigners up to 24 years (subsidiary protection/resettlement)38,00 EUR
- New issuance of travel document for refugees or stateless persons from 24 years70,00 EUR
- New issuance of travel document for refugees or stateless persons up to 24 years38,00 EUR
- Digital passport photo at self-service terminal6,00 EUR
Exemptions
- Receiving benefits under SGB II or XII or under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act (applies only to the extension of the residence permit, not to travel documents)
- Holders of a residence permit under Section 23(2) or (4) sentence 1 AufenthG
- Holders of a residence permit under Section 25(1) or (2) AufenthG
Good to know
Your residence permit under Section 25 paragraph 3 is valid for at least one year. If the deportation ban is expected to continue, it can be extended for up to three years. The authority should make generous use of this option.
Die Aufenthaltserlaubnis wird für mindestens ein Jahr erteilt, § 26 Abs. 1 Satz 2. Sind keine Anhaltspunkte dafür vorhanden, dass das Abschiebungsverbot nach einem Jahr wegfällt, ist großzügig von der Möglichkeit Gebrauch zu machen, die Aufenthaltserlaubnis für einen Zeitraum von bis zu drei Jahren zu erteilen.
VAB D.51/A.104/A.25/A.29/C.6, S. 317-823
If you have a residence permit under Section 25 paragraph 3, you are allowed to work. The authority must grant you permission for employment. Approval from the Federal Employment Agency is not required.
Die Ausübung einer Beschäftigung ist entsprechend VAB.B.BeschV.31. generell auf der Grundlage von § 31 BeschV ohne Zustimmung der Bundesagentur zu erlauben und zu verfügen \"Erwerbstätigkeit erlaubt\".
VAB D.51/A.104/A.25/A.29/C.6, S. 317-823
If you have a residence permit under Section 25 paragraph 3 or Section 25 paragraph 4a, your spouse or child may only join you on humanitarian grounds. The authority decides on a case-by-case basis. The general family reunification rules do not apply here.
Besitzt ein Ausländer eine Aufenthaltserlaubnis nach §§ 22, 23 Abs. 1 oder 2, 25 Abs. 3 oder 4a Satz 1, 25a Abs. 1 oder 25b Abs. 1 darf eine Aufenthaltserlaubnis an dessen Ehegatten oder die minderjährigen Kinder nur aus völkerrechtlichen oder humanitären Gründen oder zur Wahrung politischer Interessen der Bundesrepublik Deutschland erteilt werden.
VAB D.51/A.104/A.25/A.29/C.6, S. 317-823
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Extend Humanitarian Residence Permit
You will receive an appointment after positive review of your application and payment of any processing fees. After the appointment, it takes approximately 4–6 weeks until the residence permit is issued as an electronic residence title and can be collected. This also applies to the issuance of a travel document.