Apply for Residence Permit for Children Born in Germany
Your child was born in Germany? Then your child has a legal entitlement to their own residence permit.
At a glance
How does your newborn child get a residence permit?
Your child was born in Germany and at least one parent holds a valid residence title? Then your child can receive a residence permit.
In many cases, the citizens office (Bürgeramt) issues the residence permit ex officio. This means the authority takes care of it automatically. However, this is only possible if the parents' residence titles were issued in Berlin and are still valid for more than 6 months.
If these conditions are not met, you must apply for the residence permit at the State Office for Immigration (LEA) online. Use the online application "Residence permit for family reasons". You must pay the processing fee before submitting, unless you are exempt. You will receive a PDF confirmation certifying your child's permitted residence.
For the appointment at the citizens office or LEA, a parent with custody must appear in person. The child only needs to be present if the passport photo will be taken on site.
Requirements
Additional requirements
- Issuance at the citizens office (ex officio): Both parents (or the parent with sole custody) hold a residence title issued in Berlin that is still valid for more than 6 months.
- Issuance at the LEA (on application): If the conditions for the citizens office are not met. Use the online application.
- If you apply online at the LEA, you need a current email address. Check your spam folder regularly.
- For the online application, you need a credit card (Visa, Mastercard) or PayPal.
- The child only needs to be present in person if the passport photo will be taken at the appointment.
How to apply
Check whether the citizens office (Bürgeramt) can issue the residence permit: the parents' residence titles must have been issued in Berlin and still be valid for more than 6 months.
2a. Citizens office: Book an appointment at a Berlin citizens office. Bring all required documents. The passport photo can either be taken on site or prepared in advance at a participating photo studio.
2b. LEA (if the citizens office is not responsible): Submit the online application "Residence permit for family reasons". Have all documents ready and pay the processing fee.
Save and print the PDF confirmation. It certifies your child's permitted residence.
For LEA applications: Wait for the review. Once your application is approved, you will receive an appointment for an in-person visit. Bring all documents listed in the invitation letter.
After the appointment, the electronic residence title (eAT) will be produced. Processing takes at least 4 weeks.
Since 01.05.2025 only digital photos are accepted. Learn more
Residence permit
- Children with Turkish nationality27.60 EUR
- Digital passport photo at self-service terminal6.00 EUR
Exemptions
- No fees when presenting a current notice of benefits under SGB II, SGB XII or the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act.
Good to know
Your child does not necessarily need a valid passport for the residence permit. The authority MUST grant it even without a passport or passport substitute. The general granting requirements do not apply here.
dass ggf. auch ohne Vorliegen eines gültigen und anerkannten Passes oder Passersatzes für das Kind die Aufenthaltserlaubnis zu erteilen ist
VAB A.33, S. 397-399
For your child's residence permit, less strict rules apply. The general requirements from Section 5 and Section 29 paragraph 1 number 2 do not need to be met. This applies whether one or both parents hold a residence title.
Sowohl in den Fällen des § 33 S. 1 als auch in denen des § 33 S. 2 kommt es nicht auf das Vorliegen der allgemeinen Erteilungsvoraussetzungen des § 5 bzw. des § 29 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 an
VAB A.33, S. 397-399
If only one parent has a residence title, the authority decides at its discretion. If only the parent with the residence title lives in Germany, the decision normally favors your child. The child's best interests take priority.
ist das Ermessen regelmäßig zu Gunsten des Kindes auszuüben, wenn sich allein der das Aufenthaltsrecht vermittelnde Elternteil im Bundesgebiet aufhält
VAB A.33, S. 397-399
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Apply for Residence Permit for Children Born in Germany
After the in-person appointment, it takes at least 4 weeks until the residence permit is issued as an electronic residence title (eAT) and can be collected.