Issue Residence Card for Family Members of EU and EEA Citizens
As a family member of an EU or EEA citizen, you can get a residence card for up to 5 years.
At a glance
How do you get a residence card as a family member of an EU or EEA citizen?
You are not an EU or EEA citizen, but your family member is? Then you can get a residence card. The requirement is that your family member has a right of free movement in Germany. You must live together in Berlin.
The residence card is generally issued for 5 years. It certifies your right of entry and residence. You may pursue any gainful employment. This applies to both employment and self-employment.
Important: Family members of German nationals generally cannot receive a residence card under the Freedom of Movement Act. They can instead receive a residence permit under the Residence Act. An exception only applies if the German national acquired a right of free movement from a joint stay with the family member in another EU member state. A short stay is not sufficient for this.
Requirements
Who qualifies?
- You are not an EU or EEA citizen yourself and maintain a family unit with a free-movement-entitled EU or EEA citizen in Berlin. Family members include in particular spouses, registered life partners, minor unmarried children or parents.
Additional requirements
- Your EU or EEA family member must hold a right of free movement, e.g. as an employee, self-employed person or non-economically active person.
- Family members of German nationals generally cannot receive a residence card. An exception only applies if the German national acquired a right of free movement from a joint stay in another EU member state.
- You need your main residence in Berlin and a personal appointment. Contact department E 6 via the contact form.
How to apply
Book an appointment via the contact form with department E 6 of the State Office for Immigration.
Gather all necessary documents: passport, biometric passport photo, completed form, proof of family relationship and registration certificate of your EU/EEA family member.
Attend the appointment in person and bring all documents.
Done! After about 4 weeks, your residence card will be issued as an electronic residence title and you can pick it up.
Since 01.05.2025 only digital photos are accepted. Learn more
From age 24
- Up to age 2422,80 EUR
- Digital passport photo at self-service terminal6,00 EUR
Good to know
If the authority cannot yet order your electronic residence title, you will immediately receive an informal application certificate. It is valid for 6 months and is free of charge. You can use it to provisionally prove your right of residence.
wird unverzüglich eine formlose Antragsbescheinigung gem. § 5 Abs. 1 nach vorgegebenem Muster ausgestellt. Die Bescheinigung gilt für 6 Monate ab Ausstellung. Die Ausstellung erfolgt gebührenfrei.
VAB C.5, S. 766-769
Have you lived in Germany continuously for five years with a right of free movement? Then you have a permanent right of residence. The authority can no longer revoke your right of free movement.
Ist aufgrund eines fünfjährigen, durchgehend freizügigkeitsberechtigten Aufenthalts ein Daueraufenthaltsrecht nach § 4a erworben worden, scheidet die Verlustfeststellung nach § 5 Abs. 4 aus.
VAB C.5, S. 766-769
If your right of free movement has been determined as lost, you may still re-enter at any time. There is no entry or residence ban. This applies regardless of whether you departed voluntarily.
Unionsbürger und ihre Familienangehörigen, deren Verlust des Rechts auf Einreise und Aufenthalt unanfechtbar festgestellt wurde, unterliegen nach ihrer Ausreise, unabhängig von Freiwilligkeit oder Abschiebung, keinen Einreise- oder Aufenthaltsbeschränkungen.
VAB C.5, S. 766-769
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Issue Residence Card for Family Members of EU and EEA Citizens
After the appointment, it takes approximately 4 weeks until the residence card is issued as an electronic residence title and can be collected.