Extending your residence title in Berlin: apply in time, Fiktionsbescheinigung, changing purpose

Legal basis (federal law)

Under § 8 Absatz 1 AufenthG, the same provisions apply to the extension of the Aufenthaltserlaubnis as to its initial grant. The requirements for granting the respective title must therefore be met again at the time of the extension. Under § 8 Absatz 2 AufenthG, extension can generally be excluded if the authority expressly excluded it at the time of the initial grant or the last extension. § 8 Absatz 3 AufenthG requires, before an extension, checking whether obligations to take part in an integration course have been fulfilled; for those obligated, the extension is limited to at most one year until fulfillment. Under § 8 Absatz 4 AufenthG, this does not apply to titles under § 25 Absatz 1 to 3 AufenthG.

Fiktionswirkung (fictional continuation effect) and Fiktionsbescheinigung (§ 81 AufenthG)

If a person applies for the extension of their residence title or for another title before it expires, the existing title is treated as continuing from the time it expires until the immigration authority's decision (§ 81 Absatz 4 Satz 1 AufenthG); visas under § 6 Absatz 1 AufenthG are excluded. In the case of a late application, the authority can order continuation to avoid undue hardship (§ 81 Absatz 4 Satz 3 AufenthG). Anyone lawfully resident without a title has their stay treated as permitted from the application until the decision (§ 81 Absatz 3 AufenthG). A Fiktionsbescheinigung must be issued documenting the effect of the application (§ 81 Absatz 5 AufenthG). Under § 81 Absatz 5a AufenthG, the employment envisaged in the future title is treated as permitted from the point the document is initiated until it is handed over; this must be included in the Fiktionsbescheinigung.

Implementation in Berlin at the LEA

The Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA, State Office for Immigration) is responsible. According to the LEA, the online application must be used exclusively for granting or extending the following employment-related titles: Aufenthaltserlaubnis for skilled workers with vocational training, for skilled workers with academic training, for employment for research purposes, EU Blue Card, employment of certain nationals, Working Holiday/Youth Mobility, au pair, voluntary services, job seeking after a stay in Germany, and, since 15.07.2025, the Chancenkarte (opportunity card). After payment and submission, a PDF appears as confirmation, certifying the continued validity of the existing title beyond its previous expiry date (not for Schengen visas or an already expired status). According to the LEA's service overview, extensions of the Aufenthaltserlaubnis for self-employed/freelance activity and for humanitarian reasons can also be applied for online; other services run through appointments via the contact form. According to its own statements, the LEA is continuously converting further services to online applications; the respective service page is authoritative.

Fiktionsbescheinigung in Berlin (service.berlin.de, service 326233): requirements are lawful residence, a pending application for a residence title, main residence in Berlin, and an in-person appointment; holders of Schengen visas (Category C) are excluded. Documents: passport or passport substitute, existing residence title, registration certificate or rental contract with landlord confirmation. The certificate is issued at the appointment.

Fees for the extension (§ 45 AufenthV, as retrieved 2026)

Extension of an Aufenthaltserlaubnis, EU Blue Card, or ICT Card: 96 euros for up to three months, 93 euros for more than three months; change through a change of the purpose of stay including extension: 98 euros. Reductions and exemptions (e.g. for Turkish nationals) are given on the LEA's respective service page.

Changing purpose

Changing the purpose of stay requires applying for the title for the new purpose; its requirements must be met. Obtaining the title within Germany is permitted, under § 39 Satz 1 Nummer 1 AufenthV, for those who hold, among others, a national visa or an Aufenthaltserlaubnis. There are statutory restrictions: during a stay for study purposes, an Aufenthaltserlaubnis for temporary employment under § 19c Absatz 1 AufenthG in conjunction with the Beschäftigungsverordnung (Employment Ordinance) may not be granted (§ 16b Absatz 4 AufenthG). Whether a specific change is permitted depends on the starting and target title; a comprehensive overview of change restrictions was not evaluated for this page. No confirmed information is available for this. Titles for work, study, and training are explained in the "Erwerbsmigration" (labor migration) section.

Open points

Specific processing times at the LEA: no confirmed information is available for this (the LEA only states that it can take a while due to very high numbers of applications). Rules on travel abroad with a Fiktionsbescheinigung: no confirmed information is available for this.