Definition
The Ausländerbehörde (Foreigners Authority) is a local administrative office in Germany responsible for managing residence matters for non-EU nationals. After entering Germany on a national visa, most non-EU workers must register with and collect their formal residence title (Aufenthaltstitel) from the local Ausländerbehörde within the first weeks of arrival. The authority also handles permit renewals, changes of status, family reunification applications, and settlement permit applications. Processing times vary significantly by city — major cities like Berlin and Munich often have long waiting times.
Official name
Ausländerbehörde
Official sources
Related terms
Aufenthaltstitel
The German term for a residence title — the physical or digital document confirming a non-EU national's legal right to reside in Germany.
Read definition →
BAMF
Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge
Germany's Federal Office for Migration and Refugees — the central authority for immigration policy implementation, qualification recognition for some routes, and refugee processing.
Read definition →
National Visa
Type D Visa (Long-Stay Visa)
A long-stay visa (Type D) issued by a Schengen country that allows the holder to reside and work in that country for more than 90 days, typically the first step before obtaining a residence permit.
Read definition →
Residence Permit
An official document or authorisation that entitles a non-citizen to legally reside in a country for a specified period, often but not always including the right to work.
Read definition →