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Residence permits in Frankfurt: the online-first Ausländerbehörde

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This page only covers what is different in Frankfurt. The rules, documents and deadlines are the same everywhere — see the national guide: Residence permit.

In shortFrankfurt's Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde) is at Rebstöcker Straße 4 and sees people by appointment only. You can only get an appointment after you have applied online, or when your case officer gives you one. The old email inboxes are closed. Applications and questions go through the online services and contact forms on the city website, which also works on a phone.
On this page
  1. Who handles it
  2. Online first, appointment second
  3. Finding the right application
  4. Timing
  5. English
  6. Frankfurt at a glance

Who handles it

The Frankfurt Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde) is run by the city. It is at Rebstöcker Straße 4, 60326 Frankfurt am Main, and its phone number is +49 69 212 42485.

Online first, appointment second

Frankfurt moved its immigration office to a new website with online services on 28 June 2023. Since then:

  • Visits are by appointment only.
  • You cannot book a first appointment on your own. You get one only after you have applied, or your case officer (Sachbearbeiter) gives you one.
  • The email inboxes of the departments have been switched off. Emails will not reach anyone.
  • Applications and all other contact go through the online services on the immigration office's website. There is a contact form for every purpose.
  • Paper application forms are no longer needed, and you can apply from a mobile phone.

Finding the right application

The immigration office's website is organised in three parts:

  1. "Ich möchte einen Antrag stellen" ("I want to apply"): information pages by purpose of stay, for example work, study or family. Each page lists the documents to prepare. When you have them all, you submit the application at the end of that page.
  2. FAQ: answers to common questions.
  3. "Ich habe eine Frage" ("I have a question"): a contact route for questions that the information pages and FAQ do not answer.

Timing

Because appointments only follow an application, apply in good time before your visa or permit expires. If the office cannot decide in time, the Fiktionsbescheinigung rules in the national guide apply. For requirements by permit type, see the Blue Card and permanent residence guides.

English

The immigration office's page on the city portal has an English version ("This site in English"), and frankfurt.de offers a translation tool.

Frankfurt at a glance

Topic Frankfurt
Authority Frankfurt Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde)
Address Rebstöcker Straße 4
First step Online application
Appointment Only after applying, or given by your case officer
Email Not in use
Paper forms Not needed

Official Frankfurt sources

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