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Residence permits in Hamburg: which office is yours?

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

In shortHamburg splits residence matters between three places. Skilled workers and people coming for work, training, study or self-employment go to the Hamburg Welcome Center. Other people who already hold a visa or permit, and EU citizens, go to the 'A' location of Hamburg Service vor Ort for their district. First permits after a Duldung or asylum procedure are issued by the central Amt für Migration.
On this page
  1. Three offices, different people
  2. Applying online
  3. The Hamburg Welcome Center
  4. After the appointment
  5. Hamburg at a glance

Three offices, different people

In Hamburg the immigration authority is not one single office. Which one you deal with depends on why you are in Germany:

Your situation Where you go
First permit after entry for work, training, study or self-employment; extensions and transfers for skilled workers; settlement permits for eligible skilled workers; their family members Hamburg Welcome Center (HWC) — Hamburg Welcome Center for Professionals, Süderstraße 32b
You already hold a visa or residence permit (other cases), or you are an EU citizen The "A" location (Ausländerangelegenheiten) of Hamburg Service vor Ort responsible for you
First residence permit after a Duldung or asylum procedure Zentrale Ausländerbehörde at the Amt für Migration

Applying online

Hamburg has an online service for residence permits (Online-Dienst Aufenthaltserlaubnis). It helps you check which permit applies and lets you submit the application and upload documents. For a settlement permit, Hamburg explains the process like this: you apply online, the responsible office checks your case and sends you an appointment. If your documents are complete, the decision is made at that appointment.

Hamburg notes that documents must be submitted in German. The office may ask for more or fewer documents in individual cases.

The Hamburg Welcome Center

The HWC is a joint service of Hamburg's economy and interior authorities, the Federal Employment Agency and the Jobcenter. For residence matters it also:

  • runs the accelerated skilled-worker procedure (beschleunigtes Fachkräfteverfahren)
  • takes your photo, signature and fingerprints at a self-service terminal (small fee)

Residence matters at the HWC are handled only with an appointment. Walk-in processing, for example for a Fiktionsbescheinigung or work permit, is currently not possible. The HWC has an English website and also advises on jobs, recognition of qualifications and starting a business.

After the appointment

The electronic residence permit (eAT) is produced by the Federal Printing Office. Hamburg gives a delivery time of usually two to four weeks. You are notified and get an appointment to collect it.

For what to prepare and how the Fiktionsbescheinigung works, see the national guide. For the Blue Card specifically, see the Blue Card guide.

Hamburg at a glance

Topic Hamburg
Skilled workers, study, training Hamburg Welcome Center
Other permit holders, EU citizens Hamburg Service vor Ort ("A" location)
After Duldung or asylum Amt für Migration (central)
Online application Online-Dienst Aufenthaltserlaubnis
Walk-ins at the HWC Not currently possible
English HWC website in English

Official Hamburg sources

Rules can change. These are the pages we checked — they have the final word. How we check facts

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