Residence Permit in Germany and Fictional Certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung)

Challenges in Extending Residence Permit

As a foreigner in Germany, you need to renew your residence permit (Aufenthaltsgenehmigung) again and again. The immigration authorities are often overburdened and it takes a long time before a decision is made on the residence permit you have applied for.

When Waiting for Residence Status Decision : Fictional Certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung)

What can you do? Do you have to depart and leave Germany?

No need to worry! If a decision hasn’t been made regarding the applied-for residence status yet, according to § 84 III or IV of the Residence Act (AufenthG), you will receive a Fictional Certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung).

This Fictional Certificate grants the foreigner the right to continue staying legally in Germany; all conditions of the residence permit also continue to apply (e.g. employment). Therefore, you do not have to leave Germany and are allowed to remain in the country.

Application Submission on time is crucial

Important: The Fictional Certificate can only be issued if there is a legal residence at the time the application is submitted. You must therefore submit the application before the residence permit has expired.

For holders of a Schengen visa, there is no Fictional Certificate.