First week
Time
1 appointment · weeks for the card
Cost
€100 to 147
Difficulty
Hard
EU vs non-EU
EU/EEA: EU/EEA and Swiss citizens need no residence permit at all, your Anmeldung is the only registration required. Skip this how-to.
Non-EU: Non-EU citizens apply at the Berlin immigration office (LEA). Several nationalities can enter visa-free and apply here; others need an entry visa from a German consulate first, then convert it after the Anmeldung.
What to bring
Passport and biometric photos
Anmeldung confirmation
Proof of health insurance
Job contract, client letters, or enrolment, depending on route
Proof of funds / financing plan
Not needed: A German bank account before the appointment, in most cases
Your options
LEA (Landesamt für Einwanderung)
The official route, by appointment
€100 to 147
Apply via the LEA portal once your Anmeldung is done. The Blue Card is the smoothest sub-route if your salary qualifies.
Immigration lawyer
For complex or borderline cases
€300 to 1,500
Worth it for mixed income, family applications, or a status switch. The LEA rejects incomplete files without ceremony.
Relocation agency
They prep the file and chase the slot
€200 to 600
Hands off the paperwork and appointment hunt; useful when your visa clock is ticking.
Prices checked June 2026
Do it
- 1
Finish the Anmeldung first
Almost every permit appointment requires your registered address. Do that before anything else.
- 2
Pick your route and gather proof
Blue Card needs a qualifying job offer and salary; freelance needs client letters and a financing plan; study needs enrolment. All need health insurance.
- 3
Apply and book the LEA appointment
Submit through the LEA portal. Slots are scarce, apply early and watch for the invitation email.
- 4
Attend, pay the fee, collect the card
Hand over your file and biometrics. You usually get a Fiktionsbescheinigung (interim proof) and the card by post in a few weeks.
Words you'll hear
Aufenthaltstitel
Your residence permit, the card non-EU citizens carry. Issued by the Ausländerbehörde (LEA).
Blaue Karte EU
The EU Blue Card: the fast, smooth residence permit for graduates earning above the salary threshold. The route most skilled hires take.
Ausländerbehörde (LEA)
Berlin's immigration office (Landesamt für Einwanderung). Where non-EU residence permits are issued and renewed.
Common questions
Can I work while I wait for the card?
The Fiktionsbescheinigung you receive at the appointment usually carries the same work rights as the permit you applied for. Check what it states.
How long until permanent residency?
Blue Card holders can reach permanent residency in roughly 21 to 27 months with German skills, far faster than most other routes.
Read more
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