Immigration & Residency
How long does a German residence permit take?
Estimated wait
28 days – 3 months
Typically ~56 days
Based on published sources
By case
- Faster cases~28 days
- Average cases~56 days
- Slower casesUp to 3 months
This is the processing time after the foreigners office has your complete application — not the time to get an appointment, which can add weeks.
A residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) usually takes about 4 to 12 weeks to process once the foreigners office (Ausländerbehörde) has your complete application. Complex cases or appointment backlogs can extend this considerably.
More details
While you wait you normally receive a Fiktionsbescheinigung that keeps your stay legal. Processing depends on the permit type, your local office workload, and whether additional documents (for example from your employer) are requested.
Last updated: 28 Jun 2026
Information is for general knowledge only.