Renewing your residence permit: documents & checklist 2026

A simple legal principle applies to renewal. § 8 (1) AufenthG provides:

"The same provisions apply to the renewal of a residence permit as to its issuance." (own translation of "Auf die Verlängerung der Aufenthaltserlaubnis finden dieselben Vorschriften Anwendung wie auf die Erteilung.")

That means: for a renewal the authority examines essentially the same requirements as at first issuance. Your documents therefore prove that the conditions still hold — in particular that the purpose of residence still applies, your livelihood is secured, and a valid passport is available.

There is also one point specific to renewal. Under § 8 (3) sentence 1 AufenthG:

"Before renewing the residence permit, it must be established whether the foreigner has complied with any obligation to properly attend an integration course." (own translation of "Vor der Verlängerung der Aufenthaltserlaubnis ist festzustellen, ob der Ausländer einer etwaigen Pflicht zur ordnungsgemäßen Teilnahme am Integrationskurs nachgekommen ist.")

So if you were required to attend an integration course (Integrationskurs), keep the relevant proof (attendance or completion certificate) at hand.

The immigration office generally requires these documents regardless of the specific permit:

Application & identity

• ☐ Completed application form of the competent immigration office (renewal/issuance of a residence permit)
• ☐ Valid passport or passport substitute — original, valid for long enough
• ☐ Current residence permit (electronic residence permit / eAT) in original
• ☐ Current biometric passport photo (to the specification for identity documents)

Housing & registration

• ☐ Registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) or proof of your current address
• ☐ Where you rent, if applicable a tenancy agreement and current rent proof

Livelihood & insurance

• ☐ Proof of secured livelihood — depending on your situation e.g. employment contract, current payslips, bank statements or proof of financing
• ☐ Health insurance proof (statutory or private)

What "secured livelihood" means and which documents are suitable is explained in Securing your livelihood.

Integration (if applicable)

• ☐ Integration-course proof — attendance or completion certificate, where a duty to attend existed (§ 8 (3) AufenthG)

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Beyond the core bundle, the authority requires proofs that match the specific purpose of residence — because that purpose must continue to apply. The overview below assigns typical additional proofs to the most common permit categories. It is general information, not a recommendation about which category "applies to you" — that follows from your existing permit, and the final assessment is made by the competent immigration authority.

Study (§ 16b AufenthG)

• ☐ Current enrolment certificate (Immatrikulationsbescheinigung)
• ☐ Proof of study progress (where the authority requires it)
• ☐ Proof of financing for the continued stay

Vocational training (§ 16a AufenthG)

§ 16a AufenthG is headed "Berufsausbildung; berufliche Weiterbildung" (vocational training; further vocational training) and governs the residence permit for in-company training and further training (paragraph 1). For a renewal the principle of § 8 (1) AufenthG applies here too: you must show that the purpose — the vocational training — continues.

As typical, generally orienting examples of additional proofs, administrative practice often names:

• ☐ Training contract (Ausbildungsvertrag)
• ☐ Certificate from the training establishment or vocational school (Berufsschule)
• ☐ Proof of training progress (where the authority requires it)

This list is administrative practice and not conclusively regulated by statute. What scope the proofs have in your case is set by the competent immigration authority.

Skilled worker & employment (§ 18a, § 18b, § 19c AufenthG)

• ☐ Current employment contract and, if applicable, the employer's declaration of employment (Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis)
• ☐ Recent payslips
• ☐ For regulated professions: recognition/professional licence, where required

Family reasons (§ 28, § 30 AufenthG)

• ☐ Marriage certificate or proof of the family relationship
• ☐ Proof of marital or family cohabitation (e.g. shared registered address)
• ☐ Where required for the specific family reunification, a language certificate

Children: Under § 34 (1) AufenthG a child's residence permit is to be renewed as long as a parent with custody holds a residence permit, settlement permit or EU long-term residence permit and lives with the child in a family unit (for an initial move to join: § 32 AufenthG). Typical additional proofs are the birth certificate, the parent's permit and evidence of the continuing family unit or custody (e.g. a shared registered address, proof of custody). Whether these proofs suffice in your case is examined by the competent immigration authority.

Self-employment (§ 21 AufenthG)

§ 21 AufenthG is headed "Selbständige Tätigkeit" (self-employment) and governs the residence permit "for the exercise of a self-employed activity" (paragraph 1); freelance activity is covered by the provision as well (paragraph 5). For a renewal the principle of § 8 (1) AufenthG applies here too: you must show that the purpose — the self-employed or freelance activity — continues and is viable.

As typical, generally orienting examples of additional proofs, administrative practice often names:

• ☐ Current tax assessment (Steuerbescheid) or tax-office records
• ☐ Profit statement / business analysis (BWA) or comparable records on the economic situation
• ☐ Proof of the continued viability of the activity (e.g. order situation, turnover/income records, where applicable trade registration or chamber/professional proof)

This list is administrative practice and not conclusively regulated by statute. Which documents are required in your case is set by the competent immigration authority — the scope differs by activity, federal state and municipality.

Humanitarian reasons (§ 25 AufenthG, incl. § 25a, § 25b)

• ☐ Recognition or determination notice or the previous legal basis of residence
• ☐ Depending on the constellation, integration, employment or identity proofs

Which requirements must "continue to apply" for each permit, and what that means for the proofs, is described in Renewal by permit type. There, too: the final assessment rests with the immigration authority.

Beyond the content of the documents, their form also matters. As a matter of practice (not a nationwide legal rule), the following often applies:

• Show originals, attach copies: passport and current permit are usually shown in original; for many proofs a copy is also taken for the file.
• Foreign-language records: for foreign civil-status records (e.g. a marriage certificate), many authorities require a certified translation by a person sworn before a German regional court (Landgericht).
• Recency: registration certificate, payslips and bank statements should be as current as possible.

Whether and in what form translations or certifications are needed depends on the authority and the country of origin. Naturalisation applications sometimes have stricter requirements for apostille and translation — see the Naturalisation document checklist.

Useful as a checklist is, the binding document list is always set by the competent immigration authority (Ausländerbehörde). It differs by permit, federal state and municipality, and many authorities publish their own information sheets or online forms with the exact breakdown.

civitas. is a private application-assistance service — not a public authority and not a law firm. We provide no legal advice and no recommendation about which path is "right for you". What we do: we guide you through the details in a structured way, help you complete the application and assemble a document overview so you can submit completely and on time to your authority. The final assessment is made by the authority.

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What is the minimum set of documents for a renewal?

Usually the core bundle: application form, valid passport, current residence permit, biometric passport photo, registration certificate, proof of secured livelihood and health insurance proof. Permit-specific proofs come on top. The binding list is set by the competent immigration authority.

Do renewals require the same proofs as first issuance?

Essentially yes. § 8 (1) AufenthG provides that "the same provisions" apply to renewal as to issuance. So you must still prove that the purpose of residence continues and that your livelihood is secured.

Do I need to show integration-course proof?

If a duty to attend existed, yes. Under § 8 (3) AufenthG, before renewal it must be established whether the duty to properly attend an integration course was fulfilled. In that case keep the attendance or completion certificate ready.

Do I need to submit a police clearance certificate (Führungszeugnis) for the renewal?

As a rule, no. A separate police clearance certificate (Führungszeugnis) generally does not have to be produced for a renewal. § 5 (1) no. 2 AufenthG names as a standard issuance requirement that "there is no interest in expulsion" (own translation of "kein Ausweisungsinteresse besteht"); via § 8 (1) AufenthG this requirement applies to renewals too. Whether an interest in expulsion exists is examined by the authority itself as part of its official investigation (Amtsermittlung) — a separate submission by the applicant is generally not envisaged for this. Whether additional documents are required in your case is set by the competent immigration authority.

Do foreign documents need a translation?

Often yes. Many authorities require a certified translation of foreign-language civil-status records by a person sworn in Germany. Whether and in what form depends on the authority and the country of origin — this is practice, not a nationwide rule.

Which documents are permit-specific?

That depends on the purpose of residence: for study, the enrolment certificate; for employment, the contract; for family reasons, marriage/relationship proofs. Which category applies follows from your existing permit; the final assessment is made by the immigration authority. Details in Renewal by permit type.

Where do I find the binding list for my city?

At the immigration authority responsible for your place of residence — many publish information sheets or online forms with the exact breakdown. The process and scheduling are described in Appointment at the immigration office.

What if I'm missing a document — can I submit it later?

Under § 82 (1) AufenthG the applicant has a duty to cooperate and to produce evidence: the required proofs of personal circumstances must be produced "without undue delay" (sentence 1, own translation of "unverzüglich beizubringen"). A missing proof does not necessarily lead to an immediate refusal, but it can delay the procedure. The authority may set "a reasonable deadline" for producing it (sentence 2); if it suspends processing an application because of missing or incomplete information, it names "the information to be supplied" (sentence 3). Evidence produced after a set deadline has expired "may be disregarded" (sentence 4). Whether and which deadline is set, and how your application is decided, rests with the competent immigration authority.