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Short answer
Apply for an extension before your residence permit expires. Your stay then counts as permitted until a decision is made, and if needed you receive a Fiktionsbescheinigung (interim certificate) as proof. In Dortmund the immigration office usually writes to you before the expiry date; otherwise you apply via a contact form.
Step by step
Check the expiry date
Look at your card or supplementary sheet and plan the extension several weeks before it expires.
Wait for a letter or contact them
The Dortmund immigration office usually writes to you in good time and lists the documents. If no letter arrives, use your team’s contact form on dortmund.de to apply and get an appointment.
Prepare your documents
Have your passport, current residence document, photo and proof of income ready, as originals and copies.
Attend the appointment
Your application is processed at the appointment. If your permit expires before the decision, you receive a Fiktionsbescheinigung.
Collect your card
You collect the new electronic residence permit card (eAT) at a separate appointment that you book online with the city.
Documents you need
- Valid national passport (original and copy)
- Current residence document, e.g. residence permit with supplementary sheet or Fiktionsbescheinigung (original and copy)
- A recent biometric passport photo
- Recent proof of income, e.g. your last three payslips or the Jobcenter decision
- Depending on the purpose of your stay, further documents such as an employment contract or proof of enrolment
Deadlines and costs
In time: you must apply before your permit expires. Your stay then continues to count as permitted until the decision (section 81(4) Residence Act).
Too late? If you apply after expiry, this protection often does not apply. Contact the immigration office and us immediately.
Costs: the fee depends on the type of permit and is set by the Residence Ordinance (AufenthV).
Common pitfalls
- No appointment available before expiry – apply via the contact form anyway and keep the confirmation
- Your income is no longer sufficient – get advice before the appointment
- The purpose of your stay has changed, e.g. new job or finished studies – you may need a different permit
- Your employer or the Jobcenter needs the Fiktionsbescheinigung so that wages and benefits continue