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Considerations Surrounding Germany’s “Interim Permit”

February 13, 2024

Germany

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  • GermanyGermany

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Schnitzler_Isabel

Isabel Schnitzler

Senior Associate

Frankfurt, Germany

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T:+49 69 506 029443

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Frankfurt, Germany

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Senior Associate

Frankfurt, Germany

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T:+49 69 506 029443

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By: Isabel Schnitzler

*Scroll down to view the English version of this blog post.


Überlegungen zur Fiktionsbescheinigung in Deutschland

 

Diejenigen, die mit dem deutschen Einwanderungssystem und den damit verbundenen Prozessen vertraut sind, kennen wahrscheinlich die sogenannte „Fiktionswirkung“ oder Fiktionsbescheinigung. Dieser Blogbeitrag erklärt, was die Fiktionsbescheinigung ist, warum sie benötigt wird und wie sie beantragt werden kann.

Warum werden Fiktionsbescheinigungen verwendet?

Viele Antragsteller im deutschen Einwanderungssystem stellen fest, dass Behörden auf ihre Anträge oft erst nach Ablauf des Visums, der Aufenthaltserlaubnis oder der 90 visumfreien Tage reagieren. Um zu verhindern, dass ein Antragsteller in die Illegalität abrutscht, sieht das deutsche Aufenthaltsrecht die sogenannte Fiktionswirkung vor. Das bedeutet, dass sobald ein Antrag bei der zuständigen Ausländerbehörde vor Ablauf der Arbeitserlaubnis, des Einreisevisums oder der 90 zugewiesenen Tage im Schengen-Raum gestellt wurde, dieser Antrag die rechtliche Wirkung hat, die bestehende Erlaubnis oder das Einreisevisum über das Ablaufdatum hinaus aufrechtzuerhalten.

Diese rechtliche Wirkung tritt unabhängig davon ein, ob die Fiktionsbescheinigung erteilt wird, da die Bescheinigung selbst rein deklaratorisch ist. Die Fiktionsbescheinigung ermöglicht es dem Ausländer, zwei Dinge zu tun:

  1. seinen Status unkompliziert nachzuweisen, auch im Falle einer Polizeikontrolle; und
  2. zu reisen, da die Fiktionsbescheinigung unter bestimmten Umständen als gültiges Reisedokument dient.

Arten von Fiktionsbescheinigungen

Drei verschiedene Arten von Fiktionsbescheinigungen sind im Fall der Arbeitsmigration relevant, die im Folgenden beschrieben werden.

Fiktionsbescheinigung als „Verlängerung“ eines Visums oder einer Aufenthaltserlaubnis

Diese Art von Fiktionsbescheinigung betrifft Ausländer, die bereits legal in Deutschland wohnen, basierend auf einer Aufenthaltserlaubnis oder einem Visum, und die eine Verlängerung oder Änderung beantragen. In diesen Fällen wird die Aufenthaltserlaubnis bis zur Entscheidung der zuständigen Ausländerbehörde als weiterhin gültig angesehen. Darüber hinaus ist die Fiktionsbescheinigung ein gültiges Reisedokument und ermöglicht Mobilität, selbst nachdem das Visum oder die Erlaubnis abgelaufen ist.

Fiktionsbescheinigung als „Verlängerung“ eines visumfreien Aufenthalts

In Fällen, in denen jemand aus „privilegierten Ländern“ (USA, UK, Australien, Andorra, Japan, Kanada, Korea, Monaco, Neuseeland, Nordirland oder San Marino) einreist, muss innerhalb der ersten 90 Tage ein Antrag auf eine Aufenthaltserlaubnis gestellt werden. Um nach 90 Tagen einen legalen Aufenthalt nachweisen zu können, kann eine Fiktionsbescheinigung ausgestellt werden. Diese berechtigt jedoch nicht zu Reisen. Das Gleiche gilt für Kinder, die in Deutschland geboren wurden, aber noch keine Aufenthaltserlaubnis erhalten haben.

Fiktionsbescheinigungen, die bereits die Beantragung der zukünftigen Aufenthaltserlaubnis ermöglichen

Es kann mehrere Wochen dauern, bis die Entscheidung der Ausländerbehörde zur Ausstellung der (neuen) Aufenthaltserlaubnis und die tatsächliche Ausstellung derselben erfolgt, da die physische Karte in einem aufwändigen Druckprozess hergestellt wird. Um jedoch die Annahme oder Änderung einer Beschäftigung zu ermöglichen, kann die Ausländerbehörde eine Fiktionsbescheinigung ausstellen, die bereits auf die zukünftige Aufenthaltserlaubnis verweist. Beachten Sie, dass die Fiktionswirkung hier nur eintritt, wenn die Fiktionsbescheinigung selbst ausgestellt wird.

Erhalt einer Fiktionsbescheinigung

Grundsätzlich sieht das deutsche Recht vor, dass eine Fiktionsbescheinigung ausgestellt werden muss (d. h. die Behörde muss dem Antrag auf Ausstellung nachkommen, wenn eine Fiktionswirkung vorliegt). Das Gesetz legt jedoch nicht fest, wann die Bescheinigung ausgestellt werden muss. Da die meisten Ausländerbehörden stark überlastet sind, wird es zunehmend schwieriger, Fiktionsbescheinigungen zeitnah zu erhalten.

Wir empfehlen, sich an die Ausländerbehörde zu wenden und die Ausstellung einer Fiktionsbescheinigung zu beantragen und dabei die dringlichen Gründe für Ihren Antrag anzugeben. Grundsätzlich muss die Ausländerbehörde die Bescheinigung ausstellen, unabhängig davon, ob ein dringender Grund vorliegt oder nicht. Einige Ausländerbehörden (wie das KVR München) haben jedoch begonnen, Fiktionsbescheinigungen nur auszustellen, wenn ein dringender Grund nachgewiesen werden kann.

Ein dringender Grund kann vorliegen, wenn eine Reise, die nicht verschoben werden kann, von der Fiktionsbescheinigung abhängt oder wenn der Arbeitgeber droht, den Antragsteller von der Arbeit zu entlassen. Selbst wenn ein schwerwiegender persönlicher Reisegrund nachgewiesen werden kann, sind die Ergebnisse derzeit unvorhersehbar, und die Bearbeitungszeiten bei den Ausländerbehörden können mehrere Monate in Anspruch nehmen.

Rechnen Sie mit weiteren Herausforderungen bei der Beantragung der Fiktionsbescheinigung. Dazu gehören lange Warteschlangen, ungünstige und unflexible Terminvergaben, zusätzliche Dokumentanforderungen sowie mehrfaches Nachfassen bei den Ausländerbehörden.


Considerations Surrounding Germany’s “Interim Permit”

 

Those familiar with the German immigration system and the country’s immigration processes will likely be familiar with what is known as the “interim permit,” or Fiktionsbescheinigung.

This blog discusses what the interim permit is, why it is needed and how it can be obtained.

Why are interim permits used?

Many applicants within the German immigration system find that responses to their applications are provided when the visa, residence permit or 90 visa-free days have expired.

To prevent an applicant from slipping into illegality, German residence law provides for the so-called interim effect (Fiktionswirkung), meaning that as soon as an application has been filed with the local immigration office before the expiration of the old work permit, entry visa or the 90 allotted Schengen Area days, the filing has the legal effect of upholding the current permit or entry visa even beyond its expiration date.

This legal effect occurs regardless of whether the interim permit is issued, as the permit itself is purely declaratory.

The interim permit enables the foreigner to do two things, including:

  1. prove their status in an uncomplicated manner, even in the event of a police check; and
  2. allow for some travel, as the interim permit serves as a valid travel document under certain circumstances.

Types of interim permits

Three different types of interim permits are relevant in the case of labour migration, as described below.

Interim permit as an “extension” of a visa or residence permit

This type of interim permit covers foreigners who are already legally residing in Germany based on a residence permit or visa and apply for its extension or amendment.

In these cases, the residence permit is deemed to continue to exist until the local immigration office decides on the application. Furthermore, the interim permit is a valid travel document and grants mobility even after the visa/permit has expired.

Interim permit as an "extension" of a visa-free stay

In cases where someone enters the country from “privileged countries” (the US, UK, Australia, Andorra, Japan, Canada, Korea, Monaco, New Zealand, North Ireland or San Marino), they must apply for a residence permit within the first 90 days.

To be able to prove legal residence after 90 days, an interim permit can be issued. However, this does not authorise the holder to travel. The same applies to children who were born in Germany but have not yet received a residence permit.

Interim permits that already allow the future residence permit to apply

It can take several weeks between the decision of the immigration office to issue the (new) residence permit and the actual issuance of the residence card since the residence card is produced in a complex printing process.

However, to make it possible to assume or change employment, the immigration office can issue an interim permit that already refers to the future residence permit.

Note that the fictitious effect only occurs if the interim permit itself is issued.

Obtaining an interim permit

In principle, German law stipulates that an interim permit must be issued (i.e., the authority must comply with the request for issuance if there is a fictitious effect). However, the law does not specify when the certificate must be issued. As the majority of immigration offices are severely backlogged, it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain interim permits promptly.

We recommend contacting the immigration office and asking for an interim permit to be issued, stating the reasons behind your request. In principle, the immigration office must issue the certificate, regardless of whether there is an urgent reason or not. However, some immigration offices (such as the KVR Munich) have started to issue interim permits only in case an urgent reason can be evidenced.

An emergency may therefore exist if an urgent trip that cannot be postponed depends on the interim permit or if the employer threatens to release the applicant from work.

Even if a grave personal reason for travel can be demonstrated, outcomes are currently unpredictable, and processing times of the immigration offices can take up to several months.

Challenges may also occur at the respective immigration offices. This may involve long queueing, inconvenient and inflexible appointment times, additional document requests, as well as multiple follow-ups with the immigration authorities.

Need to know more?

For further information on German immigration requirements and interim permits, please contact Senior Associate Isabel Schnitzler at [email protected].

This blog was published on 13 February 2024, and due to the circumstances, there are frequent changes. To keep up to date with all the latest updates on global immigration, please subscribe to our alerts and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram.

Country / Territory

  • GermanyGermany

Related contacts

Schnitzler_Isabel

Isabel Schnitzler

Senior Associate

Frankfurt, Germany

Email

[email protected]

T:+49 69 506 029443

Related offices

  • Frankfurt

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Related contacts

Schnitzler_Isabel

Isabel Schnitzler

Senior Associate

Frankfurt, Germany

Email

[email protected]

T:+49 69 506 029443

Related offices

  • Frankfurt

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
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  • LinkedIn

Related contacts

Schnitzler_Isabel

Isabel Schnitzler

Senior Associate

Frankfurt, Germany

Email

[email protected]

T:+49 69 506 029443

Related offices

  • Frankfurt

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

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