New ways to contact us regarding residence permit matters
We have changed our communication channels. This helps us to process your requests in a more targeted and efficient manner. We appreciate your understanding.
What can you do now?
Here's how you can reach us from now on:
1. Submit an application
Please use the online service “Residence Permit Hamburg”.
Once we have processed your application, we will send you an appointment.
If you submit your application before your current residence permit expires, your stay will continue to be permitted with all ancillary provisions.
2. All other matters (e.g., documents, notifications, changes)
Please use our Service Portal.
There you can:
- Upload documents (before or after your appointment),
- Report a change (for example, if you lose your job),
- Change something in your residence permit (for example, if you change your employer or get a second job),
- Ask a general question (for example, if you need a temporary residence document).
If you already used the online services:
Your application is being processed!
We have many applications right now, so it can take longer.
Please do not ask about the status of your application and do not send your application again.
Every extra request makes the process slower. We cannot answer these questions anymore.
3. Hotline for urgent emergencies
Telephone number: +49 (0) 40 / 428 39 5500
Monday to Thursday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. · Friday: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Our hotline is intended for urgent cases only. Please contact us here only if you need help as soon as possible.
When can you use the hotline?
You can contact us if:
- You do not have a valid residence permit and urgently need help due to an emergency, or
- You have an appointment and need to reschedule it for an important, urgent reason.
What is an emergency?
An emergency is an unexpected situation in which you need a document as soon as possible, otherwise serious problems will arise.
An emergency could be, for example:
- Your residence permit has already expired
Prerequisite: You have submitted the application for issuance or renewal in a timely manner (at least 3 months before expiration) - You entered the country visa-free and do not yet have a residence permit
- You must travel urgently (within the next 10 days), for example due to a business trip, illness, or the death of a close family member
Please note that we require appropriate documentation to determine whether an emergency exists.
Important note regarding a change of employer
A new job is only considered an emergency if:
- the job begins within the next 2 weeks, and
- the application was submitted at least 4 weeks before the start of employment.
In all other cases, please use the Service Portal.
What happens after you submit your report?
We will review your case and determine whether it is an emergency. Regardless of whether an emergency is determined or not, we will inform you of the next steps.
Important: Don’t forget to submit an application
The emergency notification does not replace an application.
You must always submit an application for the issuance or extension of your residence permit in addition (especially if your residence permit is about to expire).
Please use the online service “Aufenthaltserlaubnis Hamburg” for this purpose.
4. Current wait times for in-person appointments
The following wait times are estimates for the period between submitting an online application and receiving an appointment offer. They may vary depending on demand and available capacity.
- Initial issuance of a residence permit: approx. 8–10 weeks
- Transfer of a residence permit (passport transfer): approx. 4 weeks
- Renewal or modification of a residence permit (change of purpose): approx. 8–10 weeks
- Issuance of a settlement permit / EU long-term residence permit: approx. 12 weeks