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What does "Aufenthaltstitel" mean in English?

Legal, Visas & Permits • 
Last updated on 14 March 2024

The term “Aufenthaltstitel” translates literally to “residence title” in English. It refers to the various forms of legal documentation required for non-EU nationals to reside in Germany.

What is “Aufenthaltstitel”?

An “Aufenthaltstitel” is a residence permit that non-EU or EEA citizens need to legally live and work in Germany. It is a crucial document for anyone planning to stay in Germany for more than a short visit. This permit is typically applied for at the Ausländerbehörde (foreigners’ office), a German embassy, or consulate and comes in different forms depending on the purpose of the stay, such as working, studying, or starting a business[2][9].

More information about “Aufenthaltstitel”

The “Aufenthaltstitel” is issued as a plastic card with an embedded chip that stores personal data, biometric information, and any conditions or requirements related to the stay. It also has an online ID function, allowing holders to access government and commercial services online securely[3][7]. Since 1 September 2011, residence permits in Germany are no longer issued as stickers in passports but as separate ID-1 plastic cards[9].

Here are some additional terms that are related to “Aufenthaltstitel”:

  • Ausländerbehörde: The local foreigner’s office where one applies for a residence permit[2].
  • Niederlassungserlaubnis: A permanent residence permit that allows unlimited residence and work in Germany under EU law[9].
  • Visum: A visa, which is different from a residence permit, is permission to enter Germany and is usually required for short stays[8].
  • Blaue Karte EU (Blue Card): A residence permit for highly qualified non-EU nationals to work in Germany[9].

Understanding the “Aufenthaltstitel” is essential for non-EU nationals planning to live in Germany, as it is a key part of the legal framework enabling them to reside and work in the country.

Sources

[1] https://interglot.com/de/en/Aufenthaltstitel [2] https://allaboutberlin.com/glossary/Aufenthaltstitel [3] https://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Anlagen/EN/MigrationAufenthalt/ElektronischerAufenthalt/broschuere-eat-a4-en.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=10 [4] https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Aufenthaltstitel [5] https://en.pons.com/translate/german-english/Aufenthaltstitel [6] https://www.iamexpat.de/expat-info/official-issues/residence-permit-germany [7] https://www.bamf.de/EN/Themen/MigrationAufenthalt/ZuwandererDrittstaaten/Migrathek/eAufenthaltstitel/eaufenthaltstitel-node.html [8] https://redtapetranslation.com/german-visas-and-permits-glossary/ [9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_residence_permit [10] https://housinganywhere.com/Germany/how-to-get-german-residence-permit [11] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/prado/en/DEU-HO-21001/index.html [12] https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Aufenthaltsgenehmigung [13] https://tureng.com/en/german-english/aufenthaltstitel [14] https://allaboutberlin.com/guides/fiktionsbescheinigung [15] https://www.germany.info/us-en/service/visa/residence-visa/922288 [16] https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/networks/european-migration-network-emn/emn-asylum-and-migration-glossary/glossary/residence-permit_en [17] https://en.bab.la/dictionary/german-english/aufenthaltstitel [18] https://n26.com/en-eu/blog/how-to-get-a-residence-permit-in-germany [19] https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/service/glossary/glossar/do/show/residence-title [20] https://www.lingq.com/en/learn-german-online/translate/de/aufenthaltstitel/ [21] https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/325475/en/ [22] https://translate.yandex.com/en/dictionary/German-English/aufenthaltstitel [23] https://www.bsi.bund.de/EN/Themen/Oeffentliche-Verwaltung/Elektronische-Identitaeten/Elektronische-Ausweisdokumente/Elektronischer-Aufenthaltstitel/elektronischer-aufenthaltstitel_node.html [24] https://www.linguee.com/german-english/translation/aufenthaltstitel.html [25] https://de.usembassy.gov/living-and-working-in-germany/