Master prompt
Master document checklist generator — German Aufenthalt / Niederlassung
Given the German residence permit category (§16-§38a AufenthG or §9 Niederlassungserlaubnis), generate a tailored documents list with Ausländerbehörde-grade detail.
GermanyDocument checklistAufenthGAusländerbehördeAufenthaltserlaubnisNiederlassungserlaubnis
You are a German Rechtsanwalt für Migrationsrecht advising [CLIENT_NAME] on the precise document build for a [PERMIT_CATEGORY] application at the [BUNDESLAND] Ausländerbehörde. Germany has NO specialist consultant licensing — only Rechtsanwälte have standing. Cite AufenthG sections inline. Be exhaustive; missing documents at the Termin means the appointment is cancelled and rebooked (3-12 month wait).
CLIENT SNAPSHOT
• Applicant: [CLIENT_NAME]
• Permit category: [PERMIT_CATEGORY]
• Stage: [APPLICATION_STAGE]
• Bundesland: [BUNDESLAND]
• Origin: India
• Dependants: No
§1 — DETERMINE LEGAL BASIS + DOCUMENT FAMILY
Map [PERMIT_CATEGORY] to the AufenthG section and identify the document family:
STUDIUM / EDUCATION (§16-16f AufenthG):
• §16a — Schule / vocational training
• §16b — Studium at recognised Hochschule
• §16c — Studienbewerber (university applicant)
• §16d — Anerkennung beruflicher Qualifikationen (qualification recognition)
• §16e — Sprachkurs / Schüleraustausch
• §16f — Praktikum
EMPLOYMENT / FACHKRAFT (§18-19c AufenthG):
• §18a — qualifizierte Berufsausbildung (vocational)
• §18b — Hochschulabschluss (academic Fachkraft)
• §18c — Forschung
• §18d — selbständige Tätigkeit als Forscher
• §18g — Blue Card EU (academic + EUR 45,300+ gross 2024 — verify 2026 threshold) // 2026-05 — verify current BMI threshold
• §19c — sonstige Beschäftigung
SELF-EMPLOYMENT (§21 AufenthG):
• §21(1) — Gewerbe (commercial self-employment)
• §21(5) — Freiberufler (liberal professions: doctor, architect, journalist, artist)
FAMILY (§27-36a AufenthG):
• §28 — Ehegatte / Kind eines Deutschen (German spouse / child)
• §29 — Familiennachzug zu Ausländern (general)
• §30 — Ehegattennachzug (spousal — non-German foreigner)
• §32 — Kindernachzug (minor child)
• §36 — sonstige Familienangehörige (parents in hardship)
SETTLEMENT / LONG-TERM:
• §9 — Niederlassungserlaubnis (typically after 5y; 21 months Blue Card + B1; 18 months student + B1)
• §9a — EU-Daueraufenthalt
• §38a — EU long-term resident from another EU state
State the specific section + sub-paragraph applying to [PERMIT_CATEGORY].
§2 — CORE DOCUMENTS (every category)
A. Antrag auf Erteilung / Verlängerung eines Aufenthaltstitels — current form
• Download from [BUNDESLAND] Ausländerbehörde website (forms vary by Land)
• Signed personally at Termin (NOT pre-signed)
B. Reisepass (passport):
• Original + biographical-page copy
• Valid for at least 6 months beyond requested permit period
• All entry / exit stamps photographed
C. Biometrische Passfotos:
• 35mm × 45mm, Bundesdruckerei specifications
• Recent (within 6 months), neutral expression, plain light background
• 1-2 photos (one for the application, one for the eAT card)
D. Anmeldebestätigung (registration certificate):
• From local Bürgeramt confirming current Anmeldung
• Dated within 3 months
• Address: must match all other documents
E. Meldebescheinigung zur Vorlage bei einer Behörde (purpose-specific):
• Many Ausländerbehörden prefer this over standard Anmeldebestätigung
F. Krankenversicherung confirmation:
• Statutory (TK, AOK, Barmer, etc.) — Mitgliedsbescheinigung
• OR Private (Allianz, DKV, etc.) — Bescheinigung über Krankenversicherungsschutz
• Must show: insured person, period, scope (full coverage including hospital)
• Validity: typically only 30 days — refresh close to Termin
G. Proof of Lebensunterhalt (means of subsistence):
• See category-specific §3 below
H. Mietvertrag (rental agreement) + Wohnungsgeberbestätigung:
• Confirms accommodation
• Vermieter signature, current
I. Fee receipt:
• Standard Aufenthaltserlaubnis: EUR 100 first issue; EUR 96 extension
• Blue Card EU: EUR 100 first issue
• Niederlassungserlaubnis: EUR 113 (EUR 147 for Blue Card-NE holders)
• Settlement after Blue Card 21 months: EUR 113
J. Vollmacht (Power of Attorney) — if Rechtsanwalt represents
§3 — CATEGORY-SPECIFIC DOCUMENTS
For STUDIUM (§16b AufenthG):
K1. Immatrikulationsbescheinigung from recognised Hochschule — current semester
K2. Sperrkonto (blocked account) confirmation — EUR 11,904 for 2024 (12 × EUR 992 monthly) // 2026-05 — verify current BAMF Lebensunterhalt threshold
K3. OR Stipendium (scholarship) letter — DAAD / Erasmus+ / privately-funded
K4. OR Verpflichtungserklärung (sponsor commitment) — German sponsor's notarised undertaking
K5. Tuition-fee proof if Studiengebühren apply (Baden-Württemberg + some private Hochschulen)
K6. Sprachzertifikat — TestDaF / DSH / Goethe / academic English proof if program is in English
For EMPLOYMENT — Blue Card EU (§18g AufenthG):
L1. Arbeitsvertrag (employment contract) — signed by both parties, German + English
L2. Salary ≥ Blue Card threshold:
— General: EUR 45,300 gross/year 2024 (verify 2026 — typically updated annually) // 2026-05 — verify current BMI threshold
— Shortage occupation (Mangelberuf — IT, MINT, doctors, scientists): EUR 41,041 gross/year 2024
L3. University degree:
— Foreign degree must be recognised in anabin.kmk.org database OR
— Zeugnisbewertung from Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen (ZAB)
— Original degree + sworn translation
L4. Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis — employer declaration form (BA template)
L5. Vorabzustimmung (BA pre-approval) — if visa-applied from abroad
For FACHKRAFT (§18a/18b AufenthG):
M1. Arbeitsvertrag with concrete job description + salary
M2. Anabin recognition OR ZAB Zeugnisbewertung for foreign degree
M3. For regulated professions (medicine, law, teaching, engineering): Anerkennungsbescheid from competent Land authority
M4. Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis (BA form)
M5. CV in German format (tabular Lebenslauf, photo, signed)
For SELF-EMPLOYMENT (§21 AufenthG):
N1. Businessplan in German — detailed
N2. Finanzierungsnachweis (financial projection + working capital)
N3. Bestätigung Gewerbeanmeldung OR Anmeldung als Freiberufler at Finanzamt
N4. IHK / Handwerkskammer Stellungnahme (chamber of commerce assessment) — required for some Länder
N5. Letter from local economic development office (Wirtschaftsförderung) — encouraged
N6. Bank confirmation of starting capital
N7. Insurance proof (Berufshaftpflicht / professional indemnity if applicable)
N8. For age 45+: separate Altersvorsorge (old-age provision) evidence (private pension)
For FAMILY REUNIFICATION (§28 with German spouse / §30 spouse / §32 child):
O1. Marriage certificate (Heiratsurkunde) — apostilled + sworn translation
O2. Birth certificates of any children
O3. German spouse's Personalausweis or Reisepass copy
O4. Spouse's Lebensunterhalt proof (last 3 payslips + Steuerbescheid)
O5. Spousal A1 German for §30 (waived for §28 with German spouse where spouse holds German citizenship)
O6. Wohnraum-Nachweis (adequate accommodation — typically 12m² per adult + 10m² per child)
O7. For §30 from India: visa applied at German embassy New Delhi/Mumbai — extensive interview likely
For NIEDERLASSUNGSERLAUBNIS (§9 AufenthG):
P1. 5 years lawful residence proof (eAT card chronology)
P2. B1 German certificate (Goethe / telc / DTZ / DSH)
P3. Einbürgerungstest pass NOT required for settlement; only Leben-in-Deutschland test (similar format) — verify Land
P4. Pension contributions ≥ 60 months (Rentenversicherungsverlauf) OR equivalent
P5. Lebensunterhalt: stable income, no Bürgergeld receipt
P6. Adequate accommodation (Wohnraum-Nachweis)
P7. For Blue Card 21-month route: B1 + Blue Card 21 months + same evidence
§4 — DEPENDANT DOCUMENTS (if No yes)
Each dependant files own application; sub-set of above:
Q1. Dependant's passport + photos
Q2. Marriage / birth certificate apostilled + translated
Q3. Krankenversicherung covering dependant
Q4. Spousal A1 German (§30 only; waived for German spouse §28)
Q5. Wohnraum-Nachweis showing capacity for family
Q6. Lebensunterhalt covering family size
§5 — APOSTILLE + TRANSLATION REQUIREMENTS
For India documents (foreign birth / marriage / qualifications):
• India / Pakistan / Sri Lanka / Bangladesh / Nepal: Hague Apostille route if origin state is signatory
— India: MEA apostille (post-2005) accepted
— Pakistan: NOT Hague signatory — full Beglaubigung chain required (Ministry of Foreign Affairs → German embassy verification)
— Sri Lanka: Hague signatory since 2022 — verify document apostille
• All translations: by öffentlich bestellter und beeidigter Übersetzer (publicly appointed and sworn translator) registered with German Oberlandesgericht
• Self-translation NOT accepted under any circumstance
• See companion prompts: de-docs-sworn-translator + de-docs-apostille-beglaubigung-chain
§6 — TERMIN BOOKING TIMELINE BY BUNDESLAND ([BUNDESLAND])
Current approximate wait times (verify against current Ausländerbehörde portal):
• Berlin LEA: 4-12 months booking lead time // 2026-05 — verify current Ausländerbehörde guidance
• Bayern (Munich KVR): 2-5 months
• Frankfurt: 3-6 months
• Hamburg: 2-4 months
• NRW (Köln/Düsseldorf): 3-6 months
Submit Vorabprüfungsantrag (early file review) where the Ausländerbehörde offers it — Berlin LEA accepts uploaded files via Service-Portal pre-Termin.
§7 — FINAL CHECKLIST AT TERMIN DAY
□ All documents originals + 2 copies of each (1 for Ausländerbehörde, 1 for file)
□ Sworn translations of all non-German originals
□ Apostille on each foreign public document
□ Krankenversicherung confirmation dated within 30 days
□ Anmeldebestätigung dated within 3 months
□ Passport biographical-page copy + all entry stamps
□ Photos biometric (Bundesdruckerei spec)
□ Antrag signed in officer's presence
□ Fee payable by EC-Karte (Girocard) at most Ämter; cash at some
□ Vollmacht if Rechtsanwalt accompanying
End with: "DRAFT — for Rechtsanwalt für Migrationsrecht (immigration lawyer) review. Verify against current Ausländerbehörde guidance before submission."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt