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Entry with a residence title of another Schengen country

Issuance of a residence title

If you have a residence title of another Schengen country 1, you can be issued with a German residence title after your entry.
However, this applies only if you have a right to a residence title pursuant to the German Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz).

In particular, you have a right to a residence title in the following cases:
  • You have an EU long-term residence permit 2
  • Issuance of a EU Blue Card
  • You have immigrated to join your German relatives
  • You have immigrated to join your spouse or same-sex life partner
In particular, you do not have a right in the following cases:
  • You start education or training
  • You intend to start an economic activity (except within the framework of an EU Blue Card)
1 Schengen visas, temporary residence permits for asylum seekers (Aufenthaltsgestattungen) and temporary suspensions of deportation (Duldungen) of other Schengen countries are not residence titles in this sense.

2 EU long-term residence permits of these countries are not included: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland and Romania

Exceptions for certain countries

Special privileges apply to certain countries. You can apply for any residence title in the federal territory without needing to have a right to this title.

This applies to the following countries:
  • Andorra 3
  • Australia
  • Brazil^3^
  • Canada
  • El Salvador 3
  • Honduras 3
  • Israel
  • Japan
  • Monaco 3
  • New Zealand
  • San Marino 3
  • South Korea
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
  • United States of America
3 Residence titles for the purpose of economic activity are excluded. To obtain the latter, nationals of these countries must enter Germany with a national visa.

Economic activity

You are not permitted to work in Germany with a residence title of another Schengen country.

Traveling in the Schengen area

With a residence title of another Schengen country, you can travel to the following countries in the Schengen area for no more than 90 days within a period of 180 days:

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain