Applying for a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) for the child of a foreign national

• Both parents or the parent who has sole custody hold a valid residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) under the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz, AufenthG) • Residence permits in this sense are: settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis), EU long-term residence permit (Erlaubnis zum Daueraufenthalt-EU), residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis), EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte EU), ICT Card, or Mobile ICT Card. • Child reunification (Kindernachzug) is not possible if both parents or the parent with sole custody hold a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) under one of the following legal provisions: Section 25(2) sentence 1, 2nd alternative (subsidiary protection), Section 25(4), (4b) or (5), Section 25a(2), Section 25b(4), Section 104a(1) sentence 1, Section 104b or Section 104c of the Residence Act (AufenthG). • The child's current residence status entitles them to receive the residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) • The child is already residing in the federal territory with a residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) or a permission to reside pending an asylum decision (Aufenthaltsgestattung). • Or, based on their nationality, the child is entitled to apply for the residence permit after entering without a visa. • The child is a minor at the time of the application Exception: For children of persons entitled to asylum and recognized refugees, what matters is whether the child was a minor at the time the parents applied for asylum. In this case, the application for the child must be submitted within three months of the final, non-appealable decision on the asylum application of a parent with custody. • If the child is already 16 or 17 years old and is moving to join their parents or the parent with sole custody in the federal territory: a positive integration prognosis may be required, depending on the circumstances • If a 16- or 17-year-old child does not move the center of their life to the federal territory together with their parents or the parent with sole custody, the residence permit can generally only be granted if there is a positive integration prognosis. • In that case, the child must either be proficient in the German language or be expected, based on their previous education and living circumstances, to be able to adapt to living conditions in the Federal Republic of Germany. • This requirement can be waived if the parents were granted residence permits for employment purposes or on humanitarian grounds. • Generally required: secure livelihood through the parents' own income • The livelihood of the child and of the family members in the benefit community (Bedarfsgemeinschaft) is secured. No benefits under Book Two or Book Twelve of the Social Code (Sozialgesetzbuch) may be received from a Jobcenter or social welfare office (such as Bürgergeld [basic income support for jobseekers] or Sozialhilfe [social assistance]), nor may there be an entitlement to such benefits. • Proof of income can be provided by both parents. • Exceptions are possible, for example, if the parents hold a residence permit granted on humanitarian grounds. • Adequate health insurance www.berlin.de/einwanderung/_assets/merkblatt_zur_krankenvers The child has health insurance in Germany, either statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung) or comparable private health insurance. A foreign health insurance policy is generally not sufficient. For more information, please read the information sheet (Merkblatt). • Generally required: sufficient living space • The family has sufficient living space for the child and the family members living with them in the same household. • Exceptions are possible if the parents hold residence permits for employment purposes or on humanitarian grounds. • No interest in expulsion (Ausweisungsinteresse) • Even fines or an ongoing investigation can prevent the residence permit from being granted. • The child does not pose a threat to the free democratic basic order or to the security of the Federal Republic of Germany. • The child is not involved in acts of violence in pursuit of political or religious goals, does not publicly call for the use of violence, and does not threaten to use it. • Main residence in Berlin A secondary residence in Berlin is not sufficient. • Current email address The Landesamt für Einwanderung (State Office for Immigration) will contact you using your current email address. Please also check your spam folder regularly. • For the online application: consent to the electronic payment procedure The following payment methods are available to you: • Credit card (Visa, Mastercard) • PayPal

• Application for a residence permit on family grounds (Aufenthaltserlaubnis aus familiären Gründen) • available online only • You will receive a PDF document confirming your application. It certifies that the child's current residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) remains valid in the federal territory beyond its previous expiry date. This does not apply to a Schengen visa (C visa) for a short-term stay, or if the current residence permit had already expired on the date the application was submitted. • Please be sure to save this document and, if possible, also print it out. • If the application is submitted by an authorized representative: power of attorney (Vollmacht) stating the subject matter of the proceedings • If the application is submitted by the parents: documents relating to custody • if the application is submitted by a parent with sole custody: copy of the passport or identity card (Personalausweis) of the parent with sole custody • if the parents have joint custody, additionally: signed declaration of consent as well as a copy of the passport or identity card of the other parent with custody • If the child already holds a residence permit or another German residence title for the federal territory: copy of the residence permit • Copies of passport (in colour) • Copies of the following pages of the passport are required: • always: the data pages (with your photo and personal details) • if the child has entered the country and is applying for a residence permit for the first time, additionally: entry stamp as well as the visa for entry or the residence permit of another EU state in the passport (if available) • Birth certificate • Proof of custody Proof of custody is required in particular if one parent does not live in Germany. • If the child is of compulsory school age: current school certificate • If the parents are employed: proof of livelihood • Employment contract, • Proof of net salary for the last 6 months (payslips, bank statements), • current certificate from the employer (no older than 14 days) • If the parents are self-employed or freelance: proof of livelihood • Most recent tax assessment notice, • completed Prüfungsbericht (audit report) form together with the documents specified in it (the audit report must be completed by a tax adviser, auditor, or authorized tax agent), • certificate on tax matters (Bescheinigung in Steuersachen) from the tax office (see the "Further information" section), and • For self-employed persons: extract from the commercial register (Handelsregister) or trade registration (Gewerbeanmeldung) (if no commercial register entry is required) • For freelance professionals: registration as a freelancer with the tax office and chamber membership (if required) • If the parents are not employed: proof of livelihood For example: • Award notice for unemployment benefit I (Arbeitslosengeld I) • Pension notice (Rentenbescheid or Pensionsbescheid) • Proof of assets • Notice of receipt of Bürgergeld (citizen's allowance), social assistance, or benefits under the Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz (Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act) • Receipt of BAföG (federal student financial aid) or vocational training allowance • Proof of further benefits Depending on your personal circumstances, you must upload further evidence in the online application, for example: parental allowance (Elterngeld), child benefit (Kindergeld), housing benefit (Wohngeld), child supplement (Kinderzuschlag), orphan's pension, entry allowance (Einstiegsgeld), proof of maintenance payments • Proof of the size and cost of the accommodation The living space as well as the monthly rent or the housing costs of your own property (house or apartment) must be evidenced as follows. For a rented apartment: • Tenancy agreement (without house rules or other attachments) • Proof of current monthly costs (rent including utilities), for example bank statements For your own property: • Extract from the land register (Grundbuch), section three • Cost of the monthly service charge (Hausgeld) • Any monthly loan costs for the property • Proof of health insurance in Germany • for statutory health insurance: electronic health card (copy of front and back) or a current confirmation from the health insurer • for private health insurance: certificate from the insurer regarding the scope and cost of the insurance pursuant to § 257 Abs. 2a SGB V (Section 257(2a) of the Fifth Book of the Social Code). Please inform your insurer that you need the certificate for a residence permit for family reunification.

• Audit report form (Prüfungsbericht) for self-employed and freelancers www.berlin.de/formularverzeichnis/?formular=/labo/zuwanderun

• 28,00 euros: for the first-time issuance of the residence permit as a sticker • 24,50 euros: for the extension of the residence permit as a sticker • 50,00 euros: for the first-time issuance of the residence permit as an electronic residence permit • 46,50 euros for the extension of the residence permit as an electronic residence permit • 27,60 euros: for Turkish citizens (both for the first issuance and for the extension) • No fees: foreign nationals who cannot cover their living expenses without benefits under SGB II or XII or the Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz are exempt from the fees. A current notice from the Jobcenter (job center) or Sozialamt (social welfare office) must be presented as proof. • 6,00 euros additional: for creating a digital passport photo at the self-service terminal on site

• Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG) [Residence Act] § 32 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__32.html

After the appointment, it takes at least 4 weeks until the residence permit is issued as an electronic residence permit and can be collected.

• Aufenthaltserlaubnis für ein im Bundesgebiet geborenes Kind beantragen (Dienstleistung) service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/324269/ Translation: • Apply for a residence permit for a child born in the federal territory (service) service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/324269/