eAT/Elektronischer Aufenthaltstitel

Come to the Migration Office to collect your electronic residence permit (eAT). We will send you your eAT by post.

Residence permits are usually issued in credit card format with additional electronic functions as an electronic residence permit/eAT. Once a decision has been made to issue a residence permit, usually when you visit the Migration Office, the Migration Office will apply to the Federal Printing Office in Berlin to have the eAT produced. After completion of the eAT, the Bundesdruckerei sends the eAT to the Migration Office.

This results in waiting times of currently approx. 4 weeks. The Migration Office is therefore unable to issue residence permits directly upon application. Once the electronic residence permit has been received by the Migration Office from Bundesdruckerei, we will send you the eAT by post.

Further information on the eAT can be found in the brochure "Der elektronische Aufenthaltstitel" from the BAMF. You can find the link to the brochure under "Further information" - "Where can I find out more?" - "BAMF brochure / The electronic residence permit".

In addition to the other requirements for the issue of a residence permit, the following generally applies:

Biometric data:

Due to the required storage of biometric data for the electronic residence permit, two fingerprints must be taken of each applicant. This also applies to children from the age of 6. Therefore, when applying for a residence permit, a personal interview is mandatory from the age of 6.

A biometric photo (45mm x 35mm/face height at least 32mm) of each person (also applies to infants and small children) is required.

Note: From 01.05.2025, passport photos can only be accepted in digital form. The passport photos must be taken at a registration system on site at the Migration Office, in a photo studio or at a photo service provider. It is not possible to submit a digital passport photo on your cell phone. Further information can be found under "Further information" in the "Information sheet on the biometric passport photo from 01.05.2025".

The eAT is applied for at the Foreigners' Registration Office and then produced by the Bundesdruckerei in Berlin.

If you have applied for a residence permit or the extension of your residence permit in person at the Migration Office, we will send you your eAT by post as soon as it has been produced by the Bundesdruckerei.

You will receive the PIN letter for your eAT when you apply at the Migration Office.