Immigration law decides whether you can work in Germany, live with your family and later become a German citizen. Our law firm in Berlin-Charlottenburg represents clients throughout Germany in applications, deadlines and disputes with immigration offices, embassies and the Federal Office of Administration – in German, Russian, Ukrainian and English.
Residence permits, extensions and settlement permit
Every residence permit is tied to a purpose: study, training, employment, family or humanitarian reasons. We check which permit fits your situation and support you when you change the purpose of your stay.
- Residence permit and extension (§ 7 AufenthG)
- EU Blue Card for skilled workers (§ 18g AufenthG); the salary thresholds are set anew every year
- Settlement permit and EU long-term residence (§§ 9, 9a AufenthG)
- Fictional certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung) if the extension was applied for in time (§ 81(4) AufenthG)
In detail: Permanent residence in Germany (Niederlassungserlaubnis), EU Blue Card in Germany.
Family reunification
We represent families in the reunification of spouses, children and, in exceptional cases, other relatives – from the visa procedure at the German mission abroad to the issue of the permit by the competent immigration office.
- Spousal reunification, usually with basic German (§ 30 AufenthG)
- Reunification of children (§ 32 AufenthG) and with German nationals (§ 28 AufenthG)
- Other family members in cases of extraordinary hardship (§ 36 AufenthG)
- Family members of EU citizens (Freedom of Movement Act/EU)
In detail: Family reunification in Germany.
Family reunification with persons entitled to subsidiary protection is suspended until 23 July 2027; only hardship cases under §§ 22, 23 AufenthG remain possible.
Naturalisation and dual citizenship
Since 27 June 2024, naturalisation is generally possible after five years of lawful residence, and the previous citizenship no longer has to be given up as a rule. The fast-track naturalisation after three years was abolished again by the Bundestag in 2025.
- Requirements under § 10 StAG: secure livelihood, German at B1 level, naturalisation test, commitment to the free democratic basic order
- Review of previous convictions and minor-offence thresholds (§ 12a StAG)
- Determination of German citizenship, e.g. for descendants of German ancestors (§ 30 StAG)
- Application to the naturalisation authority responsible for your place of residence
Late resettlers and their family members
We support the admission procedure under the Federal Expellees Act (BVFG) at the Federal Office of Administration.
- Admission notice and late resettler status (§§ 4, 26, 27 BVFG)
- Proof of German ethnicity and knowledge of German (§ 6 BVFG)
- Inclusion of spouses and descendants (§ 7, § 27(1) BVFG)
- Objection and legal action against refusals
Refusal, expulsion, deportation
A refusal is not the end. What matters is meeting the deadline stated in the notice on legal remedies – usually one month for an action (§ 74 VwGO). Actions against visa refusals by German missions abroad are heard by the Administrative Court of Berlin.
- Objection and legal action against refusals
- Urgent interim relief before the administrative court (§§ 80(5), 123 VwGO)
- Toleration (§ 60a AufenthG), expulsion and deportation (§§ 53 ff. AufenthG)
- Coordination with ongoing criminal proceedings that affect residence
How we work
- Initial consultation: we clarify your goal, review your documents and identify running deadlines.
- Strategy: you learn which options exist, which documents are missing and what the risks are.
- Representation: we file applications, inspect files and handle correspondence with authorities and courts.
We agree on the format and fee with you before we start.
Selected cases from our practice
Every case is different; past results are no guarantee of the outcome of your case.
- Late resettlers: status under § 4 and § 7 BVFG
- New BVFG amendments: including a descendant
- German citizenship: naturalisation after the 2024 reform
- Naturalisation without giving up Ukrainian citizenship
- Family reunification: conditions and procedure
- Family reunification with a German citizen
- EU Blue Card for highly qualified professionals
- The path to a settlement permit
- Temporary protection under § 24 AufenthG
- Visa refused: ways forward
All articles in this section
A complete list of guides and cases from our practice in this area of law.
- Permanent residence in Germany: requirements and timelines
- Obtaining Late Resettler Status After Moving to Germany
- Moving to Germany as a Family Member of a Late Resettler
- Late Resettler Descendants Who Left the Resettlement Area
- The Long Road Home: The Story of a Late Resettler's Family
- Late Resettler German Language Test: Exemption or Refusal
- Descendant of a Late Resettler Leaving the Resettlement Area
- Adopting a Child in a Family Reunification Case
- Including Relatives in a Late Resettler's Admission Permit
- The Language Test for "Late Resettler" Status
- An Unpredictable Path to Late-Resettler Status
- A Case-by-Case Approach
- A Long Late-Resettler Story
- A Lifehack for a Late Resettler
- How to Meet the Requirements for Late Resettlers
- Germans Returning to Their Historic Homeland
- Home Is Where the Heart Is
- When the Language Just Won't Stick
- When All You Can Do in German Is Stay Silent
- Bringing a Daughter to Germany When Paternity Is Unclear
- How to Resettle in Germany If the Requirements Have Changed?
- Myths and Legends of Mysterious Friedland
- The Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing But the Truth
- Elementary School Can Help Prove You're a True German
- Reuniting a Late Resettler's Family in Germany
- Pitfalls of Translating Documents for German Authorities
- A Hopeless Resettlement Case to Germany with a Happy Ending
- If You Struggle Long Enough, Moving to Germany Will Work Out
- New Rules for Late Resettlers: Protect Your Rights
- How to Prove German Ethnicity: A Case from Court Practice
- From Russia to Germany: How to Obtain Late Resettler Status
- Becoming a Late Resettler at an Advanced Age: Is It Possible
- Moving to Germany as a Descendant of a Late Resettler
- Current Case Law on Late Resettler Matters
- The Long Road to Germany, or When the First Attempt Fails
- Late Resettler Applicant Who Runs a Business in Germany
- Change of Applicable Provision and Retroactive Effect of Law
- BVFG Amendments: Adding a Descendant to the Aufnahmebescheid
- Family Reunification in Germany: If the Embassy Objects
- A German Residence Permit for a Sick Mother
- A German Residence Permit for Parents
- Love Strikes Unannounced: Family Reunification in Germany
- Family Reunification in Germany with Elderly Parents
- Criminal Record and Family Reunification in Germany
- A Walk Through Tedium: Family Reunification in Germany
- Extending a Residence Permit for a Patient Too Ill to Travel
- Nothing More Permanent Than a Temporary Permit
- When the Elderly Have No Hope at Home
- Family Reunification with a German Citizen
- Love and a Good Lawyer Work Wonders
- A Reunification That Almost Fell Apart
- Does Salary Size Matter for Reunification?
- Don't Part with Loved Ones
- Family Reunification and Difficult Life Circumstances
- Reunification of a Mother with a Minor Child in Germany
- Baby Detective: A Family Reunification Story in Germany
- Reunification with a Minor Child When the Father Is on Paper
- An Exceptional Case of Family Reunification in Germany
- Reunification of Family Members with an EU Citizen
- Residence Permit in Germany for Family of an EU Citizen
- Residence Period in Germany Extended by One and a Half Years
- Germany's Civil Partnership Act (Same-Sex Unions in Germany)
- Registered Partnership and a Residence Permit in Germany
- Civil Partnership or Marriage for Same-Sex Couples
- Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage
- The Path to a Permanent Settlement Permit in Germany
- The Blue Card, or Be Proud of Your Knowledge, Not Your Title
- Permanent Residence Permit in Germany Despite Bureaucracy
- Military Service Obligations and German Naturalization
- Long Stay Abroad: What It Can Cost Your German Residence
- Residence Restrictions for Resettlers and Jewish Emigrants
- How to Be Exempted from Attending Integration Courses
- What to Do If You Have the Wrong Residence Permit
- Staying in Germany After Divorce with Young Children
- German Citizenship Without Renouncing Ukrainian Citizenship
- Dual Citizenship: German Naturalization Keeping Ukrainian
- Military Duty and Keeping Your Previous Citizenship
- Request to Determine Whether Citizenship Exists
- Dual or Triple Citizenship?
- Citizenship with a Burden, or Dual Citizenship in Germany
- German Citizenship Through the Bureaucratic Machine
- How to Have It Both Ways and Keep Dual Citizenship
- A Long Farewell to Ukrainian Citizenship
- German Visa Refusal: How to Obtain a Visitor Visa
- German Visa and Schengen Visa: Types of Visas for Europe
- Business Visa to Germany: No Problem With the Right Approach
- A Visa to Study the German Language in Germany. Sprachvisum
- Jewish Immigrants to Germany: Admission Rules After 2015
- To Germany in Old Age
- From § 24 AufenthG Protection to a Stable Residence Permit
- Obtaining a German Residence Permit as an Israeli Citizen
- Residence Permit in Germany When It's Your Last Chance
- Temporary Protection Under § 24 AufenthG: Who and How Long
- EU Blue Card Germany 2026: salary and requirements
- Family reunification in Germany: requirements and documents
- Late Resettlers: Status Under § 4 and § 7 BVFG
- German Citizenship: Naturalization After the 2024 Reform
- Types of German Residence Permits: A Complete Overview
Frequently Asked Questions
After how many years can I apply for German citizenship?
As a rule, after five years of lawful residence in Germany, provided the other requirements of § 10 StAG are met.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship?
Under German law, generally not any more. Whether your country of origin allows dual citizenship has to be checked separately.
My residence permit is about to expire. What should I do?
Apply for the extension before it expires. Your current permit then remains valid until a decision is made (§ 81(4) AufenthG).
My visa was refused. Can I do anything?
Yes. You can bring an action against the refusal before the Administrative Court of Berlin. The deadline is stated in the notice on legal remedies.
Can I come to Germany as a descendant of a late resettler?
Descendants can be included in the admission notice (Aufnahmebescheid) if, among other things, they can prove basic knowledge of German.
Can criminal proceedings affect my residence status?
They can: for extensions, the settlement permit and naturalisation. Defence and residence-law consequences should therefore be considered together from the start.
How much does the initial consultation cost?
In criminal and immigration law, an initial assessment can be free of charge and non-binding: we assess whether and how we can help and tell you the next steps and the expected costs. A full consultation or representation is discussed with you individually – fees are agreed individually and always stated in advance. If you then instruct us in the same matter, the fee for the initial consultation is credited against the further fees (§ 34(2) RVG).