Can I travel with a Fiktionsbescheinigung?
There are instances when residence permits or blue cards cannot be issued promptly. Various factors can contribute to this delay, such as missing documents, late submission of renewal requests, or the immigration office being overwhelmed with a high volume of applications.
To address this situation, a rule has been established: residence permits or blue cards remain valid once the renewal request is submitted. To officially confirm the continued validity of a residence permit or blue card, a Fiktion can be requested. This becomes especially crucial when planning international travel with an expired visa or residence permit/blue card.
However, it's important to note that not all Fiktion certificates permit travel. Here's what you need to know:
Travelling is generally allowed under the following circumstances:
There are typically two situations in which a Fiktion is issued. If the document is issued in accordance with Section 81, Paragraph 4 of the Residence Act, it grants re-entry into Germany. Additionally, it is essential to ensure that the third checkbox on page three of the Fiktion certificate is marked.
Please bear in mind that travelling to a foreign country and re-entering Germany are distinct matters. When travelling to another country, you must verify whether a visa is required for your nationality. Hence, in addition to the Fiktion, you might need a valid visa for your destination country. Naturally, a recognized and valid passport is also a prerequisite.
Travelling is not allowed under the following circumstances:
A Fiktion can also be issued in accordance with Section 81, Paragraph 3 of the Residence Act. This occurs when the applicant does not possess a residence permit yet.
The Fiktion permits you to stay within Germany and travel within its borders. However, re-entry into Germany after leaving will likely be denied.
The Fiktion certificate itself often bears the statement "does not apply to trips abroad," making it clear that travelling with this document is not possible.
In case of any uncertainty, we strongly recommend contacting the case manager at the immigration office who is responsible for issuing your Fiktion certificate.
Christine is a co-founder of Jetztpat. She was raised in the so-called Schwabenländle but fell in love with travelling to random places very early in life. After living in Japan and Taiwan for several years, she finally went back home to stay in the German beer capital (where she survives by drinking wine). If she is not watching her favorite Japanese Netflix show aggretsuko, you can find her Googling answers to the real questions in life.