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:
A Fiktionsbescheinigung (temporary residence permit) is typically issued in two situations. If it is granted under Section 81, Paragraph 4 of the Residence Act, it also allows re-entry into Germany. To ensure this, check that the third box on page three of the Fiktionsbescheinigung is marked.
It’s important to understand that traveling to another country and re-entering Germany are separate issues. A Fiktionsbescheinigung essentially serves as proof that your visa or residence permit for Germany remains valid. It allows you to continue activities you were previously permitted to do, such as working in Germany or re-entering the country after traveling abroad.
When traveling to a foreign country, you must confirm whether your nationality requires a visa for that specific destination. This means that, in addition to the Fiktionsbescheinigung, you may need a valid visa for your destination country. Of course, you must also carry a recognized and valid passport as a prerequisite for international travel.
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 and has applied directly in Germany for the residence permit.
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.