Please note: English version under "Forms and links"

If you would like to send an inquiry or an application to the Foreigners' Registration Office in Bonn, you can do so primarily by e-mail. We will then endeavor to process your request and contact you by e-mail, letter or telephone.

For telephone inquiries, you can call the service telephone of the Foreigners' Registration Office.

On January 1, 2005, a comprehensive reform of all provisions of migration and integration policy and the right of residence of non-Germans came into force with the Immigration Act. Article 2 consists of the law on the free movement of EU citizens, who are granted particularly extensive residence rights within the framework of the free movement of persons within the European Union.

Accordingly,EU citizens have the right to enter and reside in other EU member states at any time and in any place (right of free movement).

They do not require a visa or residence permit to enter and stay in Germany. By holding a valid passport or identity card and registering their place of residence with the registration office, EU citizens fulfill their obligations and in this respect do not (or no longer) differ from German nationals. A certificate of freedom of movement is not (or no longer) issued by the foreigners authority.

Those entitled to freedom of movement are generally self-employed or non-self-employed workers and providers or recipients of services as well as EU citizens who wish to stay in Germany to look for work or for vocational training.

Union citizens who are not gainfully employed, pensioners and students also have the right to enter and reside in Germany. However, this is only the case if they have sufficient health insurance cover and can support themselves independently.

Persons entitled to freedom of movement, gainfully employed persons and persons entitled to remain in Germany (i.e. persons who have retired from working life in Germany) have the right to have family members (spouses and partners, children, grandchildren under the age of 21, parents and grandparents to whom the persons entitled to freedom of movement provide support) join them from third countries.

Family members of persons not in gainful employment, pensioners and students must have sufficient means of subsistence and adequate health insurance cover and must take up residence with the family members entitled to freedom of movement.

Family members entitled to freedom of movement who are not EU citizens are issued a residence card - usually for a period of five years.

You can obtain answers to any questions you may have about immigration law from the contact persons listed below.