From November 1, 2024, a lot is set to change for many applicants for residence permits in Germany. The new regulation according to Section 60a of the Residence Ordinance (AufenthV (not: Residence Act (AufenthG)), introduced by Article 3 of the PAuswVuaÄndV 2023 , makes it possible to send residence permits or the plastic card by post . This means that the second appointment at the immigration office, which was previously necessary to collect the plastic card, is no longer necessary. But what exactly does that mean and what impact does the change have?
The current practice
Previously, applicants had to attend at least two appointments at the immigration office:
First appointment: Collection of biometric data (fingerprints), review of the necessary documents and signing of the applications.
Second appointment: collection of the electronic residence permit, which was previously ordered from the Federal Printing Office.
The new regulation replaces this second step. In future, the residence permit will be sent directly to the applicants together with a blocking password (Section 60a of the Residence Ordinance, new version), provided that they have a valid passport and a current domestic registered address. A second appointment at the immigration office will then no longer be necessary .
Criticism and uncertainties in implementation
Despite the planned introduction, there are considerable doubts as to whether the regulation will actually come into force as planned on November 1, 2024. The federal government has already announced that there will initially be a test phase until May 2025. Only then will the procedure be able to be used regularly.
Well-known experts in the field of German migration law have already sharply criticized the government's approach. There are fears that the planned introduction will again be significantly delayed, similar to the Digital Career Information (DAB). The criticism is directed in particular at the fact that the legislator's original intention to implement the change from November 2024 is being ignored. In the case of the DAB, a corresponding application was also only possible 6 months after the regulation came into force. At the time, the ZAB had readily accepted a violation of the law that would last for months.
Conclusion: Actual relief or just "good on paper"?
The introduction of sending residence permits by post promises to make things much easier for applicants. Long waiting times and additional appointments could be eliminated in the future. However, the delays and uncertainties in the actual implementation raise questions as to whether the hoped-for progress will actually be achieved within the planned timeframe.
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