Missing Aufenthaltserlaubnis!

Just went to look for it today and it`s gone! That little green piddly piece of folded paper that I got when I came here. Not sure what to do now since, when I got it, they told me that we (ie. EU citizens) didn`t need one anymore after 1st Jan 2005. What should I do now?

tell em to fuck off cos we won the war
its all on computer down at the rat house just explain that youve misplaced it and they will charge you a hand full of euro dollers and give you a new one, null coma nix problem

As you said, since 2005 you can stay here now even without a job. You still need an Aufenthaltserlaubnis (unless you already have an unlimited one) but it's just a formality and once you've been in a job for more than a year, you can get an unlimited one.

If you've just lost the piece of paper you already had, you should have no problem at all getting a replacement.

they don't actually issue those green bits of paper anymore, not since Jan 2005, and afik, old ones are no longer valid.

The simple fact is, you don't need one and the don't issue them anymore. In Munich you can get a form from the KVR to show you are here legally, not sure if they do that elsewhere though.

did somebody not write a while ago, there was something like a "EU-Aufenthaltserlaubnis" thing, means get it once then its good forever and everywhere inside EU?

Just a quick one, as it's more than likely been covered already... The Aufenthaltserlaubnis has been stopped for EU members, as you said. If you find yours, it's more than likely run out anyway. I was recently given a, take a deep breath, Bescheinigung über Freizügigkeitsrecht - off the top of my head, without finding it first... Aufenthaltserlaubnis-EU may be the other name for it.

You should not get into trouble if it's run out, as the changes appear to have covered that problem. You'll need to go to the Einwohnermeldeamt in your local town hall ASAP. Take your valid UK ten year passport with you and any other papers you have. Waiting time in Hamburg (Altona) was over two hours!

Anyone else reading this may spot mistakes - please feel free to correct me.

Click me >>>

You could also try this... or contact them.

I believe you have to carry it with you, along with your passport at all times by law.

Shouldn't charge anyway as it was free in the first place (I have a right to be here - why bloody pay for the privilege? They should pay me cos I'm worth it.). Mine wasn't due to run out until 2009 and I know it's a worthless piece of paper now (to be honest, did feel inclined to use it as toilet paper on 1st Jan last year) but I don`t want to be caught with me pants down, so to speak. I registered in Bonn but then moved a month or so later, where I registered with the Rathaus in my new town. Will they be able to give me one of those Bewhatsigung thingimijigs in its place without a long drawn out visit to the Ausländerbehörde?

Why do you want one? I`ve got a Unbefristig ding and have never had to show it to any one in 15 years!!!
as yamster says, we won the war, they should have one to show us!!!
(had a beer!)

Cos I'm too correct for this world, I am (had a few beers). Just not sure what to do if anyone asks me for it on the train when they want to fine me for not having a ticket again (wish I was joking).

well me boy! if your too correct for this welt, then buy a ticket! a black belt in karate , I find does the job though!

Will remember that next time - was caught on the hop by a train that was actually on time for once

I just went in and exchanged it (as a Brit) - no trips to the Ausländerbehörde.

How can I change it though when I don't have the original? Will they just give me the piece of paper when I prove who I am?

Where I went, they were not that bothered, due to the change - mine was 4 months out-of-date. They let me keep the old one. I wouldn't worry too much, as you have to go there anyway. I would walk in and say you've lost it and you need a replacement. After you have identified yourself with your passport etc, they'll find you in the computer and sort out the new one. The new one I got was on an A4 piece of paper! The old card format appears to have been dropped.

I personally see no difficulties.

Will do that this week then. What if someone finds my old one though? Can they use my ID? I mean, how many people actually know that it counts for nothing without a passport to back it up? Should I report it missing or something?

By going in to replace it, and telling them you've lost it, this should tell the computers all over Germany that your original has been lost. It's likely that the Police know what the new ones look like and that they have been instructed to remind people with the old ones to exchange them - if not I would be suprised.

One visit and all is done! All answers to all questions are there.

Get there early, most offices close at 12 noon. 8am is the best time! Allow 2 hours. If the process has not been completed by about 11:45am, you may be asked to come back the next day. Not all offices work the same way - example taken from Rathaus Hamburg-Altona. I don't know if they post items.

Have fun

Cheers Chris, I'll do that then and let you all know how it goes. Rathaus in Remagen is pretty quiet (small town, full of Turks, not many Germans or much else for that matter) so it shouldn't take too long, hopefully.

Don't sweat it. You don't need one any more.

and what do you carry around then to identify yourself, Adi?

Sweat? If you sweat already doing little things like just getting a simple paper, which does not harm, how do you handle big deals in life then?

I have no idea where my Aufenthaltserlaubnis is, I haven´t needed it in years. I use my Driving Licence as ID.

well I recommend to do a sticky on top of the board, so people don't have to bother asking anymore but can find the answer

As of last year EU citizens do not need (and probably can't even get now) the Aufenthaltserlaubnis. Instead, you get a sheet of paper which tells you that you don't need one...

You've also got a passport, driving license, etc. as identity.

yeah ok, so if this is a fact I still recommend a sticky so that ppl who are new on the board because they try to find an answer to the question, if they need one, could see it right away. As some ppl don't seem firm with this, the advices might confuse the asker more than they help

My driving licence was refused more than once as a form of identity - I only use my passport. I have a German driving licence. When I arrived in Germany, the law stated I had to give up my British licence... a few months later they changed the law! I know one person on this board, who could tell you a story about being fined for this very reason... go on, tell everyone if you are reading this!

Depending on the situation, I was previously asked to show my Aufenhaltserlaubnis. It was rare, but it did happen. Maybe it's different from area to area and from city to city. Some Germans who asked to see it were not happy with the fact that a British passport was all I needed to show. I guess it was just a lack of knowledge.

I once applied for a job, where they insisted that I proved that I had permission to live in Germany. They refused to have it any other way. The same applied when I was looking for a rental flat/apartment.

Some of you have never experienced this at all, so it may seem odd.

@Hannah

I already mentioned this as a 'sticky' subject some time ago... See my post on page one of this link.

hmm but the answers in that one aint really better than the ones here. Still confusing. That's why I say: It does not hurt to get this bloody thing and only costs time, no money.
Before getting into trouble of being denied for a job cuz of having none, I personally would just get one, just in case I need it. If I won't need it, tuff luck, wasted time to get one. But thats maybe the german thing in me again prolly.

So the answer for an asker should be: If you want one go get one, if you don't, don't

same as in "deregister" thread: if you want to, do it, if not, then don't

I know we don't need or have to get an Aufenthalterlaubnis anymore. I knew that the day I went for it cos the lady at the Ausländerbehörde told me so (I got mine 6 weeks before we didn't need them anymore). But how many other people in everyday life know that? That is where the problems may arise. I know we have to (or are supposed to) get this piece of paper thingy from the Rathaus. All I wanted to know was if I had to take any action about the missing one, as in is there a replacement that has to be got, or can I go and get this piece of paper?

Just get the piece of paper. As you said, it's just to show to anyone who doesn't believe you can be resident and work in Germany without being in possession of a stamped and countersigned piece of beribboned A4 from some Amt.

brainwash?

Not recently...

You don't need an Aufenthaltserlaubnis...in fact you probably cannot even get one now since the one we had was for EU citizens...and they do not need one since Jan 2005.

You may find the A4 letter (which states you don't need an Aufenthaltserlaubnis) because soooo many Germans (esp in HR depts.) have not had a brainwash and still expect to see an outstanding piece of bureaucratic paperwork for going to the toilet. See, even YOU can't believe it's possible to live and work in Germany without a certificate of authenticity...

BTW: You (and me) both had something to say about this same topic before... here.

This subject comes up time and again and we end up having the same old BS discussions and misunderstandings. It really should be condensed down into a single answer and posted in the FAQ sticky post in this forum.

Dum di dum...

Volunteers needed... a summary of all posts on this subject.

There's some info on this at the BMI:-

http://www.bmi.bund.de/cln_006/nn_163598/I..._94317__de.html

As I have found these links seem to change a lot, I have attached what I thought were the useful documents on this topic. (I think it is jolly decent of the German government to provide this stuff in English!)

From the Immagration Act Summary:-
"In order to implement the freedom of movement within the European Union, residence permits will be abolished for EU citizens. In future, EU citizens will merely be required to register with the registration authorities, in the same manner as Germans. EU citizens are to receive certification confirming their right of residence (EU Act on the General Freedom of Movement for EU Citizens, Section 5)."

...and from the Zuwanderungsgesetz document, Article 2 Section 8:-

"Obligation to carry identification papers
EU citizens and their dependents shall be obliged,
1. on entering the Federal territory,

a) to carry a passport or a recognised passport substitute on their person and,
b) on request, to hand over such identification papers to a competent official for
inspection,

2. to hold the necessary passport or passport substitute for the duration of their stay
in the Federal territory,

3. to present the passport or passport substitute and the certificate confirming the
right of residence under Community law and the EU residence permit to the
authorities charged with implementing this Act and to hand over the aforesaid
papers and leave them with the said authorities for a temporary period, should
this be necessary in order to enforce or safeguard measures under this Act."

The tricky thing is that not all the behoerde seem to have heard of these changes. When I was last at the Auslaenderbehorde, some Czech woman was being bounced between there and some other Amt, being told to get an Aufenthaltserlaubnis by one lot and being told she didn't need one by the other lot.

P.S. I couldn't attach the Zuwanderungsgesetz document - I think it was too big. It should be on the website of the BMI or the Auswertiges Amt.