Your Aufenthaltsstatus (residence status) describes your legal situation in Germany. It determines whether and how long you can stay in Germany. It also determines whether you can work or receive Sozialleistungen (social benefits).
Your Aufenthaltsstatus can be, for example:
- an Aufenthaltserlaubnis (residence permit)
- a Niederlassungserlaubnis (settlement permit)
- a Duldung (temporary suspension of deportation)
- an Aufenthaltsgestattung (temporary permission to stay during the asylum procedure)
