An Aufenthaltsgestattung (temporary permission to stay during the asylum procedure) allows you to live legally in Germany while your asylum procedure is being processed. It is not an Aufenthaltserlaubnis (residence permit). With an Aufenthaltsgestattung , you cannot travel to another country. An Aufenthaltsgestattung is for people who have applied for asylum and have not yet received a decision.
You receive the Aufenthaltsgestattung within 3 days after applying for asylum. It is issued by the Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF; Federal Office for Migration and Refugees). If no decision has yet been made on your asylum application and your Aufenthaltsgestattung is about to expire, you must extend it before it expires. You will then receive a new Aufenthaltsgestattung, either from BAMF or later from LEA (State Office for Immigration).
LEA is only responsible for you once you no longer have to live in an Aufnahmeeinrichtung (initial reception center for asylum seekers). To extend your Aufenthaltsgestattung, you then use the Kontaktformular (contact form) for Department A.
It is a green folding card. On the front, it says "Aufenthaltsgestattung zur Durchführung des Asylverfahrens" (temporary permission to stay for the purpose of the asylum procedure). It also has a sticker showing the expiration date. The back shows your photo, name, date of birth, and other personal information.
The front also shows:
- whether you are allowed to work
- where you are allowed to live
