What is that?
The Landesamt für Einwanderung (State Office for Immigration) is the central authority for residence documents in Berlin. It was formerly called in German "die Ausländerbehörde".
Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA)
What are the authority's responsibilities?
This authority handles all decisions and measures related to the residence of migrants in Berlin. For example:
- issuing and extending residence permits, Duldung (temporary suspension of deportation), and Aufenthaltsgestattung (temporary residence permit for asylum seekers)
- decisions regarding work permits
- naturalization
- enforcement of the obligation to leave the country (deportation)
Who is right here?
- People without a German passport who live in Berlin, are officially registered there, and for whom Berlin is the responsible authority
- Third-country nationals who live in Berlin and are officially registered there
- European Union citizens who live in Berlin, but only for naturalization or a few other specific decisions
