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DE

Ausländerbehörde (immigration office)

Ausländerbehörde wants documents (Unterlagen): what to do

What this letter means

The authority still needs papers to decide on your application. For example: passport, rental contract, employment contract, payslips, proof of health insurance or a language certificate.

You have to help with your application and provide proof (§ 82 Abs. 1 AufenthG). If information is missing, the authority can stop processing your application. In that case it must tell you what is missing and set a deadline.

Important: the authority may ignore anything that arrives after the deadline (§ 82 Abs. 1 AufenthG).

What to do now

  1. 1Write the deadline in your calendar.
  2. 2Make a list of all documents requested.
  3. 3Get missing papers straight away, for example from your employer or your Krankenkasse (health insurance fund).
  4. 4Send copies unless the letter clearly asks for originals.
  5. 5Add a short cover letter in German with your Aktenzeichen (file number) and a list of the attachments (Anlagen). The templates (Vorlagen) on this site are in German.
  6. 6If a paper cannot arrive in time, tell the authority before the deadline ends and give the reason.

How you can reply

Send the documents in time

With a cover letter and a list of attachments. Ideally as an Einschreiben (registered letter) or in person with a confirmation of receipt.

Ask for an extension of the deadline

If a document is still missing, for example from your home country. Give the reason and attach proof that you have already requested it.

Common questions

My Aufenthaltstitel (residence permit) expires soon. What if the documents are still missing?

Still apply for the extension in time, before it expires. Then your permit stays valid until the authority decides (§ 81 Abs. 4 AufenthG). Send the missing documents later.

Do I have to send originals?

Only send originals if the authority clearly asks for them. Otherwise, bring the originals to your appointment.

Who can help me put the documents together?

The Migrationsberatung für erwachsene Zuwanderer (migration advice for adult immigrants) and the Jugendmigrationsdienste (youth migration services) help for free.

Sources (German law and official pages)

  1. § 82 AufenthG: Mitwirkung des Ausländers
  2. § 81 AufenthG: Beantragung des Aufenthaltstitels
  3. BAMF: Migrationsberatung für Erwachsene

Research as of: 10 November 2026