Berlin · Ausländerbehörde

Berlin LEA: the 2026 contact-form workflow

LEA abolished online Termin booking in January 2025. Here's the new contact-form workflow, what to submit, and the Fiktionsbescheinigung bridge.

The new workflow

1. Submit the Kontaktformular at ^{berlin.de/einwanderung}.
2. Pick your case type (Aufenthaltserlaubnis, extension, Blue Card, family reunification, permanent residence, etc.).
3. Upload the requested documents (passport, Anmeldung, contract, etc.).
4. Wait 1–3 weeks. A caseworker emails you a Termin slot (or in simple cases, approves purely by email).

That's it. No phone queue. No refresh-every-morning. No third-party booking service.

Common case types

Aufenthaltserlaubnis first-issue, Extensions (Verlängerung), Blue Card / §18b, §19c Fachkraft, Family reunification (§28, §30), Permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis).

If your permit expires before the Termin

This is the single most important fact. Submitting the Kontaktformular triggers a free Fiktionsbescheinigung — a bridging document that keeps you legally resident + work-authorised while you wait for the LEA slot.

The Fiktionsbescheinigung is typically valid 3–6 months, renewable.

What NOT to do

Specifically: don't use paid "Termin-bots". LEA invalidates slots booked through obvious bots, and you'll end up starting over.

Typical document checklists

Blue Card first-issue

• Passport + entry visa (D-Visum).
• Anmeldebescheinigung.
• Employment contract.
• Diploma + recognition (ZAB/anabin).
• Proof of income for 3 months (payslips or contract).
• Krankenkasse letter.
• Biometric photo.

Extension (Verlängerung)

• Current Aufenthaltstitel.
• Updated employment + income proof.
• Anmeldung (current address).
• Krankenkasse confirmation.
• 1 biometric photo.

Permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis)

• All of the above, plus:
• 60 months of Rentenversicherung contributions (21 months if Blue Card holder).
• B1 German certificate.
• "Test Leben in Deutschland" (if applicable).

Realistic timelines (2026)

If LEA goes quiet for 6+ weeks

• Re-submit the Kontaktformular citing your ticket number.
• Escalate via Bürgerbeauftragte (ombudswoman) — they can prod LEA.
• Pay for a qualified Anwalt if your case is complex (family reunification, §19c, Beschäftigungsduldung).

Official sources

• LEA portal: ^{berlin.de/einwanderung}
• Case status + document list: LEA's own service-letter.
• Senatsverwaltung (complaints): ^{berlin.de/sen/inneres}