Authorities & Public Resources Migration

These public administrative resources are provided by the German migration authorities.

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The German migration administration is organized on a federal basis and divided into several levels with different responsibilities. At the federal level, the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Home Affairs (BMI) assumes responsibility for fundamental migration policy issues and the legal framework. Subordinate to it is the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), which performs key tasks in the areas of asylum procedures, integration support, and return management. The BAMF is also responsible for implementing the recognition procedure for refugees and participates in the design of migration programs. Also particularly relevant at the federal level is the Foreign Ministry (Federal Foreign Office) with its subordinate missions abroad (embassies and consulates). The federal migration administration is complemented by the Federal Office of Administration (BVA), which performs selected special tasks – particularly in citizenship law.

At the federal and municipal levels, immigration authorities operate and are responsible for individual residence permit decisions. This includes, in particular, the granting and extension of residence permits and the execution of deportations. Local jurisdiction is generally determined by the person's place of residence. Regional naturalization authorities also often exist at the municipal level.

2. Main municipal/city migration authorities

There are a total of 549 immigration authorities in the Federal Republic of Germany (see Bundestag Document 20/7754 ). Most of these immigration authorities are located in smaller districts and are sometimes responsible for only a few hundred or thousands of foreigners.

2.1 Public Resources Berlin

The largest immigration authority in Germany is the State Office for Immigration (LEA) in Berlin . The Berlin Migration Administration comprises the following authorities:

The Berlin Migration Administration provides numerous helpful online resources. These include the following tools and services:

2.2 Public Resources Hamburg

Other large immigration authorities are located in Hamburg, for example. The Hamburg immigration authority also provides helpful resources:

2.3 Public Resources Munich

The City of Munich also provides important online services through the District Administration Department (KVR).

You should not confuse the City of Munich with the LRA Munich , which (unlike the District Administration Department) is not responsible for the city of Munich.

3. Main nationwide migration authorities (Central ABH)

At the state level, the most important authorities are the so-called central immigration authorities . These are responsible for immigration-related tasks in the respective federal state. A distinction must be made between an authority for skilled immigration (central skilled immigration authorities) and a general central immigration authority (which, for example, coordinates deportations across the state).

The central immigration authorities of the federal states for skilled immigration (see Section 71 Paragraph 1 of the Residence Act) are the following:

Baden-Württemberg: State Agency for the Immigration of Skilled Workers
Bavaria: Central Office for the Immigration of Skilled Workers
Berlin: State Office for Immigration
Brandenburg: Dahme-Spreewald District Public Order Office – Immigration Office
Bremen: Migration Office Bremen
Hamburg: Hamburg Welcome Center for Professionals (HWCP)
Hesse: In Hesse there is no central immigration authority for skilled workers.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: Central Immigration Office for Economic Migration Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Lower Saxony: There is no central immigration authority for skilled workers in Lower Saxony yet, but one is currently being set up .
North Rhine-Westphalia: Central Office for Skilled Immigration North Rhine-Westphalia (ZFE NRW)
Rhineland-Palatinate: Central Immigration Office for Skilled Immigration Rhineland-Palatinate
Saarland: Central Aliens Authority
Saxony: There is no central immigration authority for skilled workers in Saxony.
Saxony-Anhalt: There is no central immigration authority for skilled workers in Saxony-Anhalt.
Schleswig-Holstein: Central Office for Skilled Immigration Schleswig-Holstein
Thuringia: Thuringian Agency for Skilled Immigration (contact person only)

4. Most important nationwide migration authorities

4.1 Public Resources Federal Foreign Office (AA)

The Federal Foreign Office is the German foreign ministry, headquartered in Berlin. It is responsible for the foreign and European policy of the Federal Republic of Germany and represents German interests worldwide. Its central responsibilities include maintaining diplomatic relations, promoting international cooperation, crisis prevention, and protecting German citizens abroad. The Federal Foreign Office also manages the network of German embassies and consulates and plays a key role in issuing visas and implementing foreign policy aspects of residence law. The embassies and consulates form a single authority with the Federal Foreign Office or are part of the Federal Foreign Office (see Section 2 of the Federal Foreign Office Act).

The Federal Foreign Office provides the following official resources:

4.2 Public resources Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI)

The Federal Ministry of the Interior and Home Affairs (BMI) is one of the highest federal bodies of the Federal Republic of Germany and, as a ministry, part of the government. It has its headquarters in Berlin and a second office in Bonn. The BMI is responsible for key domestic policy tasks of the federal government, in particular internal security, public and constitutional law, and migration and residence law. The ministry also coordinates cooperation with the federal states in the area of internal security, steers the federal government's immigration and integration policy, and is the highest supervisory authority for numerous federal agencies, including the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.

The Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) provides the following administrative resources:

4.3 Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF)

The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) is headquartered in Nuremberg but operates numerous branch offices throughout Germany. The BAMF provides the following online resources:

4.4 Federal Office of Administration (BVA)

The Federal Office of Administration in Cologne is primarily responsible for the needs of German emigrants and for naturalization from abroad. It also maintains the Central Register of Foreign Nationals (AZR). The BVA provides the following online resources.

4.5 Federal Employment Agency (BA)

The Federal Employment Agency is an agency within the purview of the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS) and is headquartered in Nuremberg. The Federal Employment Agency is primarily responsible for labor market assessments (approval assessment and priority assessment) of foreign nationals. The BA provides the following online resources:

4.6 Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB)

The Central Office for Foreign Education is a joint institution of the federal states for the examination of foreign educational qualifications. The ZAB provides the following online resources:

4.7 German pension insurance

The German pension insurance provides the following online resources:

Request pension insurance history

4.8 Important government websites

The following trustworthy government websites exist in migration law:

5. Main European migration authorities

The European authorities provide the following online resources:

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FAQ on public administrative resources in migration law

What public resources are available in migration law?
Public resources in migration law include official guidelines, forms, application portals, administrative regulations, and digital tools that assist with application processes and provide legal guidance. These include, for example, instructions, manuals, and online application forms.

Which immigration authorities provide such resources?
Both municipal immigration authorities, such as the Berlin State Office for Immigration or the Hamburg Welcome Center, as well as central state and federal authorities (e.g., Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), Federal Office for Vacancies (BVA), and Foreigners' Association (AA)) provide their own resources online. These resources can usually be found on the authorities' websites.

Where can I find administrative regulations and application instructions?
The Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) publishes general administrative regulations and application guidelines for the Residence Act and skilled immigration. Individual cities and states, such as Hamburg and Bavaria, also issue their own guidelines. The most comprehensive public administrative resource is the "Procedural Guidelines for Residence in Berlin (VAB)," comprising nearly 1,000 densely printed PDF pages.

Are there also Europe-wide administrative resources?
Yes. The EU provides legal texts via EUR-Lex , ECJ case law via curia.europa.eu , and tools for calculating Schengen status and overview maps on travel and residence rights on the Commission's websites.

Conclusion on authorities and administrative resources

Migration administration in Germany is complex – but increasingly accessible digitally. Whether at the municipal, state, federal, or EU level, numerous authorities now offer digital administrative resources that provide valuable guidance to migrants, employers, advisors, and lawyers. Those familiar with the right portals can navigate more quickly, prepare applications more effectively, and better understand legal requirements. Knowledge of these resources is a decisive advantage in the practice of residence law.

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