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About this Page
On this page, you will find all VISAGUARD glossary entries for the letter H. The glossary entries are arranged alphabetically and include the most important terms in immigration law that begin with the letter H. Each definition in the glossary is linked to the relevant law or administrative regulation and also refers to the corresponding VISAGUARD technical article.
Hamburg Welcome Center (HWC)
The Hamburg Welcome Center (HWC) is the central authority for skilled workers in Hamburg. It is responsible for issuing most employment migration permits in Hamburg.
Related legal source: §§ 18 ff. AufenthG
Related VISAGUARD article: Skilled Immigration
German Commercial Code (HGB)
The German Commercial Code (HGB) governs the central regulations for merchants in Germany. These include entries in the commercial register (§§ 8 et seq. HGB), regulations regarding company names (§§ 17 et seq. HGB), provisions regarding power of attorney (§§ 48 et seq. HGB), the establishment of companies (§§ 105 et seq. HGB), and standards regarding accounting and balance sheets for merchants (§§ 238 et seq. HGB).
Related legal source: §§ 1 ff. HGB
Related VISAGUARD article: Visa for self-employment in Germany
Ability to act
A foreigner who has reached the age of majority is capable of carrying out procedural acts under the Residence Act, unless he or she is legally incapable under the German Civil Code or is to be supervised in this matter and subject to a reservation of consent (see ).
Related legal source: Section 80 Residence Act
Related VISAGUARD article: Residence permit application
Hardship case
Hardship, as defined by the Residence Act (AufenthG), is a legal instrument that allows for the granting of a residence permit for humanitarian reasons in exceptional individual cases. This also applies if the other requirements are not met. A hardship case exists when urgent humanitarian or personal reasons justify the foreigner's continued presence in Germany.
Related legal source: Section 23a Residence Act
Related VISAGUARD article: International Law and Humanitarian Obligations
Hardship Commission
The Hardship Commission decides on hardship applications pursuant to Section 23a of the Residence Act. The highest state authority may order the granting of a residence permit to a foreigner who is legally required to leave the country if a hardship commission established by the state government requests this (hardship application) (see Section 23a of the Residence Act ). The decision to grant a hardship application requires that, according to the findings of the hardship commission, urgent humanitarian or personal reasons justify the foreigner's continued presence in the federal territory. The Hardship Commission is often the last hope for asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected in the final instance.
Related legal source: Section 23a Residence Act
Related VISAGUARD article: International Law and Humanitarian Obligations
domestic workers
Domestic workers may be granted a residence permit if they are temporarily working for their employer or on behalf of a company based abroad in the country or on the basis of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations or on Consular Relations. Domestic workers must have cared for children under the age of 16 or another household member in need of care for at least one year prior to entry.
Related legal source: Section 13 BeschV
Related VISAGUARD article: Domestic Worker Visa
Marriage visa
Marriage visas are a type of visa that allows a fiancé or a married couple to enter Germany to get married.
Related legal source: Section 7 para. 1 sentence 3 Residence Act
Related VISAGUARD article: Marriage visa
Sufficient German language skills
Sufficient German language skills correspond to level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Related legal source: Section 2 paragraph 10 Residence Act
Related VISAGUARD article: Settlement permit for skilled workers
Highly Qualified Workers Directive (EU Directive 2021/1883; formerly Directive 2009/50/EC)
The Highly Qualified Workers Directive ("Blue Card Directive"), adopted on October 20, 2021, sets out the conditions for entry and residence for third-country nationals seeking to pursue highly qualified employment under the EU Blue Card. The Highly Qualified Workers Directive forms the basis for the EU Blue Card regulations in Germany (see Sections 18g et seq. of the Residence Act ).
Related legal source: Directive - 2021/1883
Related VISAGUARD article: EU Blue Card
university degree
A university degree is documented proof of successfully completed academic training. Foreign degrees require recognition of the university degree in Germany in order to apply for a professional qualification.
Related legal source: Section 18 para. 2 no. 4 Residence Act
Related VISAGUARD article: Study visa Germany
University entrance qualification
The higher education entrance qualification (HZB) is a certificate that entitles a person to study at a higher education institution (university, university of applied sciences, or equivalent institution). It is a fundamental prerequisite for access to academic education and serves to ensure aptitude and qualification for higher education.
Related legal source: § 27 HRG
Related VISAGUARD article: Study visa Germany
Honorary Consul
Honorary consuls complement the work of diplomatic and consular missions in many places. They are deployed in regions where establishing a regular consulate would be too costly, but where a local contact point seems appropriate due to the size of the area of responsibility and the number of Germans residing or transiting there. There are currently around 350 honorary consuls. These volunteers are not necessarily German citizens; they often come from the respective receiving country.
Related legal source: Glossary of the Federal Foreign Office
Related VISAGUARD article: Diplomats and international organizations
Humanitarian reasons
Humanitarian reasons is the umbrella term for granting residence in Germany when there are grounds for asylum or other grounds for flight (e.g. subsidiary protection).
Related legal source: §§ 25 ff. AufenthG
Related VISAGUARD article: International Law and Humanitarian Obligations