Restructuring of the Berlin Immigration Office: New Departments F and M

Effective October 1, 2025, the Berlin Immigration Office (LEA) has changed its organizational structure . The former Department E, which was responsible for residence permits and naturalizations, has been divided into two independent departments : Department F ("Friendly States") and Department M ("Migration"). The goal of this restructuring is to shorten processing times and clarify responsibilities. For applicants, this means that in the future, they will have to carefully check which department their application for a residence permit or extension should be addressed to.

Who falls under Section F (“Friendly States”)?

The newly created Department F is responsible for nationals of certain countries that the Berlin Immigration Office designates as “friendly states” (including so-called “Best Friends states”) . These include not only EU and EEA states and Switzerland, but also countries such as Australia , Canada , the USA , the United Kingdom , Japan and Israel . Western Balkan states such as Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Serbia also fall within this area of responsibility. Brazil, Georgia, South Korea and New Zealand are also included. Anyone from these countries must submit their applications to Department F in future . This bundling is intended to simplify and accelerate the procedures for this group of applicants.

Department M (“Migration”) for all other third-country nationals

Department M will be responsible for applicants from all other countries of origin . This includes most countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America (with the exception of Brazil, Honduras, and El Salvador), as well as numerous other countries. For example, applicants from India , China , Russia, Turkey , or African countries must submit their applications directly to Department M. With this separation, the immigration authorities hope to manage the large number of applications more effectively and enable more consistent processing.

What does the change mean for those affected?

For many applicants, correct classification is crucial to avoid processing delays . Anyone who accidentally submits their application to the wrong department can expect additional waiting times, as the documents must be forwarded internally. Companies that regularly hire skilled workers from abroad should, in particular, pay attention to whether their employees fall under Department F or M. Correct classification is also important for international students and self-employed individuals to receive their residence permits on time.

Conclusion: Well prepared for the appointment

The restructuring of the Berlin Immigration Office, effective October 1, 2025, will initially be unfamiliar to many affected, but is intended to simplify processes in the long term. To avoid wasting valuable time, it is important to check the responsibilities of your department in advance. The Immigration Office provides a current overview of the two new departments and their responsibilities on its website. For anyone unsure, it may be advisable to seek legal advice in a timely manner. VISAGUARD supports you in identifying the correct department and ensures that applications are submitted completely and correctly. This way, applicants and companies can ensure that the change does not become an obstacle, but rather an opportunity for faster processing.

Here you can find the new organizational chart of the LEA as of May 1, 2025: https://www.berlin.de/einwanderung/_assets/organigramm-und-kontakte.pdf?ts=1759236831