Converting a Schengen Visa to an EU Blue Card in Germany

A short-term stay in Germany can often lead to further personal or professional opportunities. Such opportunities can then make a longer-term right of residence particularly attractive. In principle, German residence law does not provide for converting a Schengen Visa to a residence permit. However, there are notable exceptions in which such a conversion may nevertheless be possible. This means that extending a stay in Germany is possible. Therefore, if you have travelled to Germany on a Schengen Visa and would like to acquire a longer-term, purpose-oriented residence title, this article can inform you of the special exception that does exist in German law.

However, the following information cannot replace individual legal advice on immigration law and residence permits, specially tailored guidance for your case. For professional support and a detailed examination of your case for acquiring a residence permit, our lawyers for immigration and residence law at Schlun & Elseven are at your disposal with extensive expertise and many years of experience. We will examine whether the conversion of the Schengen Visa into an EU Blue Card or visa for family reunification, especially for spouses, could be considered.

Application for an EU Blue Card following a Schengen Visa

A temporary, purpose-related residence permit, e.g., an EU Blue Card or for family reunification per §§ 27 German Residence Act, is generally only granted if all the necessary conditions for granting the permit have been met before entry and the application procedure has been completed.

An exception can be made to these requirements per § 39 No. 3 AufenthV. According to the exception provision in § 39 No. 3 AufenthV, an applicant can obtain or have a residence title extended in Germany beyond the cases regulated in the Residence Act. This provision was introduced to ensure that residence entitlements whose requirements have already been met do not have to be checked under a formal procedure.

This provision allows for extending stays in Germany when a person marries a German during their stay in Germany or when they gain employment to enable them to apply for the EU Blue Card.

In the exceptional cases where a relevant legal entitlement to residence exists following a Schengen visa, the competent authority no longer has any scope for decision or discretion. Therefore, the residence permit must be issued on a mandatory basis so that a subsequent formal procedure would be redundant. Therefore, this exception to staying in Germany with a Schengen Visa offers the possibility of avoiding a lengthy visa procedure that usually has to be completed before entry.

Valid Schengen Visa

The essential requirement is, first of all, that the claimant can present a valid Schengen visa. A visa is required to enter Germany for third-country nationals if they are not citizens of EU states or other states for which a visa requirement has been lifted. Embassies and consulates are responsible for issuing Schengen Visas. On the other hand, the local authority depends on the destination country of the Schengen area in which they wish to enter and how its foreign mission is regulated in their place of residence.

If you want to visit Germany only during your stay in the Schengen Zone, you must submit an application to the German embassy in your country of residence. If you plan to enter more than two Schengen countries, you must apply to the embassy in whose country you spend most days. In the case of stays of the same length in different countries, the person should apply to the embassy in whose country you are first entering. The Schengen visa can be applied for, particularly for short-term stays of up to 90 days. The candidate can submit the application up to six months and a maximum of 15 days before the planned trip. However, the processing time is usually up to 14 working days before a decision is made on the application.

If you then travel to Germany with a valid Schengen Visa and circumstances arise there which hold out the prospect of a long-term right of residence being granted, such as marriage to a German citizen or a binding promise of employment, an application for a residence permit must be submitted to the competent immigration authorities.

The valid Schengen visa must be valid for the entire duration of the application, i.e. from the submission of the application to the granting of the exceptional residence permit according to § 39 No. 3 AufenthV. Please note that a provisional effect of § 81 German Residence Act does not apply to stays with a Schengen visa. This means that the visa does not continue to have a provisional impact during the application for a residence title or that the applicant’s stay is deemed to be permitted until the foreigners’ authority reaches a decision.

Other Basic Requirements for Converting a Schengen Visa to an EU Blue Card

In addition to the valid Schengen Visa, the exceptional provision of § 39 No. 3 AufenthV stipulates the following additional requirements which must be observed for the application:

• The prerequisites for a claim to the granting of a special residence title must have arisen after entry into Germany. This refers to the requirements that must usually be fulfilled for granting a residence permit for family reunification, particularly for the reunion of spouses or the application for an EU Blue Card before entry. This depends on the requirements of the respective purpose-related residence title.
• In addition, the four regular conditions for granting a residence permit according to § 5 (1) German Residence Act also apply. According to these conditions, livelihood must be secured (No. 1) and, the identity and nationality of the claimant must be clarified (No. 1a), there must be no interest in expulsion (No. 2), other interests of the Federal Republic of Germany must not be impaired or endangered by the stay (No. 3) and the claimant must be able to present a recognised and valid passport, passport replacement or identity card replacement per § 3 German Residence Act(No. 4).
• According to § 5 paragraph 2 German Residence Act, the visa regulations are superseded by the exemption regulations of § 39 AufenthV and therefore do not have to be observed.
•  No exclusion: The privilege of § 39 No. 3 AufenthV is excluded if a permanent residence intended initially was sought in circumvention of the national visa regulations, especially if the conditions for granting the visa were already fulfilled before entry with the Schengen visa.

Although there are many requirements that must be observed when converting a Schengen visa to an EU Blue Card via § 39 No. 3 AufenthV, you still have the essential possibility of a corresponding claim for granting. The most critical requirement you should consider is that the conditions for one of the above-mentioned purpose-related residence titles only apply after entry.

Our experienced lawyers for immigration and residence law can help you assess your situation and provide you with the necessary expertise. They will take care of the communication with the immigration registration office and accompany you throughout the entire procedure.

The EU Blue Card: Converting Schengen Visa to Residence Permit

The EU Blue Card as a residence title is also a legal entitlement in § 18b German Residence Act, so the exceptional provision in § 39 no. 3 AufenthV can also apply to it. Thus, if a foreigner with a Schengen visa travels to Germany and receives an employment contract or a binding promise of employment there with a completed, equivalent university degree that allows employment per their qualifications, the EU Blue Card can be applied for as a right of residence following a Schengen Visa. In addition, proof of an annual minimum gross salary of the required level must be provided, although exceptions to this requirement are also possible.

See our page on the EU Blue Card to find out more.

Representation in Immigration and Residence Law

For applying for an EU Blue Card according to the exception rule of § 39 No. 3 AufenthV following a stay with a Schengen visa, the law firm Schlun und Elseven offers you professional and knowledgeable support during the entire procedure. Our qualified lawyers have many years of experience with applications, systems and negotiations with the immigration authorities. They will, of course, represent you even if the required residence permit is refused. If you want to know more about extending a stay in Germany using the means above, don’t hesitate to contact us directly.

With offices in Cologne, Aachen and Düsseldorf and conference rooms in Hamburg, Stuttgart, Munich, Berlin and Frankfurt, you can benefit from our support and advice throughout Germany. In addition, we offer our services in English and German for smooth communication. Contact us today using the contact form below.