General information

Please note that in the following cases, a visa for re-entry is not required and entry into Germany is possible, provided you have not been outside of Germany for more than six months:

• Your expired or invalidated passport contains a still valid residence title. Provided the German residence title has not been invalidated by the foreign passport authority, you can enter Germany by presenting both your old and new passports (exception: Somali passports). The same applies if you already have an electronic residence permit (plastic card in credit card format) and the data from your expired/invalid passport is recorded on it.
• You possess a still valid provisional residence document pursuant to Section 81 Paragraph 4 of the German Residence Act (AufenthG).

In the following cases, you must apply for a re-entry visa, provided you have not been outside Germany for more than six months:

• You have lost your passport with your German residence title, or it has been stolen.
• You have lost your electronic residence permit (plastic card in credit card format), or it has been stolen.
• You have a provisional residence document pursuant to Section 81 Paragraph 3 AufenthG.
• You have a valid German residence title but a passport not recognized by Germany (for example, a Somali passport).

In the following cases, you cannot apply for a re-entry visa, but must apply for a new visa for your intended purpose of stay in Germany:

• Your residence title has expired.

• Your residence tile has not yet expired, but you have left Germany and have not re-entered within six months or a longer period set by the foreigners authority.

If you have left Germany and have not re-entered within six months or a longer period set by the foreigners authority but you hold a permanent settlement permit and have lawfully resided in Germany for at least 15 years, please contact the foreigners authority at your last place of habitual residence directly, as your permanent settlement permit may still be valid if the requirements specified in Section 51 Paragraph 2 AufenthG are met. The foreigners authority will issue a certificate upon request to confirm the continued validity of your permanent settlement permit.

Basic information

• If you want to have an appointment to apply for a re-entry visa, you need to register on the appointment waiting list of the German Embassy Nairobi and mention “re-entry” as purpose of stay
• After notification of the appointment, you have to appear at the visa section of the German Embassy in Nairobi, located at 113 Riverside Drive, for the appointment.
• All application documents must be submitted in original with 1 copy. Please sort the documents in the order listed below then.
• Documents not in the German or English language must be submitted with a certified German or English translation.
• The Embassy reserves the right to request additional documents in individual cases.
• Incomplete application forms as well as applications with incomplete documents will delay processing and may lead to rejection of the application.
• Processing time is as a rule ca. 1 month but can take longer in individual cases.
• Please do not contact the mission abroad to check the status of your application during the normal processing period. Such inquiries are extremely time-consuming for the visa section and can thus not be answered.

For your application we require the following documents:

1. Passport and 1 copy of the data page. If you are a foreigner residing in Kenya, Burundi, Somalia, Eritrea or the Seychelles, you have to show a valid residence permit for the country of residence.

2. 1 completed and duly signed application form including information provided to applicants pursuant to Section 54 (2) no. 8 in conjunction with Section 53 of the Residence Act (AufenthG)

   A digital application form to be completed online can be found on https://videx-national.diplo.de

3. 2 current, identical biometric passport photos with a white background

4. Proof of your permanent residence in Germany

   For example: a copy of your (lost/stolen) residence permit, your registration certificate, your health insurance card, pay slips, your enrollment certificate, or similar documents

5. Proof of your last departure from Germany

   For example: passport stamp (or copies thereof), boarding pass, flight ticket, etc.

6. Police report of loss or theft if you have lost your German residence permit or it has been stolen
7. Visa fee in the amount 75 Euros (to be paid in Kenyan shillings according to the embassy's exchange rate applicable at the time of application)

This fact sheet reflects the legal situation at the time of drafting it. It is regularly updated but makes no claim to be complete. Authoritative version of the fact sheet is the German version.