Work visa application and extension
You must book your appointment via the official MA 35 Online-Terminbuchung here. (opens in a new tab) Each district have their own MA35 office, so make sure you book your appointment at the right place, matching the district you currently live.
Rot-Weiß-Rot plus Karte (Red-White-Red plus Card)
To initiate the process of extending the RWR plus card you need to book an online appointment first as mentioned in the previous section. It is recommended that you start this process at least 2 months before your current Visa expire.
It's important to highlight that if your visa expires, you lose all your benefits and rights as a RWR card holder and must apply for a new visa from scratch once again. Be mindful of your visa expiration date.
To start the renewal process, you will need the following documents:
- KSV1870¹
- Application Form²
- Passport photo no older than 6 months
- Copies of:
- Passport
- Current Visa
- Rent Contract
- 3 latest rent payments
- Work contract (if you are currently working)
- 3 latest payment slips (yours, if you are currently employed)
- Meldezettel (if you moved since your last application)
If you have a partner, it's important to have the following copies of their documents:
- KSV1870
- Passport
- Visa
- Work contract
- 3 latest payment slips
After handing in the aforementioned documents to the MA35 official, they will scan your fingerprints and hand you a processing fee which currently (September, 2023) costs €140,00. It needs to be paid digitally.
Once your work-permit is ready, you will receive a letter from MA35 with the scheduled date to go there and pick it up. Together with the letter, you will also receive a final processing fee, costing €20,00. Make sure you pay it right away and bring the proof of payment along with you once you stop by to pick up your new Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte.
¹ The KSV1870 (opens in a new tab) is a report that confirms to the authorities or your landlord that you’ll be financially reliable. It is valid for 3 months and currently (January, 2022)costs around € 35,90.
² The application form can be downloaded while you are booking your appointment online. Although, as of September, 2023, here is a valid copy of the most recent form in PDF. Worth noting that would be wise to check if there are any new versions of the form available while you are booking your appointment.