Travelling to Dubai with a Fiktionsbescheinigung

Section 81(4) or 81(3): this is what matters

If you applied for an extension or another permit before your residence permit expired, your previous permit is deemed to continue until the immigration office decides (section 81(4) AufenthG). With a valid Fiktionsbescheinigung under subsection 4, travel abroad and re-entry into Germany are possible, according to the State of Berlin. Other countries may have their own rules, for example for a connecting flight on the way back, as the district office of Esslingen points out.

It is different under section 81(3) AufenthG: this certificate is issued to people who stay in Germany lawfully without a residence permit, for example visa-free, and apply for a permit. Their stay is then deemed permitted until the decision. However, this Fiktionsbescheinigung does not entitle you to re-enter Germany.

If in doubt about which kind you have, check with your immigration office before you travel.

What applies in the UAE?

The Fiktionsbescheinigung is a German document. Whether you need a visa for Dubai depends on your nationality. Our visa checker shows you the rules for your country.

Some exceptions require a residence permit. Indian nationals with a residence permit from an EU country, for example, can get a visa on arrival if the permit is valid for at least six more months from arrival. Whether a Fiktionsbescheinigung is enough for this is decided by the UAE authority. In this case, please call us before booking.

Before you book

Make sure that your Fiktionsbescheinigung is still valid when you return and that your passport is valid for at least 6 months from entry into the UAE.

If you have questions about your case, get in touch. You submit the application online with us as usual.