The document itself is quick to produce, but it must be signed in person and at your own office. The original then travels to your guest: without it the visa application cannot be filed, and with it the financing question is settled.
Filing the declaration at the authority
You sign in person at the immigration office where you live. The original is handed to you and posted to your guest, who submits it with the visa application.
✓ Verified: 17/08/2026
WHAT TO DO
AUTHORITY
Ausländerbehörde (ABH)
Municipal authorityThe Ausländerbehörde for your registered address is the one responsible. Enter your postcode and we will show yours.
Where to go in your city →
COSTS
- €Recognition of the formal obligation €29
§ 47 (1) no. 12 AufenthV — per declaration; practice varies where several guests are covered in one file
› Details and tips
👨🏻💻
Max recommends:
I obtained the declaration three months before the trip and the embassy wanted a fresher one. Coordinating timing with your guest is cheaper than doing the document twice.
👩🏼💼
Lea recommends:
Copy your guest’s details letter by letter from the passport scan. One extra character in a name sends the whole package back.
Useful Tools
- Lingoking documents
Certified translations for German authorities: upload a scan, the translation arrives by post.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Where exactly is the declaration filed? ▾
At the immigration office where the host lives — not where the guest will stay, and not at the embassy. Some cities work by appointment only, and those are booked weeks ahead.
What details of the guest are needed? ▾
Full name exactly as in the passport, date of birth, passport number, address and planned travel dates. A spelling error in the name causes rejection at the visa stage, so copy the details from a passport scan.
How long is the document valid? ▾
According to the Federal Foreign Office no more than six months should pass between issue and the grant of the visa — beyond that a fresh declaration is generally required, because financial circumstances may have changed. Obtaining it far in advance therefore buys nothing but a second fee.
What does it cost, and can it be filed electronically? ▾
Recognition costs €29 under § 47 (1) no. 12 AufenthV. § 68 (2) AufenthG now allows the declaration to be given in writing OR electronically; whether your immigration office actually offers the electronic route is another matter — most still require you to appear in person, because the signature is certified and solvency is checked.
Does the declaration guarantee a visa? ▾
No. It only settles the financing question. The visa section separately assesses the purpose of travel, ties to the home country and willingness to return — refusal on those grounds is possible with a flawless declaration.